Artist and model MANON released her new song GALCHAN MODE on May 26. The track is produced by Lil’Yukichi and is an anthem-like tune centred on hyperpop and the gyaru culture of Shibuya.

GALCHAN MODE

MANON

MANON is a rising star of hype youth culture in Japan. She collaborated with dodo last year on WORLD’S END. She also released a remixed version of the KM-produced track 18 which was remixed by Hiroshi Fujiwara who also worked on WORLD’S END. She was also invited onto the YAHI exhibition match curated by Reiji Okamoto.

GALCHAN MODE comes as MANON’s first release of 2021.

The new track marks a departure from her usual light, bopping rap tunes and instead fuses trance and rave-like elctronic and pop music as a nod to the hyperpop movement, something she has expressed admiration for. It’s produced by Lil’Yukich, a big name in the Japanese rap scene, and is a song of praise about gyaru culture with lyrics written by MANON. It features fully autotuned vocals and is the perfect part tune. Its music video was created by Japanese creative unit tsuchifumazu and features MANON herself as an avatar in a digital world of Tokyo and outer space.

MANON has been gaining much attention both in Japan and overseas since last year via her TikTok. If you’ve yet to check out this growing artist, who is part of the hyperpop scene which has a deep affinity with aspects of Japanese subculture like anime and games, be sure to give her a listen.

Springtime this year saw MANON move her work to Tokyo where she is now based. Her new song WORLD’S END feat.dodo is a graduation track that was recorded at the end of her time at high school. It’s a bittersweet pop number, and an emotional one that sings of love.

The song invites the easygoing and chill ‘nerd’ rapper dodo on board whose popularity continues to surge. His song im was released last year and has almost 4 million views on YouTube. WORLD’S END feat.dodo sees two worlds clash together: the cute and stylish MANON admired by girls of her age, and rapper dodo, whose style is based around looking unpopular.

Music Video

Japanese musician, producer and designer Hiroshi Fujiwara, who is big in the Harajuku street culture scene, has also provided a remix of the track. He’s laid down a luxurious ground beat and melded in a melody that’s both an homage to funky disco and includes plenty of new classic vibes.

The original song is produced by YUPPA (HNC) who has worked on all of MANON’s tracks before this. The CD cover for the original version is drawn by illustrator mako arai who also directed the music video that is being released together with the song. The CD cover for the remix version was designed by Hiroshi Fujiwara himself.

MANON―aka the cultural icon of the new generation―will release her new album TEENAGE DIARY on July 11. A music video for the lead song SWIPE was posted and features Kero Kero Bonito.

Kero Kero Bonito are a London-based British electropop band who collaborated with MANON to produce SWIPE. The catchy song fuses chiptune with old school hip-hop.

The music video was filmed in both Tokyo and London. As the title of the song suggests, it centers around “swiping” left and right with your finger on your phone. Sarah Bonito of Kero Kero Bonito was responsible for the art and direction of the video. Both her and MANON rap in English and Japanese to the rhythm of the swiping screen.

Make sure to check the fun video out for yourself!

Ever since she released her digital single xxFANCYPOOLxx last summer, female high school artist MANON has stirred a buzz amongst teens and sceptic music listeners. Her first album TEENAGE DIARY is complete and will be released on July 11.

The record features all of MANON‘s songs since her debut and was produced under YUPPA (aka HNC / Hazel Nuts Chocolat) who worked on the above visual. A list of up-and-coming artists also are also involved with the album, including London-based British band Kero Kero Bonito and Canadian record producer Ryan Hemsworth. The album’s sound is a fusion of the latest in music culture overseas and Japanese ‘kawaii.’

The album’s lead track SWIPE will receive an early digital release on June 22. The full album will become available digitally on July 7. Be sure to mark it all in your calendars.

“OTONOKO” is a local music festival which gathered a huge audience last year. The committee of the event announced (5^th announcement) that HIKAKIN&SEIKIN, RUAN OHYAMA、and MANON will participate in the event as guests!

“Yasutaka Nakata” is one of the most famous musicians / producers / DJs in Japan who is popular among top artists throughout the world. He has been offering music to various kinds of movies including Hollywood movies and international ceremonies. He is also the producer of artists like Perfume and KYARY PAMYU PAMYU and creates public sounds such as the announcement sound of Hokuriku Shinkansen Kanazawa Station.

The music festival produced by Yasutaka Nakata “OTONOKO” will be held in the 4^th Building of Ishikawa Prefecture Sangyo Tenjikan on the 2^nd of December.

The committee announced that HIKAKIN, a pioneer of Japanese YouTubers and boasting the No.1 Japan-channel registration number, SEIKIN, a YouTuber who runs SeikinTV and SeikinGames and RUAN OHYAMA will participate in the event as a guest! (RUAN OHYAMA will appear on TeddyLoid’s SPECIAL GUEST LIVE)

Moreover, they announced that they will hold a DJ audition to select a DJ who can perform on the main stage. Detailed information about the audition which gathered much attention last year will be released on the 7^th of November via the official website.

Don’t miss the lineup of “OTO (sound)” created by Yasutaka Nakata who is known as the top artist/DJ/producer!

MANON is a model who is famous for her street snaps. After releasing (in July) her debut single with a cute rap called “xxFANCYPOOLxx,” she has been releasing singles “BEAT THE BAD LUCK” and “WAVY PINEAPPLE DAYS” in rapid succession. Her forth single “POPCORN CRISIS” is a bubble-gum electric pop tune with a colorful and fancy taste. The single was released on the 6^th of October (Fri.)

The new single “POPCORN CRISIS” is a danceable pop number which is quite different from the rap songs and indie pops which she has been releasing so far. The single is influenced by Euro dance pop and bubble-gum base and is a colorful, fancy and strange electric pop song.

The lyrics of the song describe a mid-teenage girl’s love affair. The total production work for this song (sound and artwork) was done by YUPPA of HNC (ex. Hazel Nuts Chocolate) who has been supporting her for a long time.

The music video of “POPCORN CRISIS” was directed by the VJ unit “onnacodomo.” Technologies such as computer graphics and recorded materials were not in the video but instead the team used colorful daily things such as stationaries, toys and water. The video synchronizes with the story of the lyrics and the beat of the song and is a fun work with a catchy atmosphere where MANON and various kinds of animals and creatures dance together.

She will perform at “Shibukaru Matsuri 2017” which will be held at SHIBUYA QUATTRO on the 20^th of October (Fri.). Let’s enjoy the live concerts of MANON which represents the Japanese girly culture of “kawaii.”