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.

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.

MANON is known as a new pop icon of the young generation.

Even before the release of her own CD, she had already performed at large events such as Shibukarusai, OTONOKO, and SYNCHRONICITY! Despite being so young having just started grade 11 this April, she has released her new single SOMEWHERE.

MANON has released various kinds of singles such as soft rap, alternative rock and electro pop and her new single is an urban-styled dub pop which has a 90’s “ground beat” taste.

The emotional lyrics of the song expresses the world of girls’ culture and teenagers’ innocent feelings.

The sound and the lyrics of the single were produced by YUPPA from HNC (ex. Hazel Nuts Chocolate) who has been producing MANON’s other works. YUPPA is currently working as an artist (HNC), trackmaker and singer, so why not check out her work as well!

Don’t miss MANON’s new beautiful urban ballad!

“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.”

The UK group Kero Kero Bonito which consists of three members will hold a free event titled, “International TANOSHI (fun) Sound” on the 22^nd of August commemorating the release of their new album “Bonito Generation.”

The Japanese female rap duo chelmico consisting of MC MAMIKO and MC RACHEL and DJ YonYon born in Seoul and grown up in Tokyo, will support their album release event as a support act.

Kero Kero Bonito announced that they will participate in SUMMER SONIC 2017 and will release their first album in Japan on the 12^th of July.

Related Article：Kero Kero Bonito Release Music Video for New Song “Forever Summer Holiday”!

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Kero Kero Bonito, a 3-member British band who formed in London, recently announced that they will perform at SUMMER SONIC 2017 on August 19th, and will finally launch their 2016 debut album in Japan for the first time on July 12th.

The album’s title is “Bonito Generation” and the band have just released a music video for one of the tracks on it—”Forever Summer Holiday”.

Just as the title suggests, the London trio head on out on a forever summer holiday to the beach—a British beach, mind you. Of course, that means cold and rainy, and the video parodies that notorious misfortune the UK’s weather has become known for.

KOM_I of WEDNESDAY CAMPANELLA commended their music style and felt an affinity with them, commenting “I was really surprised the moment I first heard them; that kind of unquiet voice, their formation of 1 girl and 2 guys, their visual approach. I could really understand them”.

Besides their Japanese release of “Bonito Generation,” Kero Kero Bonito are set to appear on the RAINBOW STAGE at SUMMER SONIC 2017 (Tokyo only). The world of Kero Kero has finally reached Japan!

Related Article：Kero Kero Bonite is a group with a mixture of J-POP×British dance culture. They will release their debut album on the 12th of July and will perform in SUMMER SONIC!

Related Article：WEDNESDAY CAMPANELLA Announce New Song “Eisei” for Digital Release—Used for “Real Dasshutsu Game”

Kero Kero Bonito was formed in 2012 and the members consist of Sarah, a bilingual who resides and works in London, Gus, a creator and Jamie.

They are making a colorful, pop, cute and unique world which is a mixture of British dance culture and J-POP/J-RAP.

They performed in the largest music festival in the United States called SXSW and gathered much attention.

In July of the same year, they performed in the world’s biggest rock festival, Glastonbury Festival and held tours in the United States and England in 2016.

They released their 1^st album on the 12^th of July in Japan from Sony Music Records.

The Japanese edition consists of 19 songs including the Japan-limited debut single, “Forever Summer Holiday” and six remixed songs and it can be said that this edition is a gorgeous edition.

An original logo decal will be offered as a purchaser amenity in certain stores.

In addition, they will perform in SUMMER SONIC 2017’s RAINBOW STAGE on the 19^th of August. (Only in Tokyo)

The “Kelo Kelo world” can be seen in Japan this summer.

Let’s check Kero Kero Bonito and Sarah’s easy-going and comfortable to listen to Japanese rap.

Related article：Interview with the teenage rap singer DAOKO who has an active music career in Shibuya.

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