In 2023, Japan experienced its first fully active year since the pandemic—marked by a massive influx of tourism, monumental concerts, and a wave of promising up-and-coming artists that have injected a new lease of life into the country’s music scene.
The year flew by, and now we focus on artists set to redefine Japan’s musical landscape in the upcoming year.
In no particular order, here’s our picks for the top 10 Japanese artists to watch in 2024.
HOME
Emerging in August 2023, Okinawa-born indie rock trio HOME are beginning to make waves across Asia with their fresh indie rock sound.
Despite existing as a band for only around four months, HOME have already performed at music festivals in South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore, and dropped their debut EP, ‘HOME EP’. The initial offerings from these indie upstarts have proven to be some of the most refreshing mixes of alt R&B, doo-wop, and synthy dream pop.
With Tokyo and Osaka release parties for the EP scheduled for March 2024, we anticipate that HOME will continue to redefine Japan’s indie soundscapes.
RELATED: HOME REDEFINE JAPAN’S INDIE SOUNDSCAPES WITH DEBUT EP
HOME
HOME EP
Release Date: 13/12/2023
Label: superpop
Listen on: Spotify
Paledusk
Paledusk, the Fukuoka-born quintet, dominated metalcore in 2023 with killer collaborations, international tours, and festival appearances, confirming their status as true innovators in the genre.
Consistently elevating their sound to new heights and blending multiple genres within their experimental metalcore structure, Paledusk have successfully dismantled the barriers separating musical genres. Thus, they’ve been able to seamlessly coexist in the realms of hip-hop and metal.
As 2024 approaches, we anticipate the release of ‘PALEHELL’, their first EP in over three years.
RELATED: PALEDUSK ANNOUNCE ‘PALEHELL’, THE BAND’S FIRST EP IN OVER 3 YEARS
age
Forming during a serendipitous Shibuya street session in 2019, the alternative rock up-and-comers age (鋭児) are looking to be THE breakout band of 2024.
Their multifaceted sound, inspired by bands across the rock spectrum from Rage Against the Machine to Franz Ferdinand, along with their punk energy, has made age the edgier alternative within the evolving wave of Japanese mixture acts like King Gnu and VAUNDY.
The intriguing and continuously evolving nature of their music adds to the band’s allure, positioning them as one of the most noteworthy acts of 2023.
age
PEGASUS
Release Date: 09/07/2023
Label: Independent
Listen on: Spotify
Ohzora Kimishima
The pioneering audio visionary, Ohzora Kimishima, has rapidly gained prominence throughout 2023. Releasing two full-length LPs within just 9 months, Kimishima demonstrates a genre-defying sound that brings together a diverse range of elements, spanning progressive metal to electronic waltz.
His latest album ‘no public sounds’ specifically, named after a message encountered when accessing deleted Soundcloud tracks, adeptly pulls off a chill lounge-rock atmosphere while implementing glitchy electronics and noisy distorted guitars, creating an unnerving yet undoubtedly compelling listening experience.
With a visionary approach that challenges conventional chart norms, Kimishima is sure to leave a lasting impact in the years ahead.
Ohzora Kimishima
no public sounds
Release Date: 27/09/2023
Label: APOLLO SOUNDS
Listen on: Spotify
TORO
Formed in 2023 with the singular mission to “revive rock”, TORO have certainly fulfilled that goal, as evident in their self-titled debut album.
With sounds akin to that of iconic 90s and early 2000s alt-rock bands such as Ash, Feeder, and Nirvana, TORO effortlessly express their own aggressive rock attitude with a combination of English and Japanese lyrics, making their intentions for taking their sound global loud and clear.
TORO
TORO
Release Date: 26/08/2023
Label: toro toro toro records
Listen on: Spotify
Knosis
The power of the experimental metal project led by Ryo Kinoshita (ex-Crystal Lake), Knosis, has been on full display in 2023.
Their November EP, ‘The Eternal Doom’, is an emotionally charged exploration of experimental metalcore that delves into elements of industrial metal, 90s/00s extreme metal, nu-metal, metalcore, and screamo, all elevated by Ryo’s trademark hostile vocals.
Since its formation in 2022, Knosis has been reshaping the metalcore mould, and if the last year is anything to go by, this project is set to become a dominating presence.
Knosis
THE ETERNAL DOOM
Release Date: 15/11/2023
Label: The Hideout Studios JP
Listen on: Spotify
CVLTE
Despite a relatively subdued year for the Sapporo alt-rock unit compared to 2022, 2024 seems like it’ll be anything but quiet.
Releasing three new singles in 2023, including the impactful ‘scorpion.’ and the recently unveiled ‘me, myself & I.’, a precursor to their upcoming album ‘DIGITAL PARANOIA 2052’, CVLTE have positioned themselves to be one of Japan’s most prominent bands of 2024.
Following a standout performance at Bring Me The Horizon’s ‘NEX FEST’ and their inaugural Zepp concert, CVLTE, armed with fresh momentum and the imminent album release, are the alternative band you want to be keeping an eye on.
CVLTE
DIGITAL PARANOIA 2052
Release Date: ??/01/2024
Label: F.C.L.S.
Listen on: Spotify
East Of Eden
Led by violinist and producer Ayasa, the symphonic rock collective East Of Eden marked 2023 with the release of their highly anticipated debut mini-album, ‘Forbidden Fruit -1st piece-‘.
Ayasa’s musical prowess, coupled with the powerhouse vocals of Akane Minato, guitarist Yuki, bassist Wakazaemon, and drummer MIZUKI, transformed East Of Eden into a symphonic force to be reckoned with.
2023 witnessed the birth of a potential musical marvel, but it’s 2024 that’ll define their destiny.
RELATED: EAST OF EDEN RELEASE DEBUT ‘FORBIDDEN FRUIT’ MINI-ALBUM
East Of Eden
Forbidden Fruit -1st piece-
Release Date: 20/12/2023
Label: Victor Entertainment / JPU Records
Listen on: Spotify
Pre-order: JPU Records
bala
bala, the five-member collective from ASOBISYSTEM, have rapidly established themselves as a cultural authority since their inception in April 2022.
Comprising members MANON, SUNNY ONLY 1, KANO, and MERRY, each active in Japan’s music, fashion, and art scenes, bala aims to connect Gen Z youth culture with a global audience. Their debut track, ‘barla’, produced by Shinichi Osawa and co-written by Kenmochi Hidefumi of Wednesday Campanella, echoes Y2K style with a late ’90s house sound.
With a commitment to breaking stereotypes and fostering global expression, bala aim to redefine Tokyo’s cultural landscape in 2024.
bala
barla
Release Date: 08/03/2023
Label: ASOBIMUSIC
Listen on: Spotify
Emma Aibara
Blending her Japanese-American roots, Emma Aibara emerged as a solo artist in 2022, drawing from a six-year rock band stint as frontwoman of Velvet Sighs.
Uniquely infusing emo and breakcore, her music intertwines distorted guitars with the iconic ‘Amen Break’, creating a distinctive sonic identity.
As an emerging trailblazer in the emobreak and scenecore genres, Emma is set to showcase her sound alongside fellow up-and-comers at SXSW 2024 in March.
Emma Aibara
sound of my ♡
Release Date: 07/09/2023
Label: Independent
Listen on: Spotify