Sheena Ringo drops new album ‘Hojoya’ alongside six star-studded music videos

J-pop royalty Sheena Ringo released her latest album, ‘Hojoya’ (放生会), on May 29th, along with a whopping six music videos featuring collaborations with some of Japan’s leading female artists coined the “7 divas”.

‘Hojoya’, Ringo’s first album in five years, takes its name from a Buddhist ceremony for releasing captive animals. The album boasts 13 tracks, including collaborative efforts with Utada Hikaru, AI, Nocchi from Perfume, Momo of CHARAN-PO-RANTAN, Daoko, ATARASHII GAKKO!, and Ikkyu Nakajima of tricot. Additionally, the album features revamped versions of her singles ‘Watashi wa Neko no me’, ‘Saraba Junjou’, ‘Ito o Kashi’, and her latest single ‘Ningen toshite’.

To celebrate the release, a special program titled ‘Snack Kimagure Remote Business in Progress’ was live-streamed on YouTube on May 29th. The program, set in the ‘Snack Kimagure’ bar in Tokyo, featured Sheena, Daoko, Nakajima, and Momo, sharing their conversations in an intimate setting.

Furthermore, Sheena Ringo will kick off her ‘Ringo Expo ’24 -Economic Recovery-‘ arena tour, her first in six years, commencing in Aomori on October 5th and spanning seven venues nationwide with ten shows in total.

Additionally, ‘Hojoya’ will be available on vinyl starting October 2nd, offering a premium listening experience with high-quality 24bit / 96kHz masters on a two-disc set.

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Breakdown of ‘Hojoya’ Collab Music Videos

The six music videos, directed by Yuichi Kodama, each have unique themes set within a fictional cabaret club. Sheena Ringo skillfully chose singers whose voices and styles harmonized with her own, resulting in collaborations where each artist seamlessly complements her voice in a way that is rare in collaborative songs.

‘Chirinuru wo’ features Ikkyu Nakajima of tricot, blending chill pop-rock with jazz elements as they prepare backstage and perform on stage.

‘Seija no Koushin’ with American-Japanese singer and rapper AI, offers a jazz-filled track in a jazz-club environment, showcasing their husky, soulful voices.

‘Hatsu K.O. Gachi’ with Nocchi from Perfume depicts a comedic boxing/singing match, highlighting Nocchi’s rare solo performance.

‘Doraichi Dokusou’ with ATARASHII GAKKO! has a rockier sound, reminiscent of Ringo’s band Tokyo Incidents, featuring the performers in baseball gear, with AG!’s Suzuka delivering a powerful vocal performance.

‘Yoyuu no Gaisen’ with Daoko is quirky and upbeat, with a pop feel and Shibuya-kei elements, featuring both singers in 80s-style jumpsuits and marching band outfits.

Finally, ‘Hobo Mizu no Awa’ with Momo from CHARAN-PO-RANTAN is set in a cocktail bar, with both singers dressed in flapper-inspired outfits, and later Taisho-era-esque kimono, adding a vintage touch to the song.

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