Miliyah Kato and Sheena Ringo unite for ‘Aigyo’, a life-affirming J-pop collaboration

J-pop icons Miliyah Kato and Sheena Ringo have joined forces for their first collaborative release, ‘Aigyo’ (愛楽), which launched digitally on October 23th.

The single, the title blending the kanji for “love” (愛) and “joy” (楽), reflects the life-affirming themes of resilience and personal growth that both artists have embraced throughout their seasoned careers.

The project holds special meaning for Kato, as she commemorates her 20th anniversary in the music industry. For years, Miliyah has admired Sheena Ringo’s work, a respect she demonstrated previously by covering Ringo’s classic track ‘Honnou’ in 2020 on her album ‘COVERS -WOMAN-‘. Kato brought this new collaboration to life with a personal invitation to Ringo, bringing together their unmistakable styles in a track that pulses with mutual respect and realised creative chemistry.

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‘Aigyo’, composed by Kato with producers Chaki Zulu and T.Kura, features Kato’s introspective lyrics on love and self-worth, pairing seamlessly with Chaki Zulu’s distinct direction to create a striking merger of slick R&B, pop, and hip-hop sensibilities.

Alongside the single’s release, the music video, which premiered on October 25th, captures Kato and Ringo in sleek black attire, exuding a poised yet powerful presence. Set in a dramatically lit gym, the video shows Ringo lifting weights in high heels while Kato takes to the treadmill, both maintaining an effortlessly cool edge that reflects the strength of these two J-pop powerhouses.

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