KAMIYA opens up about bipolar disorder in XAMIYA video for ‘MONSTER’

XAMIYA, the duo of KAMIYA and Xansei, have released the music video for their third single ‘MONSTER’. The track dropped on February 26th, with the video following on March 5th.

‘MONSTER’ is a gentle, yet dark, dance bop with English and Japanese lyrics. The lyrical content confronts KAMIYA’s (Kamiya Airi) diagnosis of bipolar disorder. In a statement about the song, and her diagnosis, she said:

“I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. One day, while on my way to the studio in the car, I was suddenly overwhelmed by anxiety. ‘Will I have to live with this bipolar disorder for the rest of my life?’ Something deep inside me began to stir, slowly consuming me. This invisible force always feels like a ‘monster’ hunting me down. But within my heart, a decision was born: ‘I will not see this monster as an enemy, but as a friend!’ The monster transformed from mere fear into something I must coexist with. I hope that people who are surrounded by fear and anxiety can listen to this song, dance and sing with the monsters in their hearts, and learn to befriend them.”

The track, cowritten by singer Amelia Moore, and produced by Xansei and Taydex, has also received a surreal music video. The fever dream-like visuals see KAMIYA calmly surrounded by claymation monsters in her bedroom, and then a classroom full of kappa-esque classmates. The final moments of the video feature KAMIYA enjoying the company of two other monsters, before walking off into the night, hand in hand. Directed by Anisha Kapoor, the video captures KAMIYA’s feeling of acceptance toward her own ‘monster’.

In a post on Instagram, marking the release of ‘MONSTER’, she reminded fans, and maybe also herself that:

“If your heart changes, the world you see changes too. This is a world born from your own imagination. You can go to heaven or hell—it’s all up to you…
…I’m going all out, full-throttle girl mode!! And if you have to—RUN!! Running away isn’t the same as giving up. Protect yourself! Pour your love into those who are truly meant to be in your life. We are already connected. Let’s go, let’s go, let’s gooooo!!!!!!! Fucking goooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

In another post, she noted to fans “I hope it becomes something that feels like a remedy, something that stays close to your heart…”, and urged listeners to “forget all the bad stuff” while listening to the track. She also told fans “If you’re listening to ‘MONSTER’, you’re already my friend”.

Additionally, KAMIYA recently starred in the video for Mori Calliope’s latest single ‘Seeing Stars feat. Lotus Juice’. Despite her diagnosis, KAMIYA pushes forward in both her personal projects, and with XAMIYA.

Check out the video for ‘MONSTER’ by XAMIYA below.

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