Made a list with my 50 favorite releases of the year so far (it's not a ranking). Extremely strong year for Japanese music, whether it's from new talents, veterans, artists that fall right in between…
If I had to pick my favorite new artist of 2021 so far, it's definitely WurtS. Dude came out of nowhere with his EPs and I'm already hooked.
The hip-hop crew Deep Leaf is also super promising.
Also happy to follow the growth of young artists I discovered these past two years like Kubota Kai, Kroi, Mr.Forte, CVLTE, Nishina, PEOPLE 1, Eisyu, Dongurizu, sloppy dim, Nakimushi, BREIMEN, Akiyama Kiiro…
- indigo la End - 夜行秘密 (Yakou Himitsu)
- KID FRESINO - 20,Stop it.
- SixTONES - 1ST
- Lucky Kilimanjaro - DAILY POP
- 梅田サイファー - ビッグジャンボジェット (Umeda Cypher - Big Jumbo Jet)
- 平井賢 - あなたになりたかった (Hirai Ken - Anata ni Naritakatta)
- go!go!vanillas - PANDORA
- クボタカイ - 来光 (Kubota Kai - Raikou)
- ヒトリエ (Hitorie) - REAMP
- Awesome City Club - Grower
- にしな (Nishina) - odds and ends
- YUKI - Terminal
- 櫻坂46 (Sakurazaka46) - BAN
- KANDYTOWN - LOCAL SERVICE 2
- SIRUP - cure
- PEOPLE 1 - Something Sweet, Something Excellent
- 変態紳士クラブ (Hentai Shinshi Club) - ZURUMUKE
- 映秀。(Eisyu) - 第壱楽章 (Dai Ichi Gakushou)
- Nulbarich - NEW GRAVITY
- Mr.ふぉるて (Mr. Forte) - sweet life
- millennium parade - THE MILLENNIUM PARADe
- 5lack - Title
- SUPER BEAVER - アイラブユー (I Love You)
- KOTORI - We Are The Future
- YOASOBI - THE BOOK
- 秋山黄色 (Akiyama Kiiro) - FIZZY POP SYNDROME
- ずっと真夜中でいいのに。- ぐされ (Zutto Mayonaka de Iinoni - Gusare)
- Tempalay - ゴーストアルバム (Ghost Album)
- 向井太一 (Mukai Taichi) - COLORLESS
- アイナ・ジ・エンド (Aina The End) - THE END
- 須田景凪 (Suda Keina) - Billow
- どんぐりず (Dongurizu) - 4EP1
- 泣き虫 (Nakimushi) - rendez-vous
- Yung kiss - Z-POP
- くるり - 天才の愛 (Quruki - Tensai no Ai)
- BREIMEN - Play time isn't over
- 崎山蒼志 (Sakiyama Soushi) - find fuse in youth
- 生活は忘れて - 生活 (Seikatsu wa Wasurete - Seikatsu)
- 乃木坂46 - ごめんえFingers crossed (Nogizaka46 - Gomen ne Fingers crossed)
- CVLTE - praystation 2
- odol - はためき (Hatameki)
- WurtS - 檸檬の日々 (Lemon no Hibi)
- 東京事変 - 音楽 (Tokyo Jihen - Music)
- the LOW-ATUS - 旅鳥小唄/Songbirds of Passage
- kobore - Orange
- SPARTA - 兆し (Kizashi)
- Kroi - LENS
- sloppy dim - Coordinate
- Deep Leaf - infinite
- YONA YONA WEEKENDERS - 唄が歩く時 (Uta ga Aruku Toki)
Here's the Spotify playlist to go along (SixTONES aren't on streaming services, unfortunately)
Best of 2021 - Part 1 · Playlist · 49 songs · 2 likes
open.spotify.com
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