Sun’s out, tunes out baby 😎

That’s right, summer has come (in a categorical sense for some, I know, depending on where you liv-) and so has the Monthly Recommendation Roundup! Here to deliver some of the hottest tracks from this past lovely month of June. If you already knew that and you’re chomping at the bit to see what I have in store for you guys today, please be my guest and go on right ahead. However, if this happens to be your first time here on the blog (welcome!) and you’re not quite sure what this is exactly:

At the end of each month, I put together a post featuring Japanese music that I’ve listened to and want to recommend to you all. Keep in mind, these songs don’t necessarily have to be recent releases. Some might be tracks I’ve just discovered, while others could be longtime favorites that I’m excited to share on a whim.

The songs I feature will all come from YouTube links to their respective PVs, which means there are some limitations on what I can include. However, I find that sticking to one platform ensures the most accessibility for everyone (and there are easy workarounds for region restrictions). This also allows me to create a playlist of all the songs featured in each Roundup, which I update and share at the end of every post

So, hope you’re all staying well-hydrated, because things are about to heat up from here!

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Ghost
by muque
Remember what got you to the dance

Oftentimes, one of the biggest pitfalls for Japanese bands and artists (and really just everywhere else in general) is the shift in sound that tends to come with either signing to a major record label or getting that big mainstream break. I’m sure a lot of you know exactly what I’m talking about as it’s something we’ve all seen happen time and time again. While I honestly thought muque might be immune to this, given the strong sense of self-identity they’ve always projected, it seems they might be starting to fall victim to this very phenomenon, if their song Carnival is anything to go by. I talked about it in this month’s Advance Party in anticipation of their recently released EP DOPE!, describing Carnival as strangely risk-averse, missing the hallmarks of what got muque to the dance in the first place. However, all might not be lost just yet. Alongside Carnival is Ghost, which, in stark contrast, is pure, unadulterated muque at its best, with Takachi’s signature loops and Asakura’s impeccable toplines. Whether or not this style of theirs becomes a ghost of its own remains to be seen, but I sure hope they continue to stay the course.

君とParadiso/kimi to paradiso
by セブンス・ベガ (“7thVega”)
Speaking of staying the course

7thVega continue to be on track as one of this year’s breakout acts. For those keeping score, the promising four-piece has managed to maintain a steady presence all year, dropping new songs practically every other month. That said, it doesn’t seem like they’re doing it haphazardly either. With this latest release, Kimi to paradiso, it’s starting to look like the band is following a particular theme. If you remember, their April 2025 single Tamago to gyuunyuu to record showcased a Showa-inspired retro aesthetic both sonically and visually. 7thVega not only stick with that vibe here but really double down on it, evoking soundscapes reminiscent of Yoshimi Iwasaki’s Touch. With this direction in mind, I’m inclined to believe the band might be gearing up for an overall retro-themed release sometime soon. My money’s on an EP debut later this summer. That being said, I’m curious to see if they’ll fully commit to this style given how well it’s working for them so far. I’d honestly be surprised if they did, knowing what the band is capable of, but I certainly wouldn’t be mad at it either.

燃やせ/moyase
by 明くる夜の羊 (akuruyo no hitsuji)
Burning brightly as ever

I can think of quite a few choice words to describe Akuruyo no Hitsuji’s energy and overall vibe, and Moyase (“burning”) would definitely be one of them. Now, while they’re certainly fire (as the kids might sa-), I’m actually talking about the fiery passion the band wears on their sleeves whenever they perform. The fast, thumping drum work, those lively riffs, it’s all there. But a lot of that impact really comes down to vocalist Kawano Yui’s equally passionate singing, which I feel like I end up praising every single time I feature one of their songs here on the Roundup (lol). I mean, seriously, just listen to her. Their songs practically feel like rousing anthems, stuff that makes your spirit and morale soar the moment you hear it. At the very least that’s the effect they have on me. The band actually just dropped their third EP earlier this month, though Moyase isn’t on it for some reason. Regardless, I highly recommend checking it out after we’re done here. It’s titled deep into_ and if you liked what you heard here, you’re definitely gonna love that release too.

夏とあんたが嫌いです/natsu to anta ga kirai desu
by 乃紫 (noa)
She’s so good

It’s been a good while since we last featured singer-songwriter noa here on the Roundup. In that time, she’s continued to enjoy mainstream success thanks to her very deliberate, calculated songwriting that’s clearly geared toward a teen audience. The hooks to her songs are practically a fixture on Japanese SNS, popping up regularly in clips and reels. As the implication suggests, this is entirely by design, and honestly, the way she’s been able to capitalize on that specific niche is nothing short of impressive in my opinion. That said, what I really appreciate about noa is that even though she clearly understands how to craft a viral hit (she has so many under her belt at this point), she still goes out and writes these earnest, straightforward songs like Natsu to anta ga kirai desu. She does this every now and then, and while those tracks don’t tend to do as well numbers-wise as her SNS-friendly ones, it seems like she just can’t help herself. She’s a rocker at heart, and for that, she’ll always have my respect. She’s long overdue for an album release, which I really hope we get sometime later this year.

Die or feel
by chilldspot
They keep getting better

On the subject of folks we haven’t seen here in a while, please welcome back the first (and so far only) two-time award winner in the Roundup Awards: chilldspot, who took home my Most Improved Band honor for two consecutive years (2023 and 2024). Will they complete the hat trick and win it a third time this year? Who knows. The band hasn’t had a major release yet this year, whether an EP or an album for us to really be able to gauge. That said, I wouldn’t be too surprised if they pulled it off. If Die or feel is anything to go by, they’re already better than they were before. Everything about this track is just perfection: the smooth bass line, the grainy guitar distortion, vocalist Hiyune’s lush delivery, the overall groovy vibe. These elements have always been their calling card since the start, but the level of polish and execution seems to keep getting better with every release. That’s also why their sound never feels stale, even though they don’t stray too far from their roots, and honestly, I would like to think that in itself is pretty damn impressive.

36℃
by 鈴木実貴子ズ (suzuki mikiko zu)
Raw emotion

I’m admittedly a little late to the party, considering guitarist/vocalist Suzuki Mikiko and drummer Zu (who collectively make up “Suzuki Mikiko Zu”) have been putting out music for the better part of six years now. But I finally got acquainted with them earlier this month, and suffice it to say, I was quickly enamored with their sound. As you’d expect from this setup, the instrumentation is pretty bare for the most part. But in 36℃, that empty space is instead filled with Suzuki’s raw, emotive singing. Her voice is already striking on its own, but that subtle rasp gives it this weary, weathered quality that hits on a much deeper level. Shaking you to the very core. I think it helps, too, that the minimal arrangement leaves so much room for her voice to really carry. Conversely, the pairing of just acoustic guitar and drums lends the whole thing a wonderfully raw and organic feel. Almost like listening to a busker performing in the streets. Honestly, I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of them before now, but I’m so glad I get to enjoy their music going forward.

観覧車/kanransha
by Romanesco Roman
This month is really one for the shoegaze/dream pop fans out there

This June saw the launch of arguably two of the most thought-provoking albums in the Japanese shoegaze/dream pop space with Hammer Head Shark’s 27°C and iVy’s Konransuru apatite. In addition to those, there’s also, dare I say, an equally promising indie release in the form of Nagoya-based four-piece Romanesco Roman’s Mou ikune EP, which dropped earlier this month. To peel the curtain back a little: the band actually reached out to me a couple of weeks ago via X. After seeing which bands I’d been talking about recently, they felt I might enjoy their music too. I was already checking out the EP beforehand, but I felt even more inclined to feature them here when they asked me to help share their music with the world. So here we are. I picked Kanransha for this Roundup because I think it showcases so much of what I really like about Romanesco Roman’s sound. Those nice, grainy guitars and thunderous drums layered under a thin veil of noise. But more than anything else, I really enjoyed vocalist sumi’s singing. Her light, airy voice is just so well suited to this style, and it actually reminds me a lot of Split end’s Nanami, who I’ve been a longtime fan of. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on them, and I highly recommend you guys check out their EP too.

GIANT KILLER
by LAURELS
That’s a heavy sound

In as much as Japanese three-piece bands once practically became a genre unto themselves (often overlapping with “girls rock” when talking about all-female lineups), that’s just not the case anymore, and I think that’s a good thing. We’re now seeing bands like Brandy Senki and CLAN QUEEN really come into their own with styles that feel distinctly theirs. Some might say it’s always been like that and just didn’t get enough exposure, and honestly? I’d mostly agree. That’s actually why I want to highlight LAURELS here, because I really think they’re worth paying attention to. I’m hard-pressed to name another three-piece (past or present) that leans this hard into hard rock both in terms of sounds and aesthetic. I’m genuinely curious to see how they carve out their niche. You get a glimpse of it in GIANT KILLER here, and while there are a couple of things I wouldn’t mind them refining (the song structure in particular, I think that instrumental break would hit even harder if it came later), the rock spirit is absolutely there.

さまpake/samapake
by Nikoん (nikon)
Absolute euphoria

If this is your first time hearing about Nikoん, especially if you’re tuning in from the Western streaming sphere, I wouldn’t blame you at all. The duo’s music isn’t available on any of the big digital subscription services right now. In a note about their debut album public melodies, guitarist/vocalist Oosuka explained that this wasn’t meant as some big “fxck you” to streaming platforms, but rather he didn’t see the point of an upstart band jumping straight onto them. Instead, he wanted to measure genuine interest more directly, opting for a “name your price” model online. Judging by their recent signing to an avex subsidiary label, I’d say that gamble paid off, given the solid cult following they’ve built up. Whether they’ll stay off streaming services remains to be seen, but the fact that Samapake got a PV feels like it could be a sign of things shifting. The melodic layering here is absolutely top-notch (especially with the guest vocals from Katou Rene and Hirose Ayumi of sabanoomisony), and I’d really love to see more of their music become easier for everyone to access.

FEVER TIME
by OddRe:
There’s something here, I can feel it, this time for sure (lol)

I know I’ve said this on more than a few occasions already about bands and artists I’ve featured here on the Roundup, especially in this unofficial indie band spotlight slot, but this time, I really do feel it in my heart of hearts: OddRe: is absolutely one to watch. They’ve got the look, they’ve got character, but most important of all, they have the sound, as you’ll hear in FEVER TIME here. And man, what a sound it is. If I had to try and describe it, I’d say it’s like a cross between ecosystem (with vocalist AirA’s singing style bearing a striking resemblance to Tsubosaka Megumi) and, funnily enough, since I featured them earlier, muque. Maybe that’s already a sign of things to come. One of the biggest similarities with muque is that OddRe:, like them, also have a trackmaker as part of their band, which explains the use of beat loops in their songs. Maybe that’s just the new meta these days? Either way, I can’t wait to hear more from them. An official PV for the track is set to drop soon as well, so be sure to keep an eye out for that.

MUST LISTEN:
“Ghost” by muque and “FEVER TIME” by OddRe:
If this ends up being the last time we hear something like this from muque, then so be it, but if not, let this track stand as yet another fun, addictive addition to their growing repertoire. I don’t think they’ve “sold out” just yet, and the jury’s still out on whether they’ll fall victim to the so-called “One Piece curse” (lol) of losing their edge after a big tie-up (something their labelmates Chilli Beans. arguably struggled with for a bit). That being said, I have faith the Fukuoka four-piece can avoid that fate. In the meantime, while I’m not saying OddRe: are the next muque just yet, they made a really strong case for themselves with FEVER TIME here. I love the energy. The zaniness. The general vibe. I’m 100% sold. It’s not perfect, of course, there are definitely things I’d tweak. Personally, I’d trim it down a bit, maybe even carve out some of the middle section. But overall, I think they’re a promising band with a very promising sound.

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The YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music playlists have ALL now been updated with this month’s featured tracks. So if you haven’t yet, be sure to follow along on your preferred listening platform!

And if you’re still craving even more recommendations, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Check out the Roundup Extended Playlist (EP) down below for even more picks I couldn’t squeeze into the main list!

What did you all think of this month’s Roundup? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

And of course, if you’ve got any picks of your own from the past month, don’t be shy! Share them down below too! I’d love to hear what y’all have been listening to!

This month’s featured album releases over at the J-Music Advance Party did not disappoint. I already had a good feeling CLAN QUEEN and Hammer Head Shark would deliver, but I was genuinely and pleasantly surprised by what iVy and Chakura brought to the table with their new albums. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, or why I’m talking about releases all of a sudden, I actually run a separate series on my Substack newsletter where I go over upcoming albums, EPs, and mini albums I’m personally excited for at the start of each month. If that sounds like your vibe, feel free to subscribe and become a Party-goer (it’s totally free!) The next issue is dropping on July 6, 2025. Hope to see you there!

Week 12 and Week 13 of the Spotify J-Music Playlist Draft also wrapped up this month! If you haven’t been following along, the short version is: Spotify’s been absolutely handing it to me with some ridiculously good recommendations lately. Go take a look and see what I’m talking about (and pick up some cool recs of your own while you’re at it)!

Lastly, the J-Music Exchange/Rate made its return this month, just in time to celebrate its fifth (!!!!!) consecutive year as a fixture here on the blog and over at my good buddy Al’s Omunibasu Substack. To mark this special milestone, we decided to shake things up a bit. Instead of our usual album trade built around a set theme, we swapped “mixtapes” in the form of playlists. Each of us curated a selection of songs we thought the other would enjoy, centered on a theme of our choosing. We also had to build our playlists around a custom set of “exemptions” the other person laid out to make things a little more challenging for the both of us. My mixtape is titled round trip to the underground, which you can actually check out on Spotify, YouTube Music, or Apple Music, whichever you prefer! Once you’ve given it a listen, you can read Al’s review of it here!. Meanwhile, Al’s mixtape is called more than kawaii. If you haven’t yet, you can see what I thought of it here!

Whew! That about does it for me. Thank you all so, SO much, for dropping by whenever you guys do. As always, the hope is that this month’s Roundup was as fun for you to check out as it was for me making it 😌 Catch you all later!

Happy Listening!