Patrick St. Michel

The Eurobeat boom, boom, boom, boom means the ’90s are back

Dust off your best para para dance moves, the sound of hi-NRG Heisei has returned.

Pioneering virtual YouTuber Kizuna AI goes on ‘indefinite hiatus’

Over five years, the digital character delivered a new kind of content geared toward digital natives. Now she's saying farewell with one last, livestreamed concert.

Sky-Hi: Taking up the fight for artistic freedom

The artist-turned-talent agency CEO says Japan’s music industry needs a major modern makeover.

Ado brings a flair for the dramatic to ‘Kyogen’

The rebellious teenage J-pop singer brings the sonic palette of the Japanese Vocaloid community to the mainstream and shows off her vocal versatility on her ...

Ado brings a flair for the dramatic to ‘Kyogen’

The rebellious teenage J-pop singer brings the sonic palette of the Japanese Vocaloid community to the mainstream and shows off her vocal versatility on her ...

The Tokyo club scene’s ‘temple’ may be gone, but the faith remains

As the COVID-19 pandemic drags on, the artists in Tokyo's club scene are turning to downsizing as a way to survive.

‘Bad Mode’ delivers some of the best songs of Hikaru Utada’s career

Hikaru Utada’s eighth full-length album is full of introspection, with the artist working on their personal growth and coming away with a better sense of ...