Second Aimyon. All the way up to her recent works too. In terms of labels, are there any Japanese labels you see as the equivalent of the larger indie's in the West who are heavily influential even in the mainstream? Or are the netlabel / subculture scene very separate from the mainstream in Japan?
I think a handful of "more indie" label have a fair amount of influence on J-pop...KAKUBARHYTHM, Park, and maybeeee Trekkie Trax, albeit more in that their artists go on to produce for a lot of mainstream adjacent acts. I think it's more about fragmented scenes at this point...there's no central label to it, but Vocaloid remains super influential on J-pop, most of it kind of just bubbling up from YouTube.
It's so interesting how different the regions are in terms of cross-pollination between subculture and whatever "mainstream" culture is. very much enjoy your coverage. thank you
I'm also going through a bit of a Vaundy phase (only it's the first I've heard of him, thanks to SxF) and I never thought of it as city pop, at all. I suppose it's a good thing.
Second Aimyon. All the way up to her recent works too. In terms of labels, are there any Japanese labels you see as the equivalent of the larger indie's in the West who are heavily influential even in the mainstream? Or are the netlabel / subculture scene very separate from the mainstream in Japan?
I think a handful of "more indie" label have a fair amount of influence on J-pop...KAKUBARHYTHM, Park, and maybeeee Trekkie Trax, albeit more in that their artists go on to produce for a lot of mainstream adjacent acts. I think it's more about fragmented scenes at this point...there's no central label to it, but Vocaloid remains super influential on J-pop, most of it kind of just bubbling up from YouTube.
It's so interesting how different the regions are in terms of cross-pollination between subculture and whatever "mainstream" culture is. very much enjoy your coverage. thank you
I'm also going through a bit of a Vaundy phase (only it's the first I've heard of him, thanks to SxF) and I never thought of it as city pop, at all. I suppose it's a good thing.