Jpop: Cupitron (キュピトロン)

Japanese trio Cupitron has released their second video following up their debut last year. I loved them using the Robot Restuarant in Tokyo for their first "Unicorn Parade" (just like Amiaya did with their "Magic Color", so it's obvious how the place inspires in regards to its wild design palette). Cupitron's version of idol pop is a rather intensive EDM with colorful and futuristic costumes (these ones designed by Shinohara Tomoe!) in the videos. The new video is part of a CF for Panasonic batteries, as you can't miss if you watch it, but what made me like it was that I found this track had a little more non-standard idol personality.

• Cupitron - Battery (バッテリー)
• Cupitron - Unicorn Parade (ユニコーンパレード)

Jpop: Amiaya - Pink Lady Mash-up 2015

Tokyo duo Amiaya's video "Pink Lady mash-up 2015" is a remake of Pink Lady combined with images that is on par with what Kyary Pamyu Pamyu does.

• Amiaya - Pink Lady Mash-up 2015

Jpop: Amiaya - Dio

Tokyo Duo Amiaya is going strong right now with the follow up (on recent Star Line) with their "Dio". They have begun to really establish their distinctive visual style and sound, as Dio is a clear example of (even if they may have overdone the greyscale a bit). This is actually the first video where the song in itself is more interesting than the video.

• Amiaya - Dio

Jpop: Amiaya - STAR LINE

Fashionable Tokyo duo Amiaya is back with their new single Star Line. It is somehow fashionable, laid back, mellow and tokyo disco at the same time.

• Amiaya - Star Line

Jpop/Tokyo pop: Amiaya (アミアヤ)

Twin models/music artist Ami and Aya Suzuki made me think of the swedish duo Fiona and Rebecca somehow in attitude and approach to music, coming somehow from a less used road into music. (This may be unfair to F&R as they are much more in control of the music process, but at the same time that also holds true for the artistic expression of A&A). Now, one could argue in the case of the Tokyo based twins that they are just repeating what Kyaru Pamyu Pamyu have done before (and really many other jpop artist), by mixing fashion and general curiousity into the musical expression, but it somehows feels a little fresh too.They have also said that they want to create a whole new genre called Tokyo pop. That may be as it is, but at the same time, I think they may be an indicator of a new generation jpop artists who wants to reach the whole world. If you want a basic introduction to the Japanese phenomena of getting into music through modelling (dokusha models) here is a very nice interview by MTV81 with the Amiya sisters.

• Amiaya - Star Line
• Amiaya - Magic Color (マジックカラー)
• Amiaya - Play that music
• Amiaya - Dreamer's Dream (making-of-video here)

If this isn't an unintentional(?) and interesting comment on the fashion industry I dont know what is...