Jpop: Crystal Kay

Crystal Kay somehow mixes the heritage that her African American father, Korean mother and Japanese birthplace/childhood has given her, evident in her music. She has done a lot of traditional Japanese R&B, really nice if you like that stuff, but I hold the odd "Dumb Ditty Dumb" from 2014 the highest.

• Crystal Kay - Dumb Ditty Dumb
• Crystal Kay - Superman
• Crystal Kay - If I Fall In Love (恋におちたら)
• Crystal Key - Forever
• Crystal Key - Delicious Friday (デリシャスな金曜日)
• Crystal Kay - Kirakuni

Kpop: Tiger JK ft Yoon Mi Rae - Forever (반가워요)

I am greatly sympathetic for what Tiger JK, Yoon Mirae and all their allies (as in MFBTY for example) stand for in contrast to the usual kpop, but still the music doesn't quite do it for me in the long run (not much rap does). So even though I liked their videos this winter (especially Bang Diggy Bang Bang) it wasn't enough for me to add them to the list of "listanable" music. It is ironic then that the new Forever is the first song that does it for me, as it is slow songs that most often is no-no's for me in most east asian music. The melancholy in Tiger JK's song for his fans suits the visual theme perfectly and it is somehow more "believable" than the videos before that was more of fantasies. The ethereal song of his wife Yoon Mirae contrast nicely and all in all I think it's a great piece of contemporary korean hip hop.

• Tiger JK ft Yoon Mi Rae - Forever (반가워요)
• MFBTY (Yoon Mirae, Tiger JK, Bizzy) - Bang Diggy Bang Bang (방뛰기방방) 
• Tiger JK ft Jinsil of Mad Soul Child - Reset 
• MFBTY ft EE & Rap Monster - Buckubucku (부끄부끄)

Mandopop: Jane Zhang (張靚穎)

Jane Zhang's new Bazaar reinforces the impression from Forever, that she is doing interesting uptempo songs now, which is precisely what I think most Mandopop needs as it then goes from sleepy to cool.

• Jane Zhang - Bazaar 
• Jane Zhang - Dust My Shoulders Off
• Jane Zhang - Forever (永遠)
• Jane Zhang - I am mine (我是我的)
• Jane Zhang - Painted Heart II (画心II)
• Jane Zhang - After smiling (微笑以後)

Jpop: Nona Reeves (ノーナ・リーヴス)

The band Nona Reeves was created back in 1995, and plays what I would call "nostalgic 70s retro" music. The name comes from Marvin Gave's daughter ("Nona") and Motown singer Marthe Reeves, and gives you a good implication of the sound they are aiming for. Even though (or because of) they sound a little more "modern", Gagarin and POPTRAIN is some of the best songs from Nona Reeves.

• Nona Reeves - Gagarin (ガガーリン)
• Nona Reeves - P-O-P-T-R-A-I-N
• Nona Reeves - Mr Melody Maker (Only Audio)
• Nona Reeves - Enjoyee! Your Lifetime
• Nona Reeves - Forever Forever (a mix of songs from the new album)
• Nona Reeves - Love Together
• Nona Reeves - Bad Girl
• Nona Reeves - Hey Everybody!

Kpop: Juniel (주니엘)

Choi Jun-hee is a singer/songwriter, known under the name Juniel, who studied in Japan and started her musical career there, and then debuted in Korea this year. Needs understanding of the lyrics, but even without that, the single Bad Man is a nice piece.

• Juniel - Bad man (나쁜 사람)
• Juniel - Fool (바보)
• Juniel - Illa illa (일라 일라)
• Juniel - Forever
• Juniel - Sakura... (さくら～とどかぬ想い～)