NiziU Drops First Korean Mini Album 'Sour Grapes' on September 28
jpop

NiziU Drops First Korean Mini Album 'Sour Grapes' on September 28

NiziU is releasing their first mini album in Korea, 'Sour Grapes', on September 28 at 6 p.m. The five-track project features the title track alongside 'Lullaby', 'Petal's Song', 'emoji', and 'Into The Dawn'.

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YOASOBI's Ayase Keeps It Simple: No Fancy Tech Needed
jpop

YOASOBI's Ayase Keeps It Simple: No Fancy Tech Needed

YOASOBI's producer Ayase reveals his music-making toolkit is surprisingly minimal—logic, a Sony mic, and yes, wired EarPods—proving that complex, maximalist pop doesn't require cutting-edge gear.

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YOASOBI on Going Viral: We're Not Chasing the Algorithm
jpop

YOASOBI on Going Viral: We're Not Chasing the Algorithm

YOASOBI's producer Ayase explained to Mashable why the duo doesn't write songs specifically for TikTok virality, even though hits like "Idol" have racked up hundreds of millions of streams and spawned countless online covers and dances.

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YOASOBI on Music Beyond Language at Grammy Museum Event
jpop

YOASOBI on Music Beyond Language at Grammy Museum Event

YOASOBI visited the Grammy Museum on September 14 for a Spotlight event, where Ayase and ikura discussed how their music connects with U.S. audiences despite language barriers. The duo reflected on their North American tour and how crowd reactions fuel their performances.

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YOASOBI Brings J-Pop to BlizzCon 2026 Overwatch World Cup
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YOASOBI Brings J-Pop to BlizzCon 2026 Overwatch World Cup

YOASOBI performed during BlizzCon 2026's first-ever esports halftime show on September 13, taking the stage inside the Overwatch World Cup Arena in Anaheim alongside celebrity guests including Simu Liu and T-Pain.

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NiziU Teases 'Sour Grapes' Comeback With Dynamic Performance Preview
jpop

NiziU Teases 'Sour Grapes' Comeback With Dynamic Performance Preview

NiziU is building momentum for their first domestic mini-album with a performance teaser for the title track 'Sour Grapes,' dropping September 28. The video hints at a fresh visual direction for the group.

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NiziU Teases 'Sour Grapes' Comeback with Dynamic Performance Video
jpop

NiziU Teases 'Sour Grapes' Comeback with Dynamic Performance Video

NiziU is building momentum for their first domestic mini-album with a performance teaser for the title track 'Sour Grapes,' set to release September 28. The video showcases a refreshed sound and visual style after the group's successful arena and dome tours.

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BE:FIRST Unveils 'WATCH ME feat. BIA' Music Video for U.S. Debut EP
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BE:FIRST Unveils 'WATCH ME feat. BIA' Music Video for U.S. Debut EP

BE:FIRST released their U.S. debut EP 'WATCH ME' on September 18, featuring American rapper BIA. The lead track's music video showcases choreography by member SOTA and emphasizes the group's natural energy and humor.

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BE:FIRST's 'Watch Me' EP Balances High-Energy Rap with Emotional Depth
jpop

BE:FIRST's 'Watch Me' EP Balances High-Energy Rap with Emotional Depth

BE:FIRST has released their new 5-track EP Watch Me, which pairs rapid-fire rap verses with powerful vocals across a mix of hard-hitting tracks and introspective ballads. The group is set to perform at 82WORLD in Los Angeles on October 17.

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BE:FIRST's 'Watch Me' EP Balances High-Energy Rap With Standout Ballad
jpop

BE:FIRST's 'Watch Me' EP Balances High-Energy Rap With Standout Ballad

BE:FIRST released their new five-track EP Watch Me, blending rapid-fire rap verses with powerful vocals across tracks featuring international artists. The project showcases the group's versatility, from explosive openers like the title track to the emotional depth of 'Paper Scars.'

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Sakurazaka46 Releases 'Ai MUST BE' Music Video With Airi Taniguchi
jpop

Sakurazaka46 Releases 'Ai MUST BE' Music Video With Airi Taniguchi

Sakurazaka46 has unveiled the music video for 'Ai MUST BE,' the title track of their upcoming 16th single. Third-generation member Airi Taniguchi takes the center position in the visually striking video.

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YOASOBI on Viral Success: We're Not Chasing the Algorithm
jpop

YOASOBI on Viral Success: We're Not Chasing the Algorithm

YOASOBI's producer Ayase says the duo doesn't write songs to go viral on TikTok, even though hits like "Idol" have racked up hundreds of millions of streams. He aims for a 60/40 split between art and commerce—not the 30/70 he sees in algorithm-driven songwriting.

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YOASOBI's 'Idol' Went Viral Without Chasing the Algorithm
jpop

YOASOBI's 'Idol' Went Viral Without Chasing the Algorithm

YOASOBI's hit 'Idol' racked up nearly 700 million YouTube views and became a global phenomenon, but producer Ayase says the duo doesn't intentionally write for TikTok or viral moments. Instead, he balances artistic vision with commercial viability.

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YOASOBI's Secret: Great Music Doesn't Require Expensive Gear
jpop

YOASOBI's Secret: Great Music Doesn't Require Expensive Gear

YOASOBI producer Ayase revealed his surprisingly simple toolkit for crafting the duo's intricate pop sound, proving that complex arrangements don't demand cutting-edge technology.

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Five Essential Vaundy Tracks for J-Pop Newcomers
jpop

Five Essential Vaundy Tracks for J-Pop Newcomers

Vaundy, the genre-fluid singer-songwriter, has become a gateway artist into J-pop for new listeners worldwide. A guide to five standout songs that showcase why his work resonates beyond devoted fans.

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YOASOBI Performs First BlizzCon Halftime Show During Overwatch World Cup
jpop

YOASOBI Performs First BlizzCon Halftime Show During Overwatch World Cup

Japanese pop duo YOASOBI took the stage at BlizzCon 2026 on September 13 for the gaming convention's inaugural esports halftime show, performing between Overwatch World Cup matches in Anaheim. The appearance highlighted a star-studded weekend that brought celebrities across gaming, music, and entertainment to Blizzard's return after a two-year hiatus.

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YOASOBI Performs First-Ever BlizzCon Halftime Show
jpop

YOASOBI Performs First-Ever BlizzCon Halftime Show

Japanese pop duo YOASOBI took the stage at BlizzCon 2026 in Anaheim on Sunday, September 13, performing during the Overwatch World Cup in the convention's first-ever esports halftime show. The appearance highlighted a star-studded weekend that brought together gaming, music, and entertainment.

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YOASOBI's Maximalist Sound Built on Surprisingly Simple Tech
jpop

YOASOBI's Maximalist Sound Built on Surprisingly Simple Tech

YOASOBI's intricate, densely layered pop comes from a lean production setup: Ayase relies on Logic Pro, Splice, a Sony microphone, and even wired EarPods rather than fancy studio gear. The producer's minimalist approach to technology lets the music—not the equipment—drive the distinctive YOASOBI sound.

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YOASOBI's Maximalist Sound Comes from Minimalist Tech
jpop

YOASOBI's Maximalist Sound Comes from Minimalist Tech

YOASOBI keeps their production setup surprisingly lean, relying on Logic Pro, Splice, a Sony microphone, and even wired EarPods to craft their densely layered pop songs. Ayase's toolkit proves the duo's intricate sound isn't about expensive gear—it's about what the producer does with accessible tools.

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YOASOBI to Perform at BlizzCon 2026 Esports Halftime Show
jpop

YOASOBI to Perform at BlizzCon 2026 Esports Halftime Show

YOASOBI will headline BlizzCon 2026's first-ever esports halftime show, performing their Overwatch collaboration track 'Orion' alongside other songs. The duo discussed how creating game music differs from anime themes and how J-pop's genre flexibility lets it blend with gaming culture.

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