Japanese math rock outfit tricot has kicked off a new creative venture called tricotX, debuting the project with a demo track titled "260525_samurai" released today. The project exists as a way for the band to deliver their evolving sound in real time, capturing what they're playing right now rather than waiting for traditional album cycles.

According to the band, the future direction of tricotX remains open-ended—they're uncertain whether "260525_samurai" will get reworked versions or if the next release will be something completely different. The point is flexibility: tricot plans to use tricotX as an ongoing outlet for "the music they're making in any given moment."

The band also announced a 16th anniversary celebration show happening September 1st at Tokyo's Liquidroom, titled simply "X." Standard tickets are priced at ¥5,500, but notably, the band is offering tickets for ¥1,000 to anyone under 20—a nod to fostering younger listeners.

Tricot formed in 2010 as a three-piece featuring vocalist/guitarist Ikkyuu Nakajima, guitarist Kida Motifaux, and bassist Hiromi Hirohiro. Drummer Yusuke Yoshida joined officially in 2017 after contributing to their third album. The band has grown from self-released bedroom recordings to touring internationally across North America and Europe, eventually signing to Avex and releasing their major-label debut "真っ黒" (Massao Kuro) in 2020.

Known for their unpredictable song structures and technical proficiency, tricot has built a devoted following through their dynamic live shows and complex compositions that defy easy categorization. The tricotX project represents another evolution in how they're choosing to connect with fans, prioritizing immediacy and spontaneity over the traditional album release framework.

Visual design for the anniversary show and tricotX branding comes from Tomokazu Washio.