FUSION OCT / NOV ISSUE

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OCTOBER 2022

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TAYLOR

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WAKANDA FOREVER

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We take a more in-depth look at what Marvel has accomplished with this movie, as well as what’s in store for Black Panther in the future.

STEVE AOKI

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As we take a look at his history and what he is doing today and what is currently Steve Aoki doing, we can see that Steve Aoki is still going strong.

SUMMER SONIC

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If you missed it this year, you’ll know not to miss it next year at the summer sonic held in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan, every summer. This year’s summer sonic begins with a bang and is

FLOW THE EXCLUSIVE 22

FEATURED 06 NETF LIX

TOP

F LICKS

its that time to have you see whats good and what you must check out!

37 R E- CAP

TH E KID

LAR OI

with his apperance in this years show overseas The kid shows up in tokyo and have a great performance that will leave fans wanting for more

18 AR TISTS SP OTLIG H T We feature this months artists that you should keep an eye for and we are proiud to introduce them on this months artists spotlight

04 Os c a r Is a a c The standard chunk of Lorem Ipsum used since the 1500s is English versions from the 1914 translation by H. Rackham versions.

12 R EP EZ EN F OX Tthe internet is buzzing of them all over japan and now its time for them to grow outside of japan

40 MUSIC YOU MUST KNOW Here are the top pics for this nmonth that if you dont know now you know

Copyrights Netflix

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etflix originals aren’t limited to romantic comedies featuring performers you haven’t heard of in decades or mushy Hallmark-style holiday films. the media service has been instrumental in establishing the market for online video distribution in the past decade. New data shows that original content now accounts for 50% of Netflix’s US library. Netflix has spent close to $17 billion on content in the past several years, mostly on developing its own shows and movies.

Some of the movies they’ve been trying out are Oscar winners like Roma and Marriage Story and highly praised films like The Power of the Dog (12 Oscar nominations).

Subscribers are kept delighted by a constant supply of fascinating new original films, such as Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Gray Man, and Don’t Look Up. Here are the top movies that Netflix has released so far in 2022.

THE BEST OF NETFLIX

Netflix has really stepped up their game this year, producing some of

the greatest Hollywood movies you could wish for on a service that typically targets those who watch movies in theaters.

Movies that Netflix had a license to stream, like older films, used to be more readily available than they are now since the company is putting more of its resources into producing first-run programming.

Let’s use the film “Stranger Things” as an example. For the past four years, you’ve been able to watch one of the finest TV series of all time right here, and now it’s returning for a fifth season.

Indeed, Netflix has been, in my opinion, a major force in the development of the modern streaming services industry. for me personaly Stranger Things is the show that made me become a faithful Netflix user. After watching the show, I finally understood why so many people of my generation had such a positive view of the 1980s. I think it’s great that the Duffer brothers have managed to package so much of what was going on in the 80s at the time—from music to horror films to just about everything else—into one tv show such as Stranger Things.

NETFLIX TOP 20 LONGER EPISODES MORE FUN It came as a surprise to some when Netflix announced that episodes of Stranger Things Season 4 will be longer than in previous years, but that doesn’t imply the season finale is a short film.

Prepare to devote four hours for as much Upside Down mayhem as your attention span can manage, and know that you will never be bored. Truer than ever before, this is Stranger Things at its most heartfelt, exhilarating, and yes, ambitious. That’s also peak Stranger Things.

THE END IS NEAR The announcement that Season 5 of Stranger Things will be the final was discussed by the show’s creators, the Duffer brothers, as well as director/ executive producer Shawn Levy and others. “ We knew we had to start revealing some of these huge answers as we went down to shoot [Season] 4,” Ross Duffer remarked. And as soon as we began providing some of these comprehensive explanations, we knew that the end was near.”

Accordingly, faithful viewers can be confident that the final season will provide a plethora of new information about the Upside Down, Eleven, Vecna, and Hawkins, while still leaving plenty of questions unanswered.

It’s at this point that the Duffer brothers’ overall strategy becomes clear, with even the Mind Flayer and other villains from earlier seasons having some bearing on the current events.

When it comes to villains, Vecna Xcepteur sint occaecat cupidatat is still just as scary and terrifynonwas proident, sunt in culpa qui ofing as he before. ficia deserunt mollit anim id est Let’s just say that we’re hoping laborum. the wait for the final season won’t be as long as it was for this one.

While it doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, we are left with a sense of just how much has to be addressed in Season 5. In the end, it’s a lot like Avengers: Infinity War, only the stakes are considerably greater and it sets up what promises to be an even more epic final season. Simply put, I can’t wait for the

last act. It’s a shame and a loss to see the franchise die. I think the reason we all fell in love with the Stranger Things cast was because we could identify to them and get to know them on a more intimate level because to the strong emotional ties that were established between us and them. I found that each season of Stranger Things has its own

unique atmosphere and perspective on the show’s various storylines.

Season 3 of Stranger Things was one of the finest for me because,we loves fireworks and the Fourth of July, the show’s producers knew how to make twist this into a show that will last for ages

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scar Isaac, whose performance as Moon Knight won over audiences, said that it had become one of his favorites. The success of Jeremy Slater’s Moon Knight shows that the character is one of Marvel’s most groundbreaking creations.

Because it contains the most mature themes of any of the films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Moon Knight stands out as a unique and distinctive entry in the Marvel canon. The story of Moon Knight, directed by Mohammad Diab, centers on the two aliases of a person who suffers from dissociative identity

COP YR IG H TS

ALL IMAGES ARE COURTASEY OF DISNEY / MARVEL

disorder and is intertwined with Khonshu, the Egyptian god of the moon. The actor, who is now 43 years old, has said that starring as the main character in the Disney+ series Moon Knight is one of the most gratifying roles he has ever played in his career. in an interview that was shown on Disney+, Issac praised Marvel Studios for being open to new concepts and letting their creative juices run freely. In

addition to this, he valued the fact that they encouraged them and allowed them the freedom to make “huge swings.” “I would never have guessed, and I don’t mean this derogatorily, that this would be one of my most creatively fulfilling adventures,” Isaac stated. “Because it was just like everyone was throwing things out onto the table and taking big swings on a

major stage. That we had the faith and not only the space to do it, but the support to do it was just amazing.” In an interview conducted earlier this year, Director Mohammad Diab noted, “He’s a fascinating figure. Even if we haven’t received any official information concerning the future of Moon Knight, he’s an interesting character. If you are Marvel, I believe that the best course of action for your

company would be to retain his services. The one exception is that Marvel is not a conventional company. Even if you are successful, it is not guarantee that you will be given a second season. in addition, he made it clear that he does not have any preconceived notions on the trajectory of Moon Knight. “By the way, I’m not given any information. I have no clue. Right now, I’m simply trying to think like a

businessperson. On the other hand, I believe that they will remain. Perhaps it will be turned into a movie. It’s possible that this will be a long and winding road, much as what occurred with WandaVision. I have a dream that one day, if there is a promotion, I will be a part of the promotion. We came to a conclusion that gave the impression of a new beginning. You see Mark and Steven merging into one

entity, so creating a new force to contend with. We see Jake.

You come across the Scarlet Scarab, a character that may or may not be a superhero.

Amazingly fascinating material.” the series Moon Knight is now available to view on Disney+.

THE TOP FLICKS D AY SH IF T

Y o u ’ll b e o n th e e d g e o f y o u r s e a t w h ile w a t c h in g th e a c tio n c o m e d y D a y S h ift, w h ic h s ta r s a s t e lla r c a s t. T o g e th e r w ith D a v e F r a n c o , w h o p la y s h is c o m p a n io n a n d fe llo w v a m p ir e h u n te r, J a m ie F o x x p o r tr a y s a v a m p ir e h u n te r w h o w o r k s a s a p o o l c le a n e r d u r in g th e d a y a n d h u n ts v a m p ir e s a t n ig h t w h ile tr y in g to m a k e e n d s m e e t. O h , a n d S n o o p D o g g s h o w s u p in a p a r tic u la r w a y . W h a t m o r e c o u ld y o u p o s s ib ly w a n t from a film?

TH E W EEKEND AW AY

T w o fr ie n d s g o t o C r o a tia fo r a b r e a k in th is m o v ie w ith L e ig h to n M e e s te r a s a y o u n g la d y c a lle d B e th , b u t th in g s r a p id ly go out of hand. After a wild night out, eth finds herself une x p e c te d ly im m e r s e d in a m y s te r io u s r e a lm w h e n h e r b u d d y v a n is h e s . T h is in t r ig u in g a n d e x c it in g s t o r y w ill h a v e y o u o n th e e d g e o f y o u r s e a t..

SP ID ER H EAD

T h is m o v ie , s ta r r in g C h r is H e m s w o r th , M ile s T e lle r, a n d J u r n e e S m o lle tt, is b a s e d o n a s h o r t ta le b y G e o r g e S a u n d e r s a n d c e n te r s o n p r is o n e r s in a p e n ite n tia r y w h o a g r e e t o t r y o u t n e w m i n d -a l t e r i n g m e d i c a t i o n s i n r e t u r n for lighter sentences. This dystopian sci-fi movie will transport y o u to a s tr a n g e n e w p la n e t.

TH E G R AY MANE

yan osling is the star of this year’s biggest box office hit, w h ic h w a s m a d e b y A n th o n y a n d J o e R u s s o , k n o w n fo r th e ir w o r k o n th e M a r v e l m o v ie s . G o s lin g p o r tr a y s S ie r r a S ix , a c o v e r t s p y w h o h a s m a n y c h a r a c te r is tic s w ith a M a r v e l s u p e r h e r o . T h e a c tio n in th e m o v ie m o v e s a t b r e a k n e c k p a c e , a n d s t a r s i n c l u d i n g C h r i s E v a n s , R e g é -J e a n P a g e , a n d A n a d e A r m a s d o a c tio n s tu n ts . A s e q u e l a n d a s p in o ff h a v e a lr e a d y b e e n p la n n e d f o r T h e G r a y M a n d u e t o it s p o p u la r it y .

METAL LOR D S

J a e d e n M a r te ll ( o f “ IT ” ) a n d A d r ia n G r e e n s m ith ( o f “ T h e Flash” portray two high school misfits who decide to oin a m e t a l b a n d a n d e n t e r t h e s c h o o l’s b a t t le o f t h e b a n d s . I n if c o m in g o f a g e w a s n ’t c h a lle n g in g e n o u g h , tr y r e c r u itin g y o u r g ir lfr ie n d to p la y g u ita r in y o u r m e ta l b a n d w ith y o u r b e s t b u d dy. For a nostalgic trip down memory lane, put on this film a b o u t d is g r u n tle d te e n a g e r s .

TEX AS CH AINSAW MASSACR E

In s p ite o f t h e m a n y e n tr ie s in th e Texas hainsaw assacre film series, this 2022 installment is a proper continuation of the first film. As the narrative of a group of young people w h o w a n t to s t a r t a c o m p a n y in Harlow, Texas unfolds, the optimistic teenagers will have to face the town’s terrible past and uncertain future.

J ACKASS 4 . 5

We really needed a film like ackass Forever earlier this year, and it delivers in spades. When ackass 4. was released on et ix, we were ecstatic since it included all of the deleted scenes from the theatrical version.

P H OTOCOP IER

A young lady wakes up to find that p ic tu r e s o f h e r fr o m t h e n ig h t b e fo r e when she was intoxicated had gone viral on the internet. She has no recollection of the events of that night and must now fight to clear her name in order to protect her academic standing and professional reputation.

This Indonesian criminal thriller has riveting social criticism and will have you on the edge of your seat.

MUNICH : TH E ED G E OF W AR

The plot of unich The dge of War is based on obert Harris’s book of the same name, which follows a young ritish political assistant who is tasked with obtaining a secret document from his former xford classmate, now a erman ambassador.

The destiny of urope and the world rests in his hands as he makes his way over enemy lines to ermany before the unich Accord. That is, if his former classmate is prepared to provide a hand.

WAKANDA FOREVER: WHERE DOES BLACK PANTHER GO FROM HERE?

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fter its first release in 2018, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was met with rave reviews and quickly became a worldwide box office phenomenon. Actor Chadwick Boseman’s portrayal of the film’s protagonist, T’Challa, was a major factor in the movie’s commercial success. The announcement of a sequel was inevitable after the success of the first film.

Even after the film’s original release, the destiny of Black Panther was unknown. After the tragic loss of actor Chadwick Boseman in August 2020, it was thrown into even deeper upheaval. In light of the actor’s growing fanbase thanks to his portrayal of Black Panther, the future of the sequel was uncertain since many viewers refused to accept a continuity in which Boseman would not be present. Now that two trailers have been published, fans have a better idea of where the film is headed and what they can expect from the Wakandan realm.

AUTH O R: L AR A C U E V A S PHO T O S : MAR VE L / D I S N E Y

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After T‘Challa‘s death, several characters in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever step into the spotlight, including Suri (Letitia Wright).

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ven though Marvel has said that Boseman will not be replaced in his role as T’Challa, supporters on Twitter have regularly used the hashtag #RecastTChalla because they do not want Boseman’s legacy to be forgotten. Those who recognized themselves in Boseman’s depiction of T’Challa said it gave them hope for the future. Cancelling one of the most prominent Black

superheroes would coincide with the decision not to recast T’Challa.cMarvel has said that rather than casting a new actor to play Boseman’s part, the story of the film would be reworked to account for the actor’s departure. There have been unconfirmed reports that Shuri, played by Letitia Wright, would take up the Black Panther role. Marvel Comics have precedent for this as too, with Shuri progressing to become Wakanda’s principal warrior. Shuri’s promotion to

Black Panther has not been well received

by Marvel Cinematic Universe supporters.

Many people believe that Shuri’s technical prowess makes her more suitable for a different role. A position as Black Panther would take Shuri’s mind off the technological advancements that benefit Wakanda and the world at large, despite her reputation as one of the MCU’s brightest characters. She has never been anywhere but Wakanda, hence she lacks her brother’s global perspective for poli-

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ad a significant part in the first film, best fits the film’s themes, tone, and overall character archetypes. Proponents of Nakia’s candidacy for Black Panther stress that her personality was the most influential factor in shaping T’Challa’s. She was the one who persuaded the Black Panther to give the rest of the world access to Wakandan technology. Advocates argue that T’Challa’s sway demonstrates how much weight she had in his decision-making. Nakia is the most deserving successor to the Black Panther because of her kinship to the hero and her success in advancing a new international policy.

She would be motivated to help bring about T’Challa’s ideal world because of their close relationship. She was the one who persuaded the Black Panther to give the rest of the world access to Wakandan technology. Advocates argue that T’Challa’s sway demonstrates how much weight she had in his decision-making. Nakia is the most deserving successor to the Black Panther because of her kinship to the hero and her success in advancing a new international policy. She would be motivated to help bring about T’Challa’s ideal world because of their close relationship. Nakia is not only very well-versed in battle, but she also has a strong relationship to T’Challa and is knowledgeable about public politics. Currently, she serves as a member of Wakanda’s elite intelligence service, the Wakandan War Dogs. Her prowess in combat, which was on display throughout the first Black Panther film, is more evidence that she should be the next Black Panther king. It’s possible that Nakia is hiding behind the mask, considering the mysterious individual shown at the conclusion of the latest teaser seems to be female.

cymaking. While fans acknowledge Shuri’s prowess in battle, they believe Nakia’s abilities much outshine those of Shuri. Despite the controversy surrounding Shuri, the second trailer seems to have settled the issue for many viewers: Shuri will play Black Panther. At the trailer’s conclusion, we see an unnamed person dressed as Black Panther. Fans with keen eyes instantly noticed that the design on the new Black Panther’s mask mir-

rored the one that had been painted on Shuri’s face. Toys portraying Shuri as the next Black Panther have been sold, and fans are certain that she will succeed T’Challa. some people think that Nakia (played by Lupita Nyong’o), T’Challa’s childhood friend and love interest, rather than Shuri (who is brilliant in technology), should play the lead.

It has been considered that Nakia, a fighting expert who previously

REPEZEN

X O F

D J SCH ACH O

THE MOST TALKED ABOUT GROUP IN JAPAN REPEZEN FOX IS TAKING OVER THE WORLD...

PHOTOS BY REPEZEN FOX

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Are you familAre you familiar with the name Repezen Fox? It’s one of the most talked-about group phenomena in Japan. Repezen Foxx, is an artist’s music group that is taking over all of Japan, and they also have an impressive YouTube channel with over 3.41 million subscribers and they are being active around the world, and pretty soon they are going to start to debut in America primary in Hollywood, throughout the years we have seen many acts in the Japanese music industry, but nothing can compare to what we’re witnessing

AUTHOR JERRY CORIA

now this is a group that is consisting on 5 members DJ Schaho, DJ Ginta, DJ Maru, and DJ waki, Dj Foy. I can tell you right now that this group is set to take over Asia, and fairly soon North America as well.

With their one-of-a-kind combination of hip hop and party style, it should come as no surprise that they are dominating social media platforms like YouTube and Tik Tok. There are a number of amazing songs that they’ve released so far, including songs like XOXO and Life Goes on, and let’s not forget about

OMOI either. If you didn’t know about them before, you do now, and you should go check out their music because I can guarantee that you will get addicted to listening to their music, and it will leave you wanting more. I propose this to you if you didn’t know about them in the past.

Be sure to check them out as they will be a more exclusive story we are doing very soon. You will get to know them on a more personal level, and you won’t want to miss this.

Currently, they are in the process of making new songs, and they now want to expand to audiences in the United States.

AU T H O R: MAR I N C OR TE Z PH O T O S :© S U M M E R S O N I C AL L C O PYRI GH T S R E S E R V E D .

Summer Sonic will return in 2022 after skipping both 2020 and 2021 because to the Olympics and its rescheduling.

happening at the same time in both Chiba and Osaka, with the performances alternating between the two cities.

Supersonic, the event that took its place, was canceled in 2020 and 2021 owing to COVID, leaving music lovers in Osaka eagerly awaiting the return of the festival. The world’s top performers often perform during Summer Sonic. You can’t miss any of the action as the event is

Now in 2022, summer sonic launched the sold-out concert with some of the top bands in the music industry, including fantastic performances

by Post Malone, The 1975, One Ok Rock, and many more acts.

When I went to my first Sumer

Sonic performance, I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of activities and performers.

In many ways, this kind of live musical event reminded me of the Vans Warped tour, another sort of concert event where a wide variety of bands and musicians perform. The bands you choose to see were an astute selection.

THE 1975 PHO T O S :© S U M M E R S O N I C ALL C O P Y RI GH T S R E S E R V E D .

On August 20, 2022, Post Malone headlined an incredible event, which also included performances from Carly Rae Jepsen, Megan Thee Stallion, One Ok Rock, Primal Scream, Asian Kung-fu Generation, and CL, amongst others. The night took place at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

On Sunday, August 21, The 1975 created the big headlines, and in addition to them, other

outstanding artists such as The Libertines, The Offspring, St. Vincent, All Time Low, Kacey Musgraves, The Linda Lindas, and Hyde performed such wonderful performances as well.

As the night went on, the music just got better and better, leaving the crowd wanting more, and the night ended with a surprising fireworks show that was just perfect after a great performance by Post Malone.

His set included hits such as Circles, Wrapped around your finger, I like you, and many more. Summer Sonic is one of those events that you really have to check out if you’re going to be in either Tokyo or Osaka.

It’s definitely going to be one of those concerts that makes you look forward to the following year’s live performance even more.

PHOTOS: ©SU MMER SONI C ALL COPYRI G HTS RESERVED.

We can’t ignore The 1975 at this point. After making their first live appearance since before the pandemic and releasing their fourth album, titled “Notes on a Conditional Form,” they will follow it up with another headline performance at the Summer Sonic in both Osaka and Tokyo. This performance will break into their respective festivals’ second halves. All of this is happening in preparation

for their upcoming fifth studio album, titled “Being Funny in a Foreign Language,” which can be purchased right now.

This year’s prices, when they go on sale for 2022, are US$106.82* for one day, US$189.30* for two days, and there is a US$169.02* option for platinum for a single day. The venue for the event is going to be Maishima Sonic Park.

Also, if you are thinking about

purchasing tickets for the year 2023, you should choose the Platinum option since it gives you access to a greater number of benefits. It is important to bear in mind that one of the suggestions that I propose is that you remain around an area that you really want to see as the primary artists that you saw when you were there before seats may not be hard to locate if you try and be there at the very last minute.

PH O T O S :© S U M M E R S O N I C A L L C O PYRI GH T S R E S E R V E D .

ARTIST

SPOTLIGHT MEIRLIN is a world-renowned DJ/producer now located in Los Angeles. He was born in Tokyo. Her musical approach may be best described as innovative, imaginative, and cutting edge. At age 3, she was given her first classical piano, and she’s been playing ever since.

She uprooted to Los Angeles in search of new experiences and creative stimulation, where she soon found work as a DJ and began making her own music.

Since then, she’s shared the stage alongside the likes of Nicky Romero,Timmy Trumpet, Ummet Ozcan, Pegboard Nerds, DallasK, Shaun Frank, Elephante, Ookay, and Che’nelle in some of the most prestigious clubs in the United States, including Avalon Hollywood, Exchange LA, Academy LA, etc.

Beyond Wonderland 2019 was her festival debut, and in 2018 she was added to the roster of official artists for the INSOMNIAC Event.

She has also been a featured performer at various events, including the “Hatsune Miku EXPO,” “Anime EXPO,” the “San Diego Comic Convention Official pre-party,” and others.

She performs a variety of house music including trap, future bass, dubstep, electronic, and more. Her lively and original mixing techniques get the party started.

In addition, she has taken her career global by performing at significant events and venues outside of Japan, including the Cube art festival in Brussels, Belgium, the TG Club in China, Mexico City, and her own Tokyo, Japan.

At the moment, she is concentrating more on making new music rather than remaking old songs. Huge developments in the electronic music industry are predicted for the following year.

In many ways, MEIRLIN personifies the aspirations of creative people all around the globe. She is Japanese but now lives

in the United States; she has worked very hard to get a residency in Las Vegas. Zouk Group, which includes locations including Ayu Dayclub and Resorts World Las Vegas, signed her up. It hasn’t been simple for her to travel the world and make these fantastic deals, but she has a lot of smarts and tenacity on her side.

MEIRLIN isn’t only crushing it on the stage; she’s also killing it in the studio, as seen by the fact that Showtek has signed her and her collaboration with Valy Mo on the tune “Mess.” This album has a famous artist’s signature, and the label is called Shink.

It’s an excellent example of electro-house, showcasing the genre’s trademark highoctane intensity mixed with some welcome experimentation and a dash of gloomy atmosphere.

The MEIRLIN library is extensive and provides excellent background for anyone considering seeing her perform live for the first time.

Rather of giving up, MEIRLIN is committed to making the most of her employment opportunities. Explore her impact on the larger electronic music community.

PH O T O

BY : J E R R Y

CO R I A

N I L R I ME THE NEXT

BIG THING

PH O T O

BY : J E R R Y

CO R I A

CELEBRATING THEIR 20TH ANNIVERSARY WE SPOKE TO THE ROCK BAND DUO IN THIS EXCLUSIVE AS WE INTRODUCE YOU FLOW B Y R IE Y A M A D A

■ P H O T O S B Y JE

R R Y C O R IA

WE WANT TO GO TO ALL PLACES WITHIN JAPAN, BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER COUNTRIES WE HAVE NEVER BEEN TO BEFORE. THIS IS OUR DREAM TO VISIT THOSE COUNTRIES

FLOW , KEIGO (Vo.),KOHSHI

(Vo.),TAKE (Gt.),GOT’S (Ba.),IWASAKI (Dr.) -they just celebrated their 20th anniversary as a band! FLOW is a Japanese Rock band formed in 1998 as a five piece. Twenty years later, FLOW is still going strong with still five piece original group members. FLOW released their new song “DAYDREAM BELIEVER,” in October, 2022. “DAYDREAM BELIEVER” is an energetic, fresh song that people can’t help but to get on their feet to.

The band has lent their music to multiple Japanese anime shows over the past 20 years, exposing their music to millions of new fans of anime, all over the world. FUSION sat down with the five artists of FLOW at the studio and had an exclusive interview to discuss their journey, looking back on their most difficult times, the key to lasting two decades in music’s fickle landscape, and their long run of successes through battles, personal conflict and group challenges.

HOW’S THE EXPERIENCE BEEN SINCE THE PANDEMIC HAPPENED? WERE THERE ANY CHANGES?

KEIGO(Vo.) We couldn’t have concerts with fans in the same space for about two years. We thought about what else we could do during that time. We had many unique ideas, like, connected with fans remotely.

We did a couple different variations of livestreams; we performed each of our albums as a live stream, one a month, over the course of a year. After the pandemic, we were able to start a national tour with an audience for the first time in more than two years.

PLEASE TALK ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO BE A MUSIC ARTIST IN TODAY’S SOCIETY. we hear IWASAKI(Dr.) It can be easy to say that a person who plays musical instruments and

sings songs is called a musician. But in order to carry it out for a long period of time, it requires putting a lot of effort into it. To become a successful musician over time also requires dedication and a commitment to honing your skills. Otherwise things don’t go well in the music industry.

WE KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY FOR A LONG TIME BUT WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR MUSIC PLAYED ON TV, WHAT KIND OF FEELINGS AND THOUGHTS GO THROUGH YOUR MIND?

GOT’S (Ba.)We have heard our songs on tv, especially on anime shows, where we have had many of our songs featured.

Like, we get so excited when we hear our anime songs on tv!

RECENTLY THIS YEAR, YOU RELEASED A SONG CALLED “GOLD,” CAN YOU PLEASE TALK ABOUT THE CREATIVE PROCESS OF MAKING THAT SONG? As TAKE (Gt.)We made the song for the anime theme song of “BORUTO.” We used to write songs for, “NARUTO,” the anime that came the generation before “BORUTO” . This time, the song is for their children’s generation, so we created this song to sound fresh.

TAKE AND KOHSHI ARE BROTHERS. HOW HAS THE JOURNEY BEEN TOGETHER AS SIBLINGS? (GT.)ORIGINALLY, WE LISTENED TO X-JAPAN TOGETHER AND THAT IS HOW WE STARTED OUR BAND. WE GOT FASCINATED

BY THE SAME THINGS AND THAT’S WHAT BROUGHT US TO WHERE WE ARE NOW.

YOUR PERFORMANCE WAS AMAZING. PLEASE, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS, HOW DO YOU PREPARE WHEN DOING A LIVE CONCERT? KEIGO(Vo.)With this band, of course, we rehearse all together. When it comes to psychological preparation, FLOW involves everyone. We always intend to create a live concert that connects us with our fans all together. We put in a lot of our own ideas on how we can enjoy the concerts with the fans.

It really depends on the songs we play, so we can engage the fans to make waves, wave their hands and spin a towel around in the air. We always prepare and think of how we can make movement with the audience and us all together to create the best concerts.

SPEAKING OF LIVE PERFORMANCES, WHEN CAN VIEWERS IN AMERICA AND SOUTH AMERICA SEE LIVE SHOWS? IWASAKI(Dr.)At this moment, we don’t have anything scheduled in the USA yet. Originally, we had planned to do an American tour between 2020-2021. As soon as possible, we want to do a US and South American tour. Our goal for this year is to complete five continents, after we go to Oceania and Africa. There are many other places we want to go, too. (After this interview, FLOW has announced a December 2nd show in the US and a December 4th show in Mexico!

Details can be found on their homepage. )

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU’LL FACE AS MUSICIANS NOW? HOW DO YOU ALL OVERCOME CHALLENGES? TAKE(Gt.)I think other Japanese artists are facing the same challenges; right now, the audience can not be vocal at the concert.

One of our biggest challenges is how we make the concert become more exciting under these circumstances. This is why we make physical movement with the audience together, without using their voices. We also use a traditional Japanese musical instrument called a “Naruko” at the concert. We are still thinking of ways to make a fun environment for the audience.

WHAT IS YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS WHEN YOU ARE MAKING MUSIC? TAKE(Gt.)Basically, I write songs, and our vocalists write lyrics, then all FLOW members play the songs together; that’s how we compose music.

HOW DO YOU ALL EVOLVE AS MUSICIANS, AND ARE YOUR INSPIRATIONS THE SAME AS BEFORE OR DO THEY CHANGE AS TIME GOES BY? KEIGO(Vo.)Rather than how we have evolved as musicians, the best thing is that we have been carrying out the band with all the same original five members in the band, without changing numbers or members. Whenever we make songs, we might make

slightly different versions and that is the result of having different kinds of inspiration. As a whole band, we love live concerts. We try to make some cool songs for the show, based on what songs get more exciting at the concerts. The bottom line is that our feelings towards concerts have not changed. Thanks to people who have supported us so that we have been able to continue our band for 20 years.

We plan to continue with the same original five band members as long as we can.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY. WHAT IS NEXT FOR FLOW? IS THERE ANY NEW MUSIC IN THE WORKS? KOHSHI(Vo.)What is next for FLOW as we celebrate the 20th anniversary is our goal to conquer our fourth and fifth continents. So we want to go to Oceania and Africa as soon as we can to accomplish this goal.

We have already been working on our next new song, but we can not talk about it yet. This is an exclusive and this song is damned good! Please look forward to hearing it!

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT THE MUSIC INDUSTRY TODAY, WHAT WOULD IT BE? IWASAKI(Dr.)We’ve never thought about changing the music industry, it would be sheer arrogance for us to even think about it. But it depends on the era; CD’s are disappearing in foriegin countries, and they are selling less and less. I heard that only Japan still sells many CD’s. We are always moving towards the state-of-the-art, but personally, I think there is still something good with the old things. Even so, we have to adjust to the new ways and keep releasing our music.

J u n k o , ta lk s w ith flo w

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING ON THE FRONT COVER OF FUSION MAGAZINE? KEIGO(Vo.) Thank you so much for choosing us for the magazine cover! I’ve never thought about being on the front cover of a magazine. Even with Japanese magazines, we are seldom on the front cover, so we are very happy about it. We have five members in the band and are very excited to celebrate our 20th anniversary this year. We take this opportunity to have more exposure to the world to get to know about us more. We are sincerely happy about this, thank you so much!

WHAT AMERICAN GROUPS DO YOU LIKE AND WHICH ARTIST WOULD YOU LIKE TO PERFORM TOGETHER WITH IN THE FUTURE? GOT’S(Ba.) I like many American bands. Personally, I like

Metallica, and I listen to them often, especially the bassist, Robert Tuilljillo. The type of music between Metallica and us is a bit different but I would love to meet them in person.

IWASAKI(Dr.) My influence for becoming a professional musician was the American band, Mötley Crüe. Their drummer, Tommy Lee, made a major impact on me. As far as I’ve come, I still make every effort to catch up to him. Recently, I discovered Red Hot Chili Peppers, and that band is really good.

KEIGO(Vo.) I want to be in a band with five members like Zebrahead. We met them in person once through a magazine interview, but the timing was not right for any kind of collaborations back then. If my dreams came true, I would love to do a collaboration with Zebrahead.

KOHSHI (Vo.)When I was in school, I got greatly influenced

by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, when I first discovered their music. I thought American music was so damned cool and it had such a great impact on me!

TAKE (Gt.) I love Limp Bizkit, Korn, Rage Against the Machine, Rancid and many other artists like that.

WHAT IS THE INFLUENCE OF ARTISTS AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT THAN BEFORE? TAKE (Gt.)The main source of inspiration to start playing music was X-JAPAN, so I got a lot of influence from their guitarist, HIDE. Recently, I am finding many sources of inspiration. Personally, I am feeling a great connection and getting inspired from the mountains. Mother Nature gives us so much inspiration and what I feel from nature, I try to capture into our music.

KOHSHI(Vo.) Basically, my main role in this band is writing lyrics. I get images when I write lyrics. Lately, I am getting inspiration from looking at paintings and pictures, especially, I like the paintings

by Salvador Dali from Spain. His paintings stimulate my creative mind, I like his art.

FLOW HAS ALREADY COMPLETED ITS 20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY. WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC GOALS AND DREAMS OF THE NEXT DECADE? KEIGO(Vo.)Our main goal is to continue FLOW with the same five members for a long time. We also have performed many concert tours abroad.We have currently been to three continents, but we plan on going to Oceania and Africa soon, which would make five. So, we want to meet this goal as soon as possible. Of course, we want to go to all places within Japan, but there are many other countries we have never been to before. Our dream is to visit those countries in person, as well.

THIS QUESTION IS MORE ABOUT THE MUSIC. IF YOU HAD TO PICK ONE SONG FROM YOUR ENTIRE WORK, WHICH SONG WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY? Keigo(Vo.) I chose the song, “Remember.” After I had a car accident, I couldn’t join the band for half a year. I returned to FLOW with this song, “Remember,” so I have a special connection towards this song.

KOHSHI(Vo.)I chose the song, “Go!!!,” because this song is our best known song. At our live concerts, this song is a killer song. Everyone at the concert raises their fists and gets really excited!

»

FL W is a apanese rock band formed in 1 as a five-piece band made up of two vocalists, a drummer, a bassist, and a guitarist.

As of April 2022, the band has released singles, 2 collaboration singles with ranrodeo and 11 studio albums.

TAKE(Gt.)I chose the song, “ GOLD,” which is a new song that I wrote. We always like to keep things fresh, so that’s why I picked the new song.

IWASAKI(Dr.) and I chose, “Days.” I’ve mainly done rock and punk songs, but it was the first time for me to do a dance-type song. If we didn’t make “Days,” the next song, “Dance Number,” wouldn’t have been released.

This song, “Days,” made the following dance songs possible in the band.

GOT’s(Ba.)Yes, I also pick “GOLD.” This is the most recently released song. At our concert, we have been playing this song as the last song.

“GOLD” has replaced “Go,” which is why I choose this song.

EVERYONE HAS BEEN IN THE SAME BAND FOR A LONG TIME. WHAT IS THE STRUGGLE AND CHALLENGE OF STAYING TOGETHER FOR SUCH A LONG TIME? KEIGO(Vo.)I shared my story a little bit when I talked about “Remember;” after my car accident, I couldn’t do anything and the band had stopped playing for six months. I think it was the first big setback for the band up until that time. However, we talked with each other a lot during that time and we were able to reflect with each other. We had been through a lot up to that point, and then those six months was the most difficult time in our career together. At the

time, it was very difficult but when I look back, I think it was also a very important time for the band.

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH ALL YOUR FANS AROUND THE WORLD? KEIGO(Vo.)We couldn’t go aboard due to Covid, so now we want to go overseas and see fans in person. As Koshi stated, we have a goal to conquer five continents and there are many other countries we have never gone to before that we would like to. I think there are many people who have gotten to know our songs through anime all over the world, and we would love to see them in person.

PH O T O : A L D O

CA R R E R A

STEVE AOKI

PH O T O : A L D O

TH E MAN, TH E P R OD UCER , TH E BUSINESS MAN & COLLECTOR There are enough shoes to fill a Footlocker, a room devoted to the D work of graffiti artist aws, and enough ruce Lee memorabilia to fill a museum, so it’s unnecessary for Steve Aoki to declare, “ y home is a collector’s house.” Steve Aoki claims, “ y home is a collector’s house,” but he probably doesn’t even have to say it. Walls stacked high with enough footwear to fill a Foot Locker made his comments unnecessary. The 44-year-old Aoki says, “ verything in this home has a narrative,” explaining how he has become more productive as a roducer, D , collector, and investor in crypto money. Aoki comments on his increased output as a roducer, D , and author by saying, “ verything in this home has a narrative.”

To no one’s surprise, this famous D producer label owner entrepreneur also has a hand in designing a Topps baseball card line, co-owns a Las Vegas-based esports team called ogue, and, along with his brother evin, ust opened an anime-inspired apanese restaurant called uru uru a at esorts World Las Vegas.

He’s a dedicated traveling dog who may do 00 shows a year. After performing in 41 countries in 2012, he was officially recognized as the world’s most well-traveled musician by uinness World ecords.

The prestigious D

CA R R E R A

crucial in shaping the genre into what it is today.

There was a period when he would play tacks at Hollywood nightclubs with D A , and the whole scene would party till sunrise. urrently holding residencies at Hakkasan, mnia, and Wet epublic, he plays upwards of forty to fifty gigs every year in this city. Tao roup’s executive vice president of entertainment and brand development ames Algate describes him as “the embodiment of a Vegas act.” He’s hilarious in every way possible.

In addition to being a true native, he has lived in Henderson for a whole decade after purchasing and lavishly renovating his mansion there.

That’s all we’re allowed to say about its location under the DA . To be a part of the Las Vegas environment is amazing, Aoki adds. I am a Las Vegan,’ he proudly declares. Is that the name you’ve given it?

When did he arrive, and how did he do it? As a result of internalizing the city’s fundamental idea, which is to “always put on a show,” in his daily life. ...and that cake Don’t forget about the legendary cake that Steve Aoki created and has used to smash in the faces of many fans over the years the cake has become a cultural icon in its own right, propelling Aoki’s name into the annals of music history as a multifaceted artist and entrepreneur.

ag Top 100 D s survey

consistently places him in the top 10 for the better part of a decade, and Forbes estimates that he makes more than 20 million yearly. etting to the top of the D Top 100 list is no easy feat, and maintaining that position requires a significant commitment of time, energy, and money.

nly last month, Steve Aoki performed to sold-out crowds at concerts and made guest appearances at several Tokyo nightclubs. We didn’t get to chat, but we saw his incredible show and recall the days before this all occurred it’s been incredible to see him develop into one of the most in uential figures in the business.

In my opinion, Steve Aoki is one of the few true pioneers of electronic dance music, and his lengthy career in the music business has been

PH O T O : A L D O

CA R R E R A

LETS TAKE YOU BACK IN TIME

w ith th e fa m o u s D J s o u t o f c o n c e r n th a t th e y

that the Las Vegas D was hidden. When

T h e r e w e r e n o $ 1 5 0 m illio n n ig h tc lu b s o r a l-

would be forced to play Top Hit radio remixes

I was a kid, I’d play in the spare, smallest

for bored visitors.

spaces I could find. es, you’re over there,

m o s t 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 f e s t i v a l -g o e r s a t E l e c t r i c D a i s y C a r n iv a l b e fo r e .

Let’s brie y examine Steve Aoki’s history for the benefit of those who are ust discovering about him here. The apanese American Steve is a musician, D , record producer, and executive.

He’s a 44-year-old electro house artist who found fame with his 200 single “I’m in the House.” Since then, he has collaborated with several famous musicians and D s, like Iggy Azalea, will.i.am, Linkin ark, L FA , and m a n y m o re . ack in 200 , when Aoki performed his first lo c a l g ig in L a s V e g a s fo r $ 1 ,0 0 0 , m o s t c lu b s in the casinos along the Strip avoided working

rocking out. I saw D A

and D Vice in

ever did the “dance scene” ourish there.

popuLas Vegas, and even though they were popu

The famous D and producer Tiesto said, “I

lar at the moment, you don’t know who they

was genuinely astonished by that.”

are. When you first hear their music or a mix by them, you may say, “ h, crap , that’s A .”

He goes on to say, “ obody knew back then,

However, I have no idea where he is.

t h a t ’s f o r s u r e . ” c o n c e r n in g L a s V e g a s ’ r is e t o th e to p o f th e e n te r ta in m e n t s e c to r a t n ig h t. n many weekends, Las Vegas has as many

In 200 , aul akenfold, who is often regarded as the first superstar D , committed

difas five concerts by A-list performers at dif

to a year-long residency at ain at the alms.

ferent locations, all of which are entirely sold

Two years later, when Surrender and ncore

out. It’s astonishing that we’re living at such

each lub opened at Wynn Las Vegas,

a period, considering how drastically things

it heralded the beginning of the city’s club

have changed in the past. There were hardly

boom, and Aoki and fellow star D

more than a few of clubs in the area, and they

were among the first artists to sign on for resi-

were almost always deserted.

dencies. Aoki says, “They paid me ten grand.” onsiderable money in 2010.

What’s more, patrons were more interested in the clubs itself than in the D s. Aoki claims

askade

1

1996 Aoki founded his own label, Dim Mak Records, in

5

1996. The label has released music by other electro

2011

house artists

From 2011 to 2014, he had a number of other tracks included in television shows, commercials, and film.

2

2007 Aoki has won or been nominated for various in-

This included “I’m In the House”, used in the music festival documentary Electric Daisy Carnival

6

dustry awards, both in annual competitions and in

2012

magazine rankings

Aoki’s first solo album, Wonderland, was released January 2012 and features guest vocalists and

3

2009 Aoki has remixed many artists and bands, includ-

2018

Lil Wayne, Girls Generation, The Killers, , Lenny

On August 6, 2018, in an interview, he announced

Kravitz, Snoop Dogg, Kid Cudi, BTS and Peaches.

the release of his new album Neon Future III. It in-

2010 In March 2010 Aoki released “I’m in the House”, a

2019 Aoki released “Let It Be Me”, a collaboration with Backstreet Boys, which came about after Aoki met Nick Carter at his Vegas show.”

of crypto will not be zero. That being said, I have to ask myself whether I

else was brewing offstage. The first

really believe that the whole crypto

ever Hakkasan restaurant opened its

sector will collapse and cease to ex-

doors to the public in 2014.

ist. From my perspective, the answer is obviously not yes. Undoubtedly, it

“We certainly saw something,” as Al-

will become a reality. When will it be

gate puts it, after working with Steve.

widely used? Although I cannot say

He was an up-and-coming talent, but

for certain, I am certain that it will not

he had never gotten the recognition

be zero. Don’t worry, nobody’s going

he deserved before. His presenta-

to drown on this ship.”

world make the trip to visit him, and once they do, they find it difficult to tear themselves away.

Steve Aoki discusses in a recent interview with coin desk “For my part, I focus only on crypto’s far horizons.

It’s true that certain currencies will soon become extinct. Indeed, that is the way it goes. However, the value

8

Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am.

Significant quantities of money. The

should be. Travelers from all over the

cluded collaborations with Ira Wroldsen, Nicki Minaj,

collaboration with Zuper Blahq—alter-ego of The

acting was superb, but something

tion is all that a Las Vegas headliner

7

ing The Jackson 5, Drake, Kanye West, Eminem,

4

a small fast track timeline on how producer steve Aoki started but there is more on the timeline this is just brief to give you an idea

musicians LMFAO, Kid Cudi, Kay, Travis Barker,

Photography: By Courtesy of Samuel Bradley

THE1975 AUTHOR: TIMOTHY / PHOTOS BY COURTESY OF SAMUEL BRADLEY

The 1975 has entered a new decade.

From their forthcoming album “Being Funny in a Foreign Language,” comes the track “All I Need to Hear,” on which the band breaks away from their usual style of convoluted lyrics and ambiguous morals to proclaim the saving grace of simple love. In contrast to The 1975’s previous love songs, “All I Need to Hear” is upbeat and positive while yet retaining the band’s distinctive touch of self-deprecating humour.

Frontman Matty Healy’s reverbsoaked voice croons on the ballad about his search for love. Forget the “crowds and applause” of travelling and the people he “do[esn’t] want to meet,” all he wants to hear is “tell me you love me, ‘cause that’s all that I need to hear.” Healy says in the opening sequence of the music video that the most challenging aspect of creating the album was “being ready to say, like, cringe crap.” The band’s rendition of a breakup song

includes intricate lyrics like “at your finest, you’re intermediately versed in your own sentiments,” making Healy’s appeal seem all the more sincere for its simplicity and cliche nature. ans of The 1975 are eager to point out that Matty Healy premiered “All I Need to Hear” in a very repetitive opening performance concert in October 2021.

Although there were a few shouts of “We love you Matty” after the chorus, the crowd’s reaction to the song was otherwise muted, either because the song was too fresh or because the audience was confused by a song that didn’t make them want to weep.

The single version, which came out last Wednesday, demonstrated why The 1975 is not just a Matty Healy solo act. Healy said that the band recorded the song live in the music video, which takes place in the same studio where the album was made. The album is a testament to the band’s synergy; guest pianist Jamie Squire and guitarist Adam Hann create a cohesive and free-flow-

ing rhythm over drummer George Daniel’s very basic 6/8 beat. Despite Healy’s seemingly overbearing swagger, the final recording even has him telling Daniel to “do the hi-hats” before the second verse.

The remainder of the video is a perfect representation of what sets “All I Need to Hear” apart as a song by The 1975. At the beginning of the video, Healy talks for three minutes about the band’s origins and creative process while he stands outside Real World Studios in rural England. A typical move for The 1975, whose discography oscillates between self-critical and self-indulgent, he then discloses the camera teams around him, using the artifice of seclusion to challenge the sincerity of any contemporary artistic effort. The 1975 escapes this rigid framework with “All I Need to Hear,” which finds comfort in the “cringe filth” of romantic love.

There isn’t a single surprise chord or melody here; it’s pure escapism at its finest.

Photography: By Courtesy of Samuel Bradley

THE

r e m a in in g p o r -

tio n s o f th e m u s ic v id e o s e r v e to illu s tr a te w h a t s e ts “ A ll I N e e d to H e a r ” a p a r t fr o m material released by The 1

o th e r

. The first three min-

u te s o f th e c lip s e e H e a ly s p e a k in g to th e c a m e r a in is o la t io n o u t s id e o f R e a l W o r ld S t u d io s in t h e c o u n t r y s id e o f E n g la n d . H e d is c u s s e s t h e b a n d ’s h is t o r y a n d t h e c r e a t iv e p r o c e s s .

A g e s t u r e t h a t i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e d u a l i t y b e t w e e n s e l f -c r i t i c a l a n d s e l f -i n d u l g e n t t h a t c h a r a c t e r i z e s m o s t o f T h e 1 9 7 5 ’ s d i s c o g r a p h y ,

SONGS LIKE ALL I NEED TO HEAR

Photography: By Courtesy of Samuel Bradley

THIS SONG IS SINCERE IN BOTH MELODY AND LYRICS h e th e n s u d d e n ly d is c lo s e s th e c a m e r a te a m s th a t a r e a r o u n d h im , e v o k in g th e a r tifice of seclusion to challenge the sincerity of any contemporary artistic effort. The 1 c o m p le te ly r e je c ts th is p a r a d ig m in th e ir s o n g “ A ll I N e e d to H e a r,” in s te a d s e e k in g s a n c tu ary in the uncomfortable aspects of romantic love. There is hardly a single chord or melody that takes the listener by surprise the whole work is an exercise in escapist simplicity in its purest form. After the bridge, well-pitched guitar feedback and sweeping piano chords usher in the third stanza, signaling a little shift from the pristine toward the band’s tongue-inc h e e k p e s s im is m in t o n a l d ir e c tio n a n d ly r ic a l

content. Healy’s begging becomes increasingly urgent as he sings the words “reply to my message pick up my calls,” building up to his final breakdown and the declaration, “I don’t care if you’re dishonest ust tell me what I want to hear.” This line shows that the m e lo d ic e la tio n a n d m u s h y s e n tim e n ta lity of the song’s first act are aspirational rather than realized at this point in the song’s narrative. Listeners should be mindful of the contrast between Healy’s dulcet tones and the euphonic 2- -1s that back him up, since it is easy to overlook. Within the context of the music video, Healy opens his monologue with the question, “What is it, three chords and the

truth or whatever they say?” subsequent to seeing the song video. If there are more than three chords, at least you’ll know I’m being forthright. The compassion and desperation on “All I eed to Hear” are both presented with sincerity. It is lyrically honest, wishing for real connections for artists in a world of “crowds and applause,” and musically faithful to the original style of The 1 ’s present approach. This song is sincere in both its melody and its lyrics. If the other seven songs on “ eing Funny in a Foreign Language” are as classic and modest as this single, then The 1 may have ust created their most re ective and en oyable album to date.

he KID T L

ike the names of his songs, the Kid Laroi styles his name with a capital letter and lots of emphasis: LAROI. The 18-year-old Kamilaroi rapper’s meteoric rise began in 2019, and his collaboration with stars like Miley Cyrus, Machine Gun Kelly, and Justin Bieber and Post Malone has helped him amass nine-figure streams that are rapidly

approaching the billions.

The Kid LAROI makes an unexpected appearance.

The performer ran onstage, smiling broadly, as the crowd went wild. the 90-minute performance swung back and forth in time three years, from an optimistic song to many unreleased tracks, demonstrating what it was like to play live again before the pandemic.the 19-yearold exclaimed, “Holy s—-” when he opened his first live

show in Japan. while singing his 2019 debut single “Let Her Go” in a darkened arena, he wore an all-black outfit and black Converse sneakers. it was the first song of the night, but the performer already had the crowd in a frenzy. He greeted them with a kissable-hearts pose on each cheek that set the atmosphere buzzing with excitement. the crowd in the standing area sang along and danced frantically as they tried to catch every moment of the show on their smartphones. As the lights went blue, the performer walked down to the front of the standing area to be closer to his audience.

L AROI

MOTHER I SOBER

T h e la te s t D e v in a lb u m , D r e a m L o b b y V o l . I V , r e m i n d s m e o f a l a t e -n i g h t r o a d t r i p . N o n e t h e l e s s , t h e r e i s a t r u e p u l se t o t h i s s o n g , T h a t i s a w o r k o f a r t . T h e w h o l e t h i n g —t h e t r a c k, t h e a l b u m , t h e p e r f o r m e r . T h e r e i s a l i t e r a r y s i d e t o K e n d r i ck L a m a r . Y o u ca n a l w a y s c o u n t o n h i m t o l i v e n t h i n g s u p . H e ’ s l i ke a n u t r i t i o u s f e a s t o f s o u n d b i t e s . T h i s m a n i s n o t h i n g sh o r t o f a m i r a cl e i n t h i s d a y a n d a g e . T h i s t r a c k h a s b e c o m e a sym b o l f o r h i s m o st r e ce n t a l b u m , M r . M o r a l e & T h e B i g S t e p pers. The thought of that gives me the chills. The awless prod u ct i o n , su b t l e t y , a n d r e a l i s t i c p o r t r a y a l o f h u m a n b e h a v i o r i n i t a r e b o t h t h o u g h t -p r o vo ki n g a n d e n t e r t a i n i n g .

LIGHT SWITCH

E ve r yt h i n g m a y b e t u r n e d i n t o m u s i c b y C h a r l i e P u t h . R e l e a s e d e a r l i e r i n 2 0 2 2 , t h e d a n ce a b l e “ L i g h t S w i t c h ” h a s t h e g e n u i n e so u n d o f a w a l l sw i t ch b e i n g t u r n e d o n a n d o f f . U s i n g t h e p l a t f o r m t o d e m o n st r a t e h i s f a n s t h a t t h e y , t o o , c a n c o m p o s e m u s i c , P u t h e l a b o r a t e d o n t h e t r a cks fr o m h is fo r th c o m in g th ir d a lb u m , C h a r l i e , d u e o u t o n O ct o b e r 7 o n T i k T o k , c o m p l e t e w i t h s o u n d e f f e c t d e m o n st r a t i o n s ( su ch a s t h e l i g h t s w i t c h ) . .

CUFF IT

F o r B e yo n c é , t h e i d e a f o r R e n a i s s a n c e s p r a n g f r o m a d e si r e t o r e l i ve h e r d i s c o d a y s e v e n i n t h e m i d s t o f t h e e p i d e m i c. F e a t u r i n g 1 6 so n g s o f p u r e f e e l i n g s t h a t b e l o n g o n l y in a sticky- oored, humid club at 1 a.m. when things are ust g e t t i n g st a r t e d —t h e a l b u m i s b o t h d e l i g h t f u l l y e x p e r i m e n t a l a n d p r o fo u n d ly r e fe r e n tia l.

DAYLIGHT

O n h is t h ir d s t u d io a lb u m , H a r r y ’s H o u s e , H a r r y S t y le s v e e r e d a w a y fr o m h is p r e v io u s c la s s ic r o c k p a r o d y . In s te a d , h e b o r r o w s fr o m m o d e r n p o p m u s ic , o ffe r in g lis te n e r s a g lim p s e o f a lig h te r s id e to S ty le s . “ D a y lig h t” is th e v a n g u a r d o f th e m o v e m e n t to w a r d c a lm , w ith S ty le s s e e m in g ly h o v e r in g in m id a ir th r o u g h o u t th e v e r s e s b e fo r e fa llin g to g r o u n d fo r a p o u n d in g g u ita r r iff in th e c h o r u s . It c o m b in e s th e tr a d itio n a l a n d m o d e r n s ty le s w h ile a ls o b e in g a to n o f fu n .

ANYWHERE WITH YOU

M a g g i e R o g e r s ’ n e x t f u l l -l e n g t h , S u r r e n d e r , s e t f o r r e l e a s e i n t h e s u m m e r o f 2 0 2 2 , w e a r e c e r ta in th a t w e c a n d o a n y th in g . T h is record, the follow-up to her groundbreaking 201 debut, is ust b r e a th ta k in g . In te r e s tin g ly , R o g e r s ’ d iv in ity th e s is fo r h e r H a r v a r d M .A . in R e lig io n a n d P u b lic L ife is lik e w is e title d “ S u r r e n d e r.” If we had to choose ust one song, we’ll go with “Anywhere With Y o u ” fr o m th is a lb u m b e c a u s e o f its h a r s h e le g a n c e . F o r a ll its u n iv e r s a lity , th e s o n g a p p e a r s to r e fe r to a v e r y p a r tic u la r th in g .

We’ve been missing something from our playlists, and now we have it with “Anywhere With ou.”

SANTA ROSALIA

The latest Devin album, Dream Lobby Vol. IV, reminds me of a latenight road trip. Nonetheless, there is a true pulse to this song, and I find myself noodling along to it. His music has a calming effect on me since it always seems to have a hint of melancholy in it.

HATE

Always coming through with incredibly powerful music and heartfelt lyrics, Loyle Carner never disappoints. This is your cue to start listening to Loyle Carner if you haven’t done so before.

PLACE YOUR DEBTS

It’s possible that longtime fans of immy at World may find the tempo and mood of this new track to be a departure from what they’ve come to expect from the band over the previous two decades. This is a really profound re ection on the value of knowing oneself.

Considering that different parts of the video were shot in different locations around the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain, and Europe while the band was on tour, the shooting, framing, and editing must have been a hassle; and yet, the final result is wonderful.

V i v amus i n li b ero n on li gula molli s sodales V i v amus

H E L E N E

M A R I E

PA M BR U N / CO U R T E SY

O F T H E

A R T I ST A .

DON’T FORGET

Sky Ferreira sings on the snarky song “Don’t Forget,” which she performs to the sound of synth ‘80s pop and rock. Featuring Jorge Elbrecht on production and Tamaryn on co-writing duties, “Don’t Forget” is Ferreira’s first new song since 201 ’s “Downhill Lullaby” and the first taste of her long-awaited second album, asochism. Ferreira plunges headfirst into a semi-dystopian universe on “Don’t Forget”: “Little disturbed girl, you see / Burnin’ down your home of assurance...” Fire tears in the sky, it’s nice to be alive; I used to believe that God was inside each and every one of us; now I know better.

When the song was published in May, Ferreira commented, “It wasn’t designed to be apocalyptic, but in some ways it is.” There was fire, and I also saw a spot that seemed like a crossroads between heaven and hell, but not in the biblical sense. For a long time, and even now, I feel very sti ed. “It’s not like I intended to set people’s homes on fire or anything,” she said, “it’s a bit more symbolic.

Long exposure to such conditions is the key factor. I’m allowing myself some independence, but not in the traditional sense. Just because I don’t think of myself as being free.

VEGAS

It’s possible The song “Vegas,” which was included in the soundtrack for Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, is more than simply a catchy tune for the summer. Doja Cat raps with her trademark style, which is technically adept, full of energy and confidence, and incredibly melodic, over a rhythm evocative of ashing slot machines and sparkly showgirls. Fitting with the Luhrmann style of history-meets-hip-hop, the rapper pays tribute to the fiery-voiced ig ama Thornton by sampling her 1 2 hits “Hound Dog” and “Vegas.” However, the single has everything to be a 2022 pop smash, movie or not.

Like everyone‘s midnight thoughts, ‚Midnights‘ seeks to cling to bits of Taylor Swift‘s many periods, and although this may please die-hard Swifties, it ultimately fails to do so cohesively or clearly.

The only thing that kept my pals and I going through the period of ghosting, situationships, and many phone calls about dating in 2022 was the hope that Taylor Swift would eventually offer us a place to truly dive into our emotions.

the positive and negative feelings you were experiencing at the time. This is also understandable given that Swift has positioned Midnights as a concept album related to her late-night train of thought, during which emotions such as love, sadness, wrath, anguish, and self-loathing surface.

On Friday morning, I put on her album, fully intending to come in touch with my thoughts and find hidden meaning in her songs about my upcoming date. I wasn‘t shocked to find that Midnights was a mash-up of their previous efforts, given that their discography already included nine studio albums, the most recent of which was a flirtationship with diverse genres (I say flirtationship since the success rate here was inconsistent).

The album gets off to a good start with the songs „Lavender Haze“ and „Maroon;“ the former features a synth-pop background, covered with soft lyrics that encapsulate the conjecture that swirls around (actually, all of her relationships), but in this instance, her six-year romance with actor Joe Alwyn. Lyrics like „The only kinda female they see is a one-night or a bride“ and „I‘m damned if I do give a damn what others think“ add to the excitement, and the tune flows seamlessly into Maroon, which recalls her Red phase with more synth and sensuality (though this may just be the song‘s name).

The songs themselves, however, were not written with Swift‘s customary artistic flair. Her iconic albums, such as Fearless and Red, were able to convey

Anti-Hero, a lyrical catalogue of everything Swift hates about herself, should have been the album‘s first single after the buildup of the first two tracks.

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O F R E PU BL I C R E CO R D S.

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O F R E PU BL I C R E CO R D S.

EVERMORE, IS ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED ALBUMS OF 2022 AND ITS MUSIC THAT YOU CAN KEEP ON YOUR TRACKS AND LISTEN TO IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN CO U R T E SY

O F R E PU BL I C R E CO R D S.

There is plenty on this album for Taylor Swift fans who are diehards to make them laugh a bit, weep a little, light a candle, and stare out at the night‘s sky.

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O F R E PU BL I C R E CO R D S.

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O F R E PU BL I C R E CO R D S.

The song may have been an original perspective on her struggle with self-doubt in an era when self-love and positivity teachings are rammed down our throats. The bouncy music and even more uncomfortable lyrics („Sometimes I feel like everyone is a gorgeous baby“) make it difficult to cheer for the „Anti-Hero.“ One of the most anticipated tracks from Snow on the Beach features one of music‘s original sad ladies, Lana Del Rey, and is meant to be a hopeful boost along with a dosage of the searing anguish of grief. Instead, we get a Taylor Swift song with Del Rey‘s voice echoing like a ghost. Unrealized potential in the song may have easily triggered the „love spiral“ she talks about in Lavender Haze. Instead, the most basic description of snow on the beach is „Weird but fucking lovely.“ Midnight Rain picks off where previous songs left off, adding a touch of maturity to Swift‘s typical heartbroken anthems with a degree of selfreflection that demonstrates that indeed, she was „creating [her] own

name,“ but, „He wanted a bride... he remained the same.“ The album‘s second half, which begins with „Midnight Rain,“ is a vengeance playlist, however not every song fits together logically. Swift asks, „Did you ever had someone kiss you in a large place; And all of your pals were makin‘ fun of you; But fifteen seconds later, they were clappin‘ too?“ in the song Question...? So, tell me, you didn‘t just sit there and do nothing. For some reason, I‘m curious as to why this man‘s pals were laughing. Is this the reason why he dumped her?

Swift may have been inspired to create Vigilante Shit because of the humor he received. Imagine Better Than Revenge from the Speak Now period, but with a ton of edgy female vitality added in (and more feminist). Sung in a raspy, funny enough Lana Del Rey-esque style, the song‘s lyrics are a breath of fresh air. It‘s a refreshing change of pace before the optimistic vibes that will permeate Instagram posts for the remainder of the year resume.

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O F R E PU BL I C R E CO R D S.

TEARS FOR FEARS LP RELEASE AFTER 17 YEARS CURT SMITH FEELS TO HAVE

THE FULL PERFECT CIRCLE

© Photograph: Frank W Ockenfels III

C

ras urt Smith, “The Tipping Point” is “our most ‘us’ record” and marks Tears For Fears’ long-awaited return.

It turns out he’s right. Finally, Curt and Roland Orzabal are back on good terms with one another, both personally and professionally. Inspiring tales of loss, drug abuse, quitting, and, finally, trust pave the way to this restoration. faans have had the seeds of Tears For Fears’ renewed friendship, rather than their courteous business partnership, for five years. One of the two brand new tracks on 2017’s hits collection Rule The World, “Stay” is a reflective and mostly acoustic ballad propelled by a particularly sorrowful Curt Smith voice. this time, it closes off the duo’s first brand-new album since 2005’s Everybody Loves A Happy Ending, The Tipping Point. Smith’s thoughts about quitting Tears For Fears for a second time are described in Stay, thoughts that were kept under wraps at the time. it didn’t like the new record we finished,” Curt admits today. For example: “At dinner in Bath, I told Roland, ‘If this is going to be the new album, I don’t want to be a part of it. after returning to Los Angeles, Curt began working on Stay. I knew it would hurt to quit the band since it’s been such a significant part of my life for so long. Casually uttering the words “I’m off” from time to time shows a lack of seriousness. However, the truth is that it’s not simple.

Because it plays such a significant role in my life, I feel compelled to remain, but I wonder whether doing so is healthy. i s it healthy for me to do this?” It was the act of writing that song that made me want to remain and see if we could figure it out, to say to myself, “Let’s not make a hasty choice.” I need to take care of my emotional and physical well-being, but Tears for Fears is a major inspiration for me. That’s right; Roland is, too. The gloomy electro pulse of My Demons is one of the few of its mainstream tracks to survive on The Tipping Point. “That was a hunt for the hit song,” Orzabal freely confesses. Synth-punk, with a knowing wink and homage to Depeche Mode.

Here comes Dave with his My Demons karaoke. If Martin Gore doesn’t want

us to compose for Depeche, he could at least approach our co-writer Flo Reutter, who created the song’s ominous riff.

IF THIS IS THE NEW ALBUM I DONT WANT ANY PART OF IT

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urt and Roland still required half an LP after figuring out which tracks could be saved. The prospect seems formidable, given that their last studio album was released 15 years before. The simplicity of the process was shocking. Roland reminisces, “We had lunch in LA.” “We had a nice chat and took it easy. After lunch, they returned to Curt’s place to jam, something they hadn’t done in years, and it was clear that despite their differences, they were still OK and friends. In his own words, “We sat there strumming away and came up with this riff,” Orzabal says with a grin. No Small Thing, the album’s opener and second hit, was built on that riff. It’s

PH OT OG R A PH Y : © M anu el L agos C i d / Pari s M atch

since it is such a mainstream smash. an unpredictably mesmerizing trip, much Kate Bush’s top 40 singles are listed here. like Tears For Fears’ best albums. We that comes to me is “Save Me the Last were on the same page,” Smith says with He’s concerned that “End Of Night” lacks Word,” a passage from “Long, Long, Long “the profundity of the rest of the record.” enthusiasm. “Right off the bat, I noticed Time” that seemed fitting for us. They However, there is a certain chemistry bethat the music had an odd tone to it, seem to be back to being best friends, but which prompted the affirmative thought, tween this song and its position as the sec- do they ever fight again? As for how long ond to last in the album. After hearing the “Yes! because it was taking a turn in a this tradition will continue, Curt shrugs. preceding, darker music, you could greet End Roland agrees, saying, “Touring makes direction we hadn’t considered before.

Of Night with the thought, “Ah, a beautiful It showed us the route to completing the things worse. Touring is stressful, but breezy pop tune!” “It’s good to not have to other songs we had started and to emit’s something you have to endure. We bracing the present in a manner that was worry about anything for a while.” This track both use isolation to cope with stress to serves as a prime illustration of the need of varying degrees. My typical response is uniquely “ours.” Terror From The Deep careful album ordering.

- The Breaking Point This is the cover for something along the lines of “I need to Tears For Fears’ song “The Tipping Point.” take care of my voice, I need to warm up Due to its unpredictable nature, No Small Curt is infamously under-represented on for the stage, leave me alone!” On stage, both The Seeds of Love and Songs from Thing serves as a fitting album opener. we may have fun interacting with one the Big Chair, contributing just “Head Over “No Small Thing establishes the tone,” another, and then we can go about our Curt reflects, “because it makes people go, Heels” as a co-writer. But Smith did comdays without exchanging a word with one pose a substantial portion of The Tipping ‘Oh, that’s not what I anticipated. another. This is the problematic part.

Point. This is the most ‘we’ record we’ve done,” says Curt with a grin. Another first Starting with “No Small Thing” is beSince finishing The Tipping Point, they cause we want to “fuck with people,” as record, and I like it,” Roland elaborates. have not composed any new songs; Roland The album cover reminds me of The HurtOrzabal puts it. “The album goes on to says, “We haven’t been in the same room be a Tears For Fears record, but it makes ing. after the song “The Tipping Point” was together enough.” It’s evident from the composed, they were very sure that was people think, ‘They’re still doing stuff new album that Tears For Fears are as that’s interesting.’” “When No Small Thing what the album should be named, but Orza- close now as they were when they were starts, I want people to think, ‘Oh my God, bal jokes, “I pitched suggestions at Curt, but teenagers in Bath. The point of trying to Tears For Fears have made a Johnny Cash none stayed.” I was hesitant to use a song’s foretell the future has been rendered title as the album’s title. My counterargurecord,’” he continues. moot. ment was that we had previously released End About Night, the song Smith was most an album whose title wasn’t a song’s name, skeptical of, was first met with skepticism and it had done well. The only other title

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