Yuri Hirano feat. MaNaMaNa & usabeni "Get me Xmas" (Download)
Christmas time is coming soon! Here's a brand new Christmas song, the first of solo idol Yuri Hirano a.k.a. Yurimaru, and also featuring MaNaMaNa (đ) and usabeni. The track is by EnnU (đ, Instagram) who often contributes to Yurimaru's...
Posted on December 7, 2024 at 19:12. | Released on December 7, 2024
usabeni & assun "Idol Of Surf (Summer 2024)" (Download)
Self-produced idol usabeni (a.k.a Beni Usakura) and rapper/dancer assun (đ, Instagram) have collaborated just recently on a new song titled "Idol Of Surf (Summer 2024)". The song was released digitally to coincide with a tour to Bangkok they were...
Posted on November 4, 2024 at 23:57. | Released on October 21, 2024
usabeni "Patchwork"
Self-produced idol usabeni (a.k.a. Beni Usakura) has released a new single titled "Patchwork", to commemorate the 10th anniversary since her debut. The song "Patchwork" was written by Tsuruuchi Hana, a long-time collaborator who also wrote several songs for avandoned, and...
Posted on October 8, 2024 at 00:53. | Released on October 7, 2024
nonayu x usabeni "Đ ĐĐĐ-A-BOO!" (Download)
Here's the 2nd song from the new collaboration of usabeni (a.k.a. Beni Usakura) (Instagram, đ) and nonayu (Instagram, đ), the two of who have previously collaborated in idol groups Frun Frin Friends and Avandoned. Following "Ice Bahn" released last...
Posted on July 3, 2024 at 23:41. | Released on July 3, 2024
nonayu x usabeni "Ice Bahn" (Download)
This is a new collaboration of nonayu (Instagram, đ) and usabeni (a.k.a. Beni Usakura) (Instagram, đ), the two of who have previously collaborated in idol groups Frun Frin Friends and Avandoned. Today a first song titled "Ice Bahn" was...
Posted on June 26, 2024 at 23:33. | Released on June 26, 2024
usabeni "AIR"
Self-produced idol usabeni (a.k.a. Beni Usakura) has just released a new EP. Titled "AIR", it contains 3 new songs plus a remix. Like the previous mini-album "textures!", it features the sounds of Hyoe Yasuhara and Feww. The remix is...
Posted on May 27, 2024 at 23:45. | Released on May 27, 2024
Musement "Physical Ladyland"
Musement (đ) is the solo project of Hiroshi Yabe (Controversial Spark, ex-Carnation). Having released a new album digitally in July 2023 titled "Song Pavilion", this album has now been renewed featuring several female singers, and with three new extra songs....
Posted on December 25, 2023 at 23:57. | Released on December 21, 2023
Posted on December 2, 2023 at 22:30. | Event held on Sunday December 3, 2023 at 12:30 (JST)
usabeni "textures!"
Self-produced idol Beni Usakura recently changed her solo artist name to usabeni (until then her nickname), with the digital release of new song "trip", and here comes a first mini-album under her new name, titled "textures!". Included is latest...
Posted on October 25, 2023 at 22:11. | Released on October 25, 2023
usabeni "trip" (Download)
Self-produced idol Beni Usakura pursues her solo project with a new twist, as she has now started officially using the name usabeni (until then her nickname). Her first release as usabeni is a brand new song titled "trip", with...
Posted on September 20, 2023 at 14:02. | Released on September 16, 2023
Childish Tones feat. Beni Usakura "Yesterday Once More" (7" Flexi + Download code)
A new release is coming from Childish Tones (Instagram, Twitter) feat. Beni Usakura (Instagram, Twitter)! This one is a cover of The Carpenters' "Yesterday Once More" using the Japanese lyrics written by ShintarĆ Sakamoto as he once sang in...
Posted on June 17, 2023 at 22:46. | Released on July 14, 2023
Record Store Day 2023
Record Store Day will be held worldwide on Saturday April 22! Below is a list of recommended releases coming from Japan. The full list of Record Store Day Japan can be found here. As always, there are no online pre-orders,...
Posted on April 15, 2023 at 23:40. | Released on April 22, 2023
Beni Usakura "Cosmic Dress" (Download)
Beni Usakura has just released a brand new solo single titled "Cosmic Dress". This one is a melodic piano-led dance tune, written by Tsuruuchi Hana (of the Hana to Pops label), a long-time collaborator who also wrote several songs...
Posted on March 16, 2023 at 00:26. | Released on March 15, 2023
Beni Usakura & Yoimachi "Yoakemae" (Download)
Beni Usakura has teamed up with Kobe band Yoimachi (YouTube, Instagram) for this collaboration song titled "Yoakemae" (translates to "before dawn"). The music was written and performed by Yoimachi, and the sung lyrics were written by Beni while the...
Posted on March 14, 2023 at 19:07. | Released on March 11, 2023
Various Artists "Excerpts From Nu Psychic Teen Sounds!" (Download)
The original songs from the recent LP compilation "Nu Psychic Teen Sounds!" are now available digitally. In addition to the album versions of songs by Rinda & Marya, CAR10, Childish Tones feat. Beni Usakura, Learners, Bluevalley, Petersfield, Flashlights and Kettles,...
Posted on December 29, 2022 at 23:23. | Released on December 21, 2022
Posted on December 16, 2022 at 20:52. | Event held on Tuesday December 20, 2022 at 19:15 (JST)
Beni Usakura "NEW" (Download)
Beni Usakura (Instagram, Twitter) has just released a solo mini-album of 6 songs! Included are the recent "open mind" and on the "Passion" 2-song single, which were released in digital form (and also physically via Beni's online shop and at...
Posted on November 17, 2022 at 11:56. | Released on November 16, 2022
Cassette Store Day 2022
Cassette Store Day is happening this year again, on Saturday October 15, and many albums are being released in the nostalgic format. Below are a few picks, a bit coincidentally all from the KiliKiliVilla label (which puts a lot of...
Posted on October 14, 2022 at 22:38. | Released on October 15, 2022
Beni Usakura "open mind" (Download)
Beni Usakura (Instagram, Twitter) has a brand new song out now digitally. Like her previous EP "Passion", the music was written and sound-produced by Emiri Kanou, with lyrics written by Beni herself. Inu Machine co-arranged, mixed and mastered the...
Posted on October 9, 2022 at 00:10. | Released on October 8, 2022
Childish Tones feat. Beni Usakura "Top Secret Man / Yeah Yeah Yeah" (7")
Tokyo toy-instrument-only rock'n'roll band Childish Tones (Instagram, Twitter) feat. Beni Usakura (Instagram, Twitter) has a new 7" single coming this month. Both songs are covers: Plastics' "Top Secret Man" and The Vibrators' "Yeah Yeah Yeah" (this one sung in...
Posted on October 8, 2022 at 00:03. | Released on October 20, 2022
Posted on August 11, 2022 at 12:19. | Event held on Saturday September 10, 2022 at 18:00 (JST)
Childish Tones feat. Beni Usakura x Bluevalley "Summer Together EP" (7"+Download code)
Here comes a split-single of Tokyo toy-instrument-only rock'n'roll band Childish Tones (Instagram, Twitter) feat. Beni Usakura (Instagram, Twitter) and Nagoya-based lo-fi indie-pop band Bluevalley. Both of the songs are brand new originals. The lyrics of "Daikirai Collection" were written...
Posted on July 3, 2022 at 21:10. | Released on August 31, 2022
Various Artists "Nu Psychic Teen Sounds!" (12"+Download code)
The label BOOTREC was started in 2016 as a sub-label of KiliKiliVilla and led by Nemoto De ChĂŽbeaullet (Childish Tones) and Hitoshi "Kink" Suzuki (designer & DJ), and here comes a first label compilation under the new slogan "Nu Psychic...
Posted on July 3, 2022 at 20:46. | Released on July 29, 2022
Posted on April 29, 2022 at 23:07. | Event held on Thursday June 23, 2022 at 18:45 (JST)
Beni Usakura "Passion"
Beni Usakura (Twitter, Instagram), who is active in idol group Apokalippps (also ex-Frun Frin Friends and avandoned) and the featured vocalist of Childish Tones (Twittter, Instagram), has just released a first solo single! Both of these songs have music...
Posted on April 17, 2022 at 10:05. | Released on April 17, 2022
Frun Frin Friends "Frun Frin Friends" (Download)
Frun Frin Friends is the idol unit of Beni Usakura (Twitter) (also of APOKALIPPPS and featured in Childish Tones) and Aku Nayuta (Twitter). Following several singles, here comes their first full-length album out now on download/streaming platforms! The music is...
Posted on July 7, 2021 at 21:12. | Released on July 7, 2021
Frun Frin Friends "Vanilla / Strawberry" (Download)
Frun Frin Friends is the idol unit of Beni Usakura (also of APOKALIPPPS) and Aku Nayuta, both of who used to be in group Avandoned. The duo has just released a brand new double-A-sider single, and at the same...
Posted on March 14, 2021 at 21:54. | Released on March 14, 2021
Childish Tones feat. Beni Usakura "God Bless the Girls" (CD/10")
Childish Tones (Twitter) has just released a full-length album, titled "God Bless the Girls", and it's the first featuring singer Beni Usakura (Twitter, Instagram)! Following the early-bird cassette edition released for Cassette Store Day, here it comes on CD and...
Posted on October 28, 2020 at 23:59. | Released on October 28, 2020
Posted on October 22, 2020 at 21:36. | Event held on Saturday October 31, 2020 at 18:00 (JST)
Cassette Store Day 2020: Childish Tones feat. Beni Usakura, Learners
Today is a rainy Cassette Store Day in Tokyo. Luckily the items are available online too, at a few of the participating shops at least! Here are just a few picks that Tokyo's Coolest Sound readers might not want to...
Posted on October 17, 2020 at 12:51. | Released on October 17, 2020
Childish Tones feat. Beni Usakura "Ask" (7")
Childish Tones (Twitter) featuring singer Beni Usakura (Twitter, Instagram) has just released a new 7" single. Included are covers of The Smiths' "Ask", and New York Dolls' Sylvain Sylvain's solo song "Teenage News". A download code is included. The...
Posted on August 29, 2020 at 00:54. | Released on August 28, 2020
Les Childish Tones avec Beni Usakura "Ex Fan Des Sixties" (7")
Childish Tones (Twitter), band that using only toy instruments, has a new single featuring singer Beni Usakura (Twitter, Instagram) about to be released! This time they cover Jane Birkin's "Ex Fan Des Sixties" (1978) and The Spiders' "Nati Bati...
Posted on March 16, 2020 at 00:52. | Released on March 25, 2020
Various Artists "Silent Running"
This is a compilation from label Hello From The Gutter founded in 2001, to celebrate a total of 50 releases. Featured are recent songs by various bands including Learners, Childish Tones feat. Usakura Beni (Avandoned) (with a cover of Jane...
Posted on January 30, 2020 at 23:18. | Released on January 15, 2020
Childish Tones feat. Beni Usakura "Make Her Mine" (7")
Childish Tones (Twitter), band that plays rock'n'roll with just toy instruments, has a new 7" in collaboration with Beni Usakura (of Avandoned). The previous ("Cruel To Be Kind / There She Goes") quickly sold out. This time are covers...
Posted on September 19, 2019 at 20:30. | Released on September 25, 2019
Childish Tones feat. Usakura Beni "Cruel To Be Kind / There She Goes" (7")
Childish Tones (Twitter) is a band that plays rock'n'roll using nothing but toy instruments! This new 7" single is a collaboration with Beni Usakura (of Avandoned). Included are covers of Nick Lowe's "Cruel To Be Kind" and The La's' "There...
Posted on February 10, 2019 at 10:58. | Released on February 20, 2019
Rinda & Marya "Everybody's Happy Nowadays / Candy Superman" (7")
First released part of LP compilation "Nu Psychic Teen Sounds!" last year, here comes a 7" cut of the two songs by Rinda & Marya (Instagram, Twitter). "Everybody's Happy Nowadays" is a cover of Buzzcocks, while "Candy Superman" is...
Posted on May 23, 2023 at 23:55. | Released on May 26, 2023
Bluevalley "Bluevalley"
BLUEVALLEY is a bassless lo-fi pop group based in Nagoya, led by singer-songwriter Kikumi Minatani. Here finally comes their first full-length original album! This follows the release of three independently-made 7" singles (some available at Jet Set), and more recently...
Posted on September 21, 2022 at 23:33. | Released on September 21, 2022
The Bassons "Through The Woods" (Download)
The Bassons ("bass" pronounced as in "bass guitar") is a funky band with a sound based around bass and drums, formed of rapper Darthreider (a.k.a. Rei Wordup), bassist Katsuhara Daisaku, drummer Ćta KĆji, Tomohiko GondĆ on flugelhorn, with the whole...
Posted on April 29, 2022 at 23:29. | Released on April 23, 2022
Kettles "Timeless Melody / Devils Haircut" (7")
KETTLES (Facebook, Bandcamp, Twitter) is a rock'n'roll duo of guitar and drums formed in 2008, who both also sing. Here comes a 7" single of two covers of which they had posted performances on YouTube in 2014 and 2015,...
Posted on October 21, 2021 at 21:13. | Released on October 22, 2021
Posted on March 28, 2021 at 15:24. | Event held on Saturday April 3, 2021 at 18:15 (JST)
Tentenko "An Antworten EP" (12")
Tentenko, who has been active as a proficient electronic artist for several years already, has a new EP about to be released on German label TAL! The EP contains two new tracks, "Ki-Iro" and "Mizu-Iro", as well as remixes by...
Posted on March 2, 2021 at 23:55. | Released on March 5, 2021
Childish Tones "Country Girl" (7")
Childish Tones (Twitter), band which plays rock'n'roll using only toy instruments, has a new single being released on 7"! This follows the album "God Bless The Girls" which featured singer Beni Usakura. This time the songs are sung by...
Posted on February 11, 2021 at 21:15. | Released on February 26, 2021
Magic, Drums & Love "Amazon Night / Eyes, Hands, Height & Hair" (7"/Download)
Tokyo rock'n'roll band Magic, Drums & Love has a new double-A-side 7" single being released! Like their latest album, "Hurricane Upsetter", it's produced by Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Learners, Neil and Iraiza, Cubismo Grafico). The single is said to include...
Posted on July 21, 2020 at 23:19. | Released on July 22, 2020
The Pen Friend Club "Along Comes Mary / Love Can Go The Distance"
The Pen Friend Club, a band of eight that takes inspiration from 60's west coast rock, has a brand new single to be released this week! This is actually their last release featuring Fujimoto Yuka who had been the...
Posted on March 8, 2020 at 12:14. | Released on March 11, 2020
avandoned "Margaret"
Idol group avandoned, led by Usakura Beni, is back as a 6-piece, and finally here comes a brand new single! The title song was written by songwriter Tsuruuchi Hana and the music performed by band The Broken TV, while...
Posted on June 24, 2019 at 21:44. | Released on June 26, 2019
