MUSIC

Bakénéko Blends J-Pop, Alt Rock, and Anime in Stellar Debut Single "Remember"

Strong themes of duality bleed throughout Bakénéko's fantastic premiere.

Bakénéko Blends

Borrowing their name from a shapeshifting cat yōkai (or supernatural creature in Japanese folklore), LA-based alt J-POP duo Bakénéko effortlessly blends genres and languages in their first single, "Remember."

Much like a cat that can turn into a human, Bakénéko also excels at dualities. "Remember" opens with an upbeat guitar/synth track in the tradition of legendary electronic artists like Porter Robinson and CHVRCHES. Then the vocals cut in and "Remember" transforms into something familiar but also wholly original. Singer/songwriter M performs the main verses in Japanese and the chorus in English, but her voice remains constant—pretty, soft, and drenched in melancholy. The dissonance between the upbeat composition and downbeat vocals conveys a deep sense of pained nostalgia. "Remember" would fit in effortlessly amongst some of the best anime ending themes.

Bak\u00e9n\u00e9koBakénéko Blends

Centered around a personal reflection on fighting within a relationship built on genuine love, "Remember" aptly expresses themes of duality through its lyrics, too. The first pre-chorus translates to: "If the world sees only black or white / Then lets mix a grey zone together." This message of blending black and white into grey lies at the very core of Bakénéko's identity. "Until the viral growth of anime, I grew up shunned by two cultures," said M. "Wielding both languages is me finally embracing my Japanese heritage and American upbringing. Both have flaws, both have wonders, and that's okay. I'm okay."

Bak\u00e9n\u00e9koBakénéko Blends

While "Remember" marks Bakénéko's premiere, both members of the two-person group (composer/producer, B, and M, who did the sound design along with vocals and songwriting) have been working in the TV and film audio production industry for years. Their work can be heard everywhere from E! Network to Facebook Watch and Amazon Prime. We look forward to hearing what they'll put out next, but in the meantime, be sure to follow them on Instagram and Twitter for some "otaku trash" opinions.

The Chordaes | What Do You Want From Me

The Chordaes are taking us back in time this week.

Native New York band The Chordaes are lovers of classic rock- all things nineties included. This shines through in their sound: a sweet blend of classic rock and power pop. Recently, The Chordaes have released a new EP In Itinere which has garnered great reviews from Impose Magazine and more. The band's recent single "What Do You Want From Me?" and it's accompanying visual as received praise from PopMatters and All Things Go. The music video was directed by legendary Phil Harder who has worked with the likes of The Afghan Whigs, Robert Plant, Billy Talent, Prince, Rob Thomas, Matchbox Twenty, Incubus, and many more.

Watch "What Do You Want From Me?" here.

The music video is brilliant (obviously), vibrant, and moody in all the right ways. The visual plays with the line of reality and subconscious, sobriety and intoxication, dream and awake. The pastiche of the Busby Berkely choreography flirts with the groovy seventies feeling they've created with the colors and movement in the visual. The gorgeous colors and layers of the music video only heighten the rich layers of the song. I love that there is a performance aspect to the video showcasing the band themselves.

Comprised of Leo Sawikin (Lead Vocals/Guitar), Ethan Glenn (Drums), Nick McFly (Bass), Dan Cobert (Keys), and Kevin Foley (Guitar/Backing Vocals) the sound of The Chordaes is full and powerful. Today, Leo Sawikin has curated a playlist of his favorite songs from the nineties just for Popdust readers. He says, "This list comprises songs by alternative rock bands who wanted to be more than just plain alt rock and transcended their genres."

Check out Leo's playlist here:

New Radicals | "You Get What You Give"

This song by New Radicals combines Burt Bacharach-esque chords and melodies with a much more grungy vocal approach and arrangement. Major 9 chords ring out on the piano over a straightforward yet restrained beat.

For more of The Chordaes check out their recent EP In Itniere.

Follow The Chordaes on Facebook | Twitter.


Anie Delgado is a contributor to Popdust and is an actress and musician based in NYC. Follow her on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter and check out her music on Spotify.


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