Music | Sound Off Feb 14, 2020
by William Archambeault
A slew of Japanese artists are set to appear at the South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival in Austin, Texas, between March 16 and 22.
Music Mar 28, 2019
Chai, Otoboke Beaver and Yahyel: The Japanese musicians representing at SXSW 2019
by William Archambeault
Every year, more than 2,000 bands flock to Austin, Texas, for the South By Southwest Music Conference and Festival (SXSW). The internationally recognized event has recently leaned heavy on tech, but music still plays a big part. During this year's mid-March music showcase, Japan ...
Music / CD Reviews | LISTENING POST Feb 13, 2019
Chai's 'Punk' is an irrepressibly upbeat victory lap
by James Hadfield
For a band that made its name by bucking kawaii conventions, Chai can be awfully cute. On its second album, misleadingly titled "Punk," the quartet takes the giddy sugar-rush of 2017's "Pink" and distills it into a mixture so potent, it should probably come ...
Music Mar 9, 2018
Rock act Chai has no time for your definition of 'cute'
by Patrick St. Michel
The members of Chai aren't content with "kawaii." That word — meaning "cute," but in a kind of pitiable way — gets tossed around a lot in Japan and by people overseas, who use it to refer to almost anything Japanese. "The media defines it ...
Music Mar 8, 2018
SXSW offers opportunities for Japanese musicians to find their audience
by Patrick St. Michel
The South By Southwest (SXSW) music conference and festival in Austin, Texas, has long been a destination for Japanese acts looking to get noticed in the U.S. market. This year's gathering, which runs March 12-18, presents more options than ever for Japanese acts to ...