J-Pop is a highly layered genre, simultaneously blending the idol industry, Vocaloid composers, and other musical phenomena. During my deep immersion into the Japanese music scene, the group Zutomayo emerged as the most prominent expression of its genre. They managed to gain significant attention within the local industry through their ambiguous lyrics, enigmatic image, and unique animated music videos.
What is their music like?
The music performed by the ensemble blends elements of alternative rock, jazz, funk, old-school disco, experimental pop, and electronic music. This rich mix of styles creates a unique sonic identity. The group is renowned for its intricate bass lines and unafraid to employ complex musical structures. Another distinctive feature of the performers is the use of double-entendre words. This significantly complicates the interpretation of the lyrics in other languages, yet it allows listeners to draw their own conclusions. The vocalist, Akane, never states anything plainly—her music is always a puzzle. It is also worth noting that she writes both the music and the lyrics herself.
The Zutomayo Multiverse.
The animated music videos on the Zutomayo channel are an integral part of the group’s work. Their videos don’t just serve as a form of promotion for their creativity—they expand its boundaries, transforming the clips into units of audiovisual art. A separate story, featuring a unique character, is developed for every track. Together, these characters create a multiverse in which they sometimes have the opportunity to intersect. But the most important aspect of these clips is that they imbue a deep emotional tone, turning the compositions into something more.
Concert Performances.
Zutomayo’s performances are always unconventional. It is a large-scale show featuring a full orchestra comprised of Japan’s most eccentric musicians. For their first performance, the group played almost in the dark, and the audience was given semi-transparent glasses. In subsequent concerts, the spotlights were always aimed at the main star’s back, hiding their face in shadow to maintain the mystique that helped promote the band. In their shows, Zutomayo offers the audience a chance to hear familiar tracks arranged in new, unconventional ways and performed on non-traditional instruments—which I don’t know the names of, but you can see in the video below.
Zutomayo is an innovative concept within the Japanese music industry. It was their inclination toward the unconventional that captured my attention, and the emotionality of their compositions made me a frequent listener. You can be certain that the group will continue to surprise its audience with their bold ideas.
