PICNIC YOU announces release of first album "Yuai" and title track pre-release

PICNIC YOU has announced that they will be releasing their first album “Yuai” on Wednesday, July 17th. The title track “Yuai (YOU&I)” was also released today, Wednesday, June 19th.

PICNIC YOU has attracted attention for releasing works from Victor Entertainment’s label CONNECTUNE and for their collaborative EP DA NUCLEAR FAMILY with rapper NowLedge. The album is a voluminous and varied 17-track set, including the 2024 new versions of “I can’t stand alone,” “die 4 u,” and PICNIC YOU’s anthemic song “REALGOLDSPIRYTUS,” plus 14 unreleased songs.

Throughout the album, the question of how lonely souls living in the wilderness of the city can connect with others and ultimately with society is the underlying theme, and it is said to be a conceptual work that is the fruition of PICNIC YOU’s thoughts. Featuring his friend Perfect Young Lady. The artwork was done by printmaker and illustrator Nagomi.

The lead single “Friendship (YOU&I)” is a pop and melodious song that sings about how only by building the smallest unit of human connection, “YOU&I (you and I),” can one open up to others and society. “It’s only because of you that I can aspire to live life without regrets, never satisfied.” – a song filled with such a message.

The album will be released digitally as well as on CD. To celebrate the release of the album, an in-store live performance “PICNIC IN STORE” will be held on Monday, July 15th (national holiday) at the HMV record shop in Shibuya, Tokyo. Perfect Young Lady and others will also be performing, and the CD will be available for pre-sale.

Additionally, a solo exhibition by PICNIC YOU member and painter Shuzo Tajima, titled “The Day I Go to the Forest,” will be held at the store from Wednesday, July 3rd to Monday, July 15th.

[Album commentary by PICNIC YOU]

This work, “Yuai,” is a call from PICNIC YOU to all city dwellers, or lonely souls who are divided by what they are.
Using the method of rap, we unashamedly expose our wounds, the joy we received from you unsparingly, and the words we received from you without fear, like a drunkard spending the few gold coins in his pocket. Now, all people are freezing and shivering in the wilderness. The dreams I had long ago are now trampling on my feet, and it seems unlikely that the future will sing for me. So, let’s call out to our neighbors who are walking through the wilderness of the soul. Rather than exchanging sorrows, we should exchange souls. The echoes of our calls echoing through the wilderness may make the 21st century Don Quixotes hesitantly look back.

【release information】

PICNIC YOU “YOU&I”
Release Date: 2024.06.19 (Wed.)
Label: PICNIC YOU
Tracklist:
1. Friendship (YOU&I)

■Streaming link

PICNIC YOU “YOU&I”
Release Date: 2024.07.17 (Wed.)
Label: PICNIC YOU
Tracklist:
1. Friendship (YOU&I)
2. Spiritual Bolsheviks
3. Searchlight
4. simoda freestyle 1
5. Expanding the scope of the struggle
6. Revolution (RUDE BOY STELLA)
7. Requiem for Us Hearing from the Future
8. lovely day (feat. perfect young lady)
9. TOO MUCH PAIN
10. simoda freestyle 2 (interlude)
11. Teenage Wasteland
12. simoda freestyle 3 (too drunk interlude)
13. I just wanna be fun
14. die 4 u
15. I can’t stand alone
16. REALGOLDSPIRYTUS
17. Outro (Show me the way)

【event information】

“PICNIC IN STORE”
Date and time: Monday, July 15, 2024 (National Holiday) 17:30~
Venue: HMV record shop, Shibuya, Tokyo
Cast:
PICNIC YOU
perfect young lady
Tarah Kikuchi with Strange Bedfellows
Matsudo Believer

Shuzo Tajima solo exhibition “The day I went to the forest”
Date and time: July 3rd (Wed) – July 15th (Mon), 2024 11:00-21:00
Venue: Bankrobber LABO, 2F HMV record shop, Shibuya, Tokyo