SOMAOTA will release their new single “Rokutsu no Hashi” today, May 15th (Wednesday). A music video was also released at the same time.
He is the MC of the Kansai hip-hop collective Black petrol, whose appearance on “SUMMER SONIC 2023” is still fresh in the memory, and he has also performed as a solo artist in Taiwan’s “Neon Oasis Fest.’24 霓Hong綠液音樜 Festival”. SOMAOTA attracts attention from outside.
Up until now, SOMAOTA has released many co-written songs, but this is their first completely solo song in about four years since their 1st EP “Nori Norin Daze” (2020). This work shows his determination to move his base of activities from Kansai to Tokyo and to pursue a full-fledged solo career.
This is a complete change from the complex chords and rhythm tracks that were mainly composed of live instruments, and has returned to its roots with a single-loop hip-hop track. In addition, the lyrics that refer to social issues such as “Palestine” and “homelessness” are influenced by alternative rap, which depicts humorous social satire.
SOMAOTA will be performing live at Shibuya LUSH in Tokyo on July 5th (Friday) and at Kyoto nano on July 10th (Wednesday). Check SOMAOTA’s social media for details.
[SOMAOTA comment]
The theme of the lyrics is “Living in a group and living as an individual.” I have been working as an MC for the band Black petrol for about 6 years, and I have learned about the difficulty of working in a group and the “music” that is floating throughout the Kansai music scene. I felt resigned, thinking, “There’s no way I can be successful.” I decided to start my solo career in earnest and move my base of activities to Tokyo. I expressed this intention in the newly released “Six Bridges.” In order to move on to a new stage, you have to cut off a path of retreat. “Bridges” are metaphors for life stages. Additionally, as there is a growing interest in the themes of music and politics, we have included lyrics that are strongly conscious of social issues such as “Palestine” and “Homelessness.”
The track is by beat maker BON-SAN, who also plays drums for the post-trip pop band “TAMIW.” Up until now, I had often rapped over complex tracks with chords and rhythms, but I went back to my roots and started using HIPHOP tracks with one loop. They created a track that has a 2000’s feel to it, with an innovative drum pattern that feels like a cut-up of breakbeats, and a track that will keep you swinging forever if you lean into it.
【release information】
SOMAOTA “Six Bridges”
Release Date：2024.05.15 (Wed.)
Label: SOMAOTA
Tracklist：
1. Six bridges
■SOMAOTA:X (Twitter) / Instagram
