Spotlight on 10 Exciting Acts for This Year, Including Saba Sister, tuki., and Rikon Densetsu! Introducing the ‘RADAR: Early Noise 2024’ Playlist Showcasing Their Charm
Spotify, the audio streaming service used by over 574 million people worldwide (company name Spotify AB, headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden), has selected 10 up-and-coming Japanese artists expected to make significant strides this year as part of ‘RADAR: Early Noise 2024’.
Spotify plans to actively introduce these 10 artists to music fans both in Japan and abroad through playlists, live events, and various content and collaboration projects that showcase their charm.
The Artists Selected for ‘RADAR: Early Noise 2024’ Are as Follows!!!
Artists Selected for RADAR: Early Noise 2024 ※In alphabetical order
- MFS
- Masanori Otoda
- Saba Sister
- JUMADIBA
- jo0ji
- CHO CO PA CO CHO CO QUIN QUIN
- tuki.
- Toaka
- First Love is Never Returned
- Rikon Densetsu
Now in its 8th year, ‘Early Noise’ was launched in Japan in 2017 with the aim of quickly introducing music fans to emerging artists who will shape the next era, using playlists and various features to help them expand their listener base.
In the spring of 2020, the program evolved into ‘RADAR: Early Noise’ in collaboration with the global ‘RADAR’ program, which introduces notable artists from various countries to a global audience. Through this program, artists like Aimyon, King Gnu, Zutomayo, Vaundy, and Fujii Kaze have gained many new listeners and have stepped up to become nationally renowned artists.
Natori, selected in 2023, made significant progress with the Spotify brand CM song ‘Friday Night’ surpassing 34 million plays, and ‘Overdose’, a viral hit both domestically and internationally the previous year, surpassing 160 million plays, ranking 6th in last year’s most-played song in Japan.
Additionally, at SUMMER SONIC 2023 held in August last year, a RADAR: Early Noise stage was realized through a collaboration between Spotify and Summer Sonic, featuring many of the 2023 selected artists like DURDN, LANA, Skaai, and Haru Nemuri, drawing much attention.
The newly announced ‘RADAR: Early Noise 2024’ reflects changes in music trends due to the proliferation of streaming and social media, selecting 10 groups that transcend traditional boundaries and release unique works across diverse fields such as bands, singer-songwriters, and HIP HOP.
Coinciding with the announcement of ‘RADAR: Early Noise 2024’ artists, Spotify has released the official playlist ‘RADAR: Early Noise 2024’, along with a Music+Talk program ※Note ‘Spotify RADAR: Early Noise 2024 Music+Talk Edition’, where music concierge Fukuryu and Spotify’s music business division representatives delve deep into the selected artists and the charm of their music.
Experience This Year’s Selected Artists First at ‘Spotify Early Noise Night #16’ Showcase Live on March 15th at Spotify O-EAST!!!
On March 15th (Friday), the first ‘Spotify Early Noise Night #16’ of the year will be held at Spotify O-EAST (Shibuya, Tokyo), featuring performances by jo0ji, First Love is Never Returned, and Rikon Densetsu, three of the artists selected for 2024.
The event will also feature Furui Riho, selected last year and currently making waves with her latest hit ‘LOA’, which is buzzing across many hit playlists. More artists are expected to be added to the lineup.
Advance tickets for the live show are available at eplus (https://eplus.jp/enn/) (Japan market only). The accompanying playlist ‘Early Noise Night #16′ offers a sneak peek of the performing artists’ music ahead of the live event.
‘RADAR: Early Noise 2024’ Corner URL:
‘RADAR: Early Noise 2024’ Playlist URL:
https://spoti.fi/EarlyNoiseJapan
‘Early Noise Night #16’ Playlist URL:
https://spotify.link/EarlyNoiseNight
※Note: ‘Music ＋ Talk’ is a new format of audio content that allows you to enjoy music and talk in a single program. With Spotify’s audio content production and distribution app Anchor, anyone can easily create content similar to a radio program by combining recorded talks with over 100 million songs available on Spotify.
RADAR: Early Noise 2024 Artist Introductions
1. MFS
A rapper born in Tokyo and based in Osaka, MFS is a member of the Osaka-based HIPHOP collective Tha Jointz. He began rapping in 2020 and gained attention within just a year with his tracks, leading to performances at RedBull’s ‘RASEN’ and Japan’s largest HIPHOP festival ‘POP YOURS’.
He’s also sought after as a model, participating in campaigns for global brands like PUMA, JORDANBRAND, and BALENCIAGA. His 2022 track ‘BOW’ was featured in the globally popular game ‘Overwatch 2’, charting in Spotify’s Viral Charts in 45 countries and regions, and achieving number one in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, Australia, and the global chart. This marked a historic first for a Japanese artist.
On January 24th, MFS is set to release the single ‘Combo’, featuring Kyoto-based producer Stones Taro.
2. Masanori Otoda
A 20-year-old solo artist from Kyoto, currently enrolled in a music college. His career took off in the summer of 2021, at 18, when his debut song ‘Aiuta’ stayed in the Spotify Viral Chart Top 50 for over 40 days. The following October, ‘Wedding’, written for his sister’s wedding, became a smash hit, with ongoing requests for it to be played at weddings.
His July 2023 release ‘fake face dance music’ ranked in the TOP10 of the New Artist Sales category in the Oricon Yearly Ranking 2023, among others. His transparent vocals and songs are gradually spreading through social media.
3. Saba Sister
Formed in March 2022, Saba Sister is a three-piece girl band consisting of Nachi (Vo/Gt), GK (Dr), and Ruminasu (Gt). Their music and live performances, characterized by Nachi’s unique sensibility and lyrics interwoven with universal themes yet maintaining originality, quickly captured attention.
Just five months after forming, they made their first festival appearance at SUMMER SONIC, garnering attention with their straightforward and earnest performances. Since then, they’ve played at numerous major domestic festivals and circuit events. One year after their formation, their own tour sold out at every venue, rapidly expanding their popularity and recognition. They made their major debut with the release of their first full album ‘Kakugo wo kimero!’ on March 8th (Saba Day).
4. JUMADIBA
Born in 1998 in Tokyo. In March 2023, JUMADIBA released their 2nd mixtape “nobori – 上り”, self-producing six tracks and showcasing multifaceted skills in production.
Their unique lyrics that oscillate between surreal and cool, along with their ethereal flow, have been praised for creating a one-of-a-kind world, sparking significant interest. In addition to releasing the latest EP “noodle” in December, collaborations such as “DOSHABURI feat. JUMADIBA (Prod. Chaki Zulu)” with kZm and “Get Back feat. JUMADIBA & Watson” with ralph have been viral hits, highlighting their remarkable work as featured artists.
5. jo0ji
jo0ji (George), 24 years old, from Tottori Prefecture, affiliated with Sony Music Artists. He began his career by releasing “Fukutsu ni Hana,” a song he created for a friend, on YouTube. Continuously writing songs for friends, he released his first EP “475” in September 2023. His lyrics, rooted in his family, friends, and personal life, are universal yet intimate, resembling personal letters. Jo0ji usually composes music on the piano, handling both lyrics and music composition. Beyond music, he showcases versatile creative skills in illustration and making original guitars. His father is a fisherman, and Jo0ji also works at a local fishing port alongside his artistic pursuits.
6. CHO CO PA CO CHO CO QUIN QUIN
Formed in the 4th grade but disbanded in the 5th grade as all members played the guitar. Later, one member developed a deep interest in Latin American music and studied at the University of Havana in Cuba. There, they learned the conga and mastered the rhythm pattern “cho co pa co cho co quin quin”. The group reformed two years ago, now exploring electronic music centered around percussion, with a touch of faux shamanism. On Instagram, they are known as the Ableton Gang.
7. tuki.
An enigmatic singer-songwriter, tuki. , emerged suddenly from obscurity. Starting to post guitar covers on social media at the age of 13, tuki. debuted on September 29, 2023, with the song “Bansanka”. Rapidly climbing the charts and peaking at #5 on the ‘Billboard Japan Hot 100’, tuki. also held the #1 spot for 9 consecutive days on Spotify’s ‘Viral Top 50 – Japan’, amassing 1.65 million monthly listeners. Known for compelling vocal and expressive prowess, tuki.’s cover videos quickly became a sensation on social media. In just three months from debut, the total streaming counts across major services surpassed 75 million.
The music video for “Bansanka Hikigatari ver.” released without any prior announcement, hit one million views in nine days, and has now exceeded 11 million views. Only sparse details like “third-year middle school student” and “15 years old” are known, with the artist’s true identity remaining a mystery.
8. Toaka
Born in 2003, Toaka is an active college student and singer-songwriter. She catapulted to fame after posting a guitar cover video shot in her bedroom closet on TikTok, leading to her selection as the vocalist for the theme song of the 2022 film “Suzume no Tojimari” (directed by Makoto Shinkai). Her sacred voice, reminiscent of eternal winds flowing through millennia, coupled with the occasional innocence of a young girl, creates a mysteriously alluring presence with a tinge of melancholy and shadow. This raw, untainted talent captivated both Yojiro Noda and Makoto Shinkai, propelling her voice to global recognition.
In July 2023, Toaka made her major debut with the digital single “Haikaburi,” which she wrote and composed under the production of RADWIMPS’s Yojiro Noda, released by EMI Records. Her music, beautifully thorny, sharply captures and portrays the emotions of an unfulfilled and unsatisfied youth, oscillating between reality and fiction with a slightly jaded perspective.
9. First Love is Never Returned
“Fall in love with this voice” – this is the essence of First Love is Never Returned, a five-member band based in Sapporo, Hokkaido, formed in 2018 with Kazuki Ishida, who has experience studying vocals in New York, at its core. The band plays what they call “pop music.”
After a hiatus of over two years due to the pandemic, they restarted activities in December 2022. Despite rebooting from a state of complete anonymity, they quickly caught the attention of various streaming platforms, featuring in many official playlists. Not relying on social media buzz but purely on the quality of their sound, they have garnered significant interest. Proud of their roots in live houses, in 2023 they showcased their emotional live performances that transcend their recordings, earning a spot at the “Rising Sun Rock Festival 2023” purely on talent. As one of the most anticipated bands of 2024, they are now fully engaging in the scene, armed with their captivating “love-struck voices” that are unmatched by others.
10. Rikon Densetsu
Rikon Densetsu started their journey in January 2022 with vocalist Ayumu Matsuda and guitarist Jun Beppu. The band’s name is derived from the Japanese title of Marvin Gaye’s autobiographical and acclaimed 1978 album ‘Here My Dear.’ The band self-produces all aspects of their creative output, including music and videos. Their sense of style and approachability has quickly made them a sensation among early listeners through social media, radio, and word-of-mouth at live shows.
Their sound, while evocative of various roots, has a shared desire to remain “firmly in pop music” and consistently explores the theme of “love.” Matsuda’s sweet, mellow high-tone voice and Beppu’s boundless guitar playing create a unique performance style. Their appearances often lead to sold-out events, indicating the emergence of a new “legend” in the scene. Continuously captivating listeners with their high-quality sound, Rikon Densetsu is rapidly becoming known as innovative good music creators, representing a new wave of talent in the Reiwa era.
Spotify Early Noise Night #16
- Website: https://spotify-earlynoise.jp/
- Date and Time: March 15, 2023 (Friday), Doors open at 17:30 / Show starts at 18:30
- Venue: Spotify O-EAST (2-14-8 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)
- Performers: (In alphabetical order) jo0ji, First Love is Never Returned, Furui Riho, Rikon Densetsu, and more!
Exclusive Benefits for Spotify Premium Users
At ‘Spotify Early Noise Night’, special benefits will be prepared at the venue for Spotify Premium users who come to enjoy the live performance. Details will be announced as soon as they are decided.
Additionally, by presenting the app screen at the entrance, Spotify Premium users will receive one extra drink as a service!
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