Music Elixir
Eavesdrop on a conversation between two friends about their favorite Asian artists and music and how music is their tonic of life.
Music Elixir
Fresh Tracks And Big Feelings
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A hook can do more than sound catchy. It can tell you where an artist is headed, who they are trying to reach, and what kind of emotion they want sitting in your chest all day. We return to Music Elixir with a singles-heavy listen that jumps from K-pop to J-pop, while we also laugh about the very real “behind the mic” stuff like travel, getting sick, and why we now side-eye hotel room surfaces.
We start with SF9’s “Without Wings,” digging into how the groove creates that feeling of lift and momentum, even when the lyric idea is about moving forward without the tools you want. From there, we talk about the bigger trend of Afrobeats and global rhythms in pop, and why experimenting with international sounds can keep a group feeling fresh. Then we hit ENJIN’s “Evolution,” where the vocals and layering are the headline, building a reverb-like power that feels almost mechanical in the best way.
TAGRIGHT’s “Bright” shifts the palette into pop rock with a moody, emo-tinged undercurrent, and we debate whether it is an instant playlist add or a grower. Finally, we spotlight JO1’s “SAKURA” and “WHATCHA DOIN,” comparing traditional Japanese elements plus EDM against a gritty electronic party track built for North America, and we ask what “going global” should sound like without losing identity. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves music discovery, and leave us a five-star review if you want more deep dives like this.
SF9 Instagram X YouTube Without Wings
ENJIN Instagram X YouTube Evolution
TAGRIGHT Instagram X YouTube Bright
JO1 Instagram X YouTube SAKURA WHATCHA DOIN
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OK ASIA
Welcome Back And The Cold
SPEAKER_00Thank you everybody for joining us here at Music Elixir. I am Sarah She, and with me is Misty Japanic.
SPEAKER_03Yay.
SPEAKER_00After a brief hiatus.
SPEAKER_03So this is what happened. So Sarah and I were thinking of releasing every other week, but I went to New York City. And when I came back from New York City, I catch a cold. So the day that we were supposed to record, I was sick. Very, very sick. So we had to postpone. So we that's why we are late with our episode. Yeah. It was weird. So we went to a concert. We thought we got sick from the concert, but I just I I'm putting it to two to two together, and I think it was the hotel room. Gotta be careful. Yeah, someplace, you know. I like I said I brought a can of Lysol because I was like, let me just sit. I'm like, ah, and I did, and I should have clean it. Yeah because we actually when we sit at the hotel, the really nice hotel in Boston. I did actually clean it before everybody. So I don't know. So maybe from now on, I'm just gonna clean it. Every time we come into a new hotel room, just gonna clean it.
SPEAKER_00Wipe everything down.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I usually at least clean the remote control for the TV because I'm like the whole world touches that and it's yik. Yeah, it's like the dirtiest thing in your house. So of course it's gonna be ten times worse in a hotel, right?
SPEAKER_03Yeah. So so from now on, I'm just not gonna skip, even if it's a five-star hotel. I am gonna clean, I'm gonna clean it up. Jeez, make sure. I don't know. You don't know who was like not happy that day and be like, I'm not cleaning that up. Who knows? Who knows?
Travel Germs And Hotel Cleanup Habits
SPEAKER_03All right, so today we are going to talk about music. Yay! So we had we took some time listening to the songs because again, we took that extra, extra week to just chill out. Yep, that delayed. Exactly. So there's some new releases and actually some groups that actually one group that never heard of, but it was actually requested on okay. So I was like, hey, let me just put it in there just to talk about because I never heard of this group. So this was from a fan. Okay. So we are going to talk about SF9s without wings, engine evolution, which that's the group that I haven't heard. Are you okay? Miss Sarah? Yeah, I'm fine. We have you know, we have Mexican food before this. So I think the cilantro is getting to you.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it is.
SPEAKER_03Also gonna talk about Tagwright and two songs by J One.
SPEAKER_00So that's interesting because I had heard of Engine, and it was Tagwright I hadn't heard of. Oh, that's funny. Yeah, that's weird. Okay, I don't know how that happened, but I was like, oh, I know Engine. And then I'm like, I don't know Tagwright. So when you were just saying that, I thought that was the new group, and you're like, no.
SPEAKER_03No, I mean engine's been around, but not for some reason. I'm just hearing about it now. Oh they were part of one of those produce 101, you know. And then no, I knew about Tagwright. That they're being asked on okay Asia. So that's cool. But that's now I like this. That it's like we got the opposite on that. So when we we're gonna talk about that now, on our last music episode, which it was stray kids this and that, yeah, we were just answering questions, and seems to be kind of like, okay, we had a really good feedback, let's say. At least somebody commented saying, I like this, and I'm like, okay, I'm gonna go for that.
SPEAKER_00So well, because it made it different, you know? It was like, yeah, like you were saying, it's not just talk about music styles and whatnot, but making us actually sort of think about exactly why this song is instead of doing you know, yeah, like everybody else, was like, oh, let's just review this and see how it feels, and blah blah blah blah blah.
SPEAKER_03And it's like, no, let's just do it.
SPEAKER_00But even ours is different than everybody else's. You gotta admit, we always have our own little flair.
SPEAKER_03But we were starting for me, I think I well, at least me, I was starting to sound the same, and I was just like, this needs
How We’re Changing Music Reviews
SPEAKER_03to be switched up. We've been doing that for now, oh my god, it's gonna be now six years, girl, in December. Yes, yes, so it needed to be switched up.
SPEAKER_00Almost like I can't I need to evolve, like we did different ways of listening to the music and then talking about it, but yeah, no, we definitely we have because there was one time we're like, but just listen to it like now and see our reaction.
SPEAKER_03That felt too chaotic, yeah. Because you wanted to talk, and then I wanted to talk, and then it's like, no, I don't like that, it's too chaotic, yeah. And people are gonna be like, Well, we don't know what you're listening to, you know? So it's like, yeah, no, it was it was good, but it was fun.
SPEAKER_00I it was funny because we were like, Oh my god, did you hear that too?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, but yeah, it's like But it's it for us we're we're communicating, but for the listeners, they're like, What's going on? Because I can't listen, I can't hear the song that you're listening to.
SPEAKER_00Well, we gave them the playlist and they could play it. You'd have to start it like exactly you know, three, two. Yeah, no, it was great when it lasted. It was. And it was definitely something different.
SPEAKER_03Yes, it was. Yes, it was. So that's something in the back burner for maybe uh future episode if we ever go live. Like camera action live.
SPEAKER_00Oh, like at live streams.
SPEAKER_03Like an actual reaction to like but then also with that, you can't play the song. No, that's true. Or can you? There's ways, but that means more production, right? Yeah, more editing. Yeah, we ain't got the time for that. This is very homegrown. So we just we we are doing the best with what we have. Yeah, exactly. So this is looking good. First episode with this and that came out good, people reacted well. So we're gonna go out again differently because now we're just not doing an album, we're doing songs, singles, yeah. Exactly. So it's gonna be a different vibe. All right.
SPEAKER_00Hey, hey, that's gonna be probably something new. Exactly. So you know what I meant to ask though? Well, because it's been so long. Was SF9 at the K Con, or were they one of the groups that couldn't be there? No, they were at K Con. They were okay.
SPEAKER_03Family Family and I actually saw them on their first tour in the US. Okay. We saw them at the chain the Wong Theater. Wang. Wang. Okay. We saw them there. All right, all right. This oh, that was amazing. Because I got the top tier. But I was like Mezzany to the top. And then the the production comp not production company, the agency that brought them over, the entertainment company, since they saw there was a lot of you know open seats on the lower mezzanine, they moved those down. Oh wow. So we got an upgrade. Awesome. I was like, okay. So that was cool.
SPEAKER_00But I just because I remember I was like, I'm pretty sure we saw them, and then I was like, or wait, were they one of the groups that couldn't make it over? But they did, okay.
SPEAKER_03I do have pictures.
SPEAKER_00Okay.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. So that was cool. Cool, cool.
SF9 Without Wings And Afrobeats
SPEAKER_03Anyways, so the song that I just mentioned, Without Wings, is actually their combat song. They've been around now for 10 years. Wow. I forgot that I saw them back in 2017. Wow. Yeah. They debuted in 2016 in I know I remember, you know, of course, military, one member left. That's been a lot of you know, things going on with the group. But I'm glad that actually came out with this new song and actually they, you know, that they have a comeback. So it's just great that to hear this song is like kinda it was reminiscent to me because their first song, like O Solo Meo, which is a very spaniel kind of like m song, and then they come back with something similar but more upbeat. Oh, just just love it. So I'm kind of glad that we're opening with this one. I don't know.
SPEAKER_00Okay.
SPEAKER_03I'm glad where we're opening with this one. It's like unpacking just like oh this new thing for SF9. Now, now that we heard that, does the song actually make you feel like oh hold on. I'm actually yeah, like make you feel like you're taking flight because it's like without wings.
SPEAKER_00Well, it's got not so much flight, it's sort of like a slight lift-off every once in a while. Like you're fluttering along, you're not quite flying, but you're skipping along. It's I it's hard for me to describe what I mean because it's you're not floating, you're not flying, but you're sort of skittering along the ground, like a balloon that's run out of helium and is slowly drifting to the ground. So it every once in a while it lifts up a little bit, but then it goes back down. That was sort of the feeling I got from it, like never quite taking never quite taking flight. So it's but it's a good movement. They're still moving and they're still trying to to propel forward to to get somewhere. Okay. Do you know what I'm saying? Yeah. Cause like the the whole thought to me was, you know, basically they're saying, I'm like a bird without wings. So they want to move, they want to be free, they want to take off. They don't have the wings to do it, but they're gonna find another way. You know, there's still this to me, it still had emotion, a perpetual, gentle uplifting feeling about it. Like it, I didn't feel like it was a negative, like, you know, poor me, I'm a bird without wings. They were like, I feel like that, but it's not gonna stop me. So that was yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_03To me, I I'm gonna go with a yes. I felt like it the beat gave me that flight. You know, that that da-da-da. And it's like the whole like the movement and the afro beat, that paradise sound, that that that movement definitely can especially when it came to the chorus. I kind of like, yeah, moving up, moving up. So it does give you that flight. I want to say maybe pep, so yeah. It gives me that, give gave me that flight. Now, now that I say Afrobeats, the influence, do you think that changed the sound of FF9? If you can remember from like the past bops that they had, like O Sole Mio, that it was very like Spanish, you had more of uh the classic Spanish guitar, kind of like Flamengo. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Well, I think I think it's a progression like everybody else. They're experimenting, they're incorporating more sounds, expanding their view, worldview, as far as the music goes. You know what I mean? They're trying appeal to a broader audience, bring as many people because I mean these kinds of beats really are very much everybody you feel it, you recognize it, you feel it, it gets to you. So it's I think that it's very cool, very awesome that they're experimenting with things and bringing in new sound and and uh just changing it up a little, which again we always say we like when our artists evolve, evolving, definitely evolving to keep themselves fresh.
SPEAKER_03Definitely they have to evolve. This seems to be the sound lately, you know. Since last year, everybody's using that, you know, the kind of like reggaeton or like reggaeton.
SPEAKER_00I was gonna say that. I was like that. It's like the new thing. For a while, everybody was doing sort of the Latin beats.
SPEAKER_03Now they've they've moved on to more the the risque beat.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Calling it afrobeats, of course, just so it's not like reggaetong. Because even though reggaetong is very popular, still being seen negatively, just because of like some of the lyrics have been used on reggaeton. But anyways, besides that, calling it afrobeats, yeah, definitely. There's a lot of bass and a lot of drum, and but it's very smooth, but also like ondulated, and you know.
SPEAKER_00Well, like in the the natural sounds, like wood on wood, basically. There's there's something, it's not just drums, there's like other things that sort of give it a little flare that's different, and so that yeah, it's so definitely, yeah.
SPEAKER_03The Afrobeat influence on SF9 does sound really good. And this is a group, like they're not afraid to use international sounds, they say different cultures. Like I said, oh Sole Mio was very it's actually even had Spanish lyrics because even in that one part is I mean, I'm going back, back, back, like funny. I think Italian was I know, but it was like if you if you miss re-listen to it, you're like, yeah, they're like mixing very, yeah. But uh it's so they were not afraid, they're not afraid to actually just mixing their Korean culture with other cultures within the song, and yay, this works very well because it was one this is uh one of the songs also got stuck in my head in the mornings. I'm like, yeah, me too.
SPEAKER_00It was a good mellow sort of wake-up song because it's slowly energizing. It's got this steady rhythm that's not chaotic or hectic. It just sort of that's why I was saying before. It's it sort of keeps you moving along. It's not just a wall of sound and it's not so gentle that you're like, oh, I'm just gonna go back to sleep or whatever. You know, it it's sort of a little pick-me-up.
SPEAKER_03It does it does give you flight, even though you ain't got no wings.
SPEAKER_00Well, that's why I was saying I can't really call it flight when you don't have wings, but you can still with that beat. It's like, yeah, I got some flight. Yeah. It's no rebel, but that's a you can do like, you know, the run and jump, and you're flying for a few feet and then you land and gotta start over again.
SPEAKER_03But I definitely enjoy the song.
SPEAKER_00Oh, yeah, absolutely. It was funny, like all of these, though. I did wake up with various mornings, whatever I'd wake up with one removed, yep, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Cool, so they definitely stick, they stick. Yep.
Engine Evolution And Vocal Power
SPEAKER_03Coming up next, engine with evolution. I the evolution part that was surprised me so much about this song. I was when I started listening to it, I was like, okay, that's okay. But then when they they were doing the evolution part, evolution is like, uh, I was like, Well, the way the way their voices were like reverb-y.
SPEAKER_00That was so good. It was wild, right? It was it's it sounded like it was like a car engine.
SPEAKER_03So my immediate reaction, it was like I love the vocal arrangement, especially with the evolution, that chorus right there. Definitely then.
SPEAKER_00What was your immediate reaction? Well, because that the chorus doesn't happen right away. So that that beginning was very sort of, I don't know, like sort of industrial, sort of, but not not like the the gaudy grungy industrial, it more more to a pop kind of thing. So very engine-like almost funny being their name. I don't know, it was sort of it it took me a minute to realize where the song was gonna go, like what was gonna happen. And then when the chorus hit, I was just like, wow, that that sound, especially in the car at the volumes that I listened to, like that just that reverb hit your chest, and it's just that's why I was saying it's like a car engine humming. It was like you could just feel it everywhere, and it was just crazy. And then the way their voices sound when they evolution and they sort of lai over each other vocally, but they just it turns into this hum, this buzz that just infects you, and you're like, oh yeah, you're and and then yeah, I their the range they had on this was incredible. I just everything about it was awesome. It was just such a strong song. Like when I wanted to really feel like badass in the morning, this is the one I'd play. Evolution. I can't even do it. No, yeah, it's crazy.
SPEAKER_03So this is like my first time listening to actually an engine song. Like I said, this is for me like an introduction to the group, but I need to listen to other songs to see how you know to capture like how this is different because these vocals were like wow, that part just it blew me away. I was like, this is really good. I would like to do a deep dive on other songs. I can't wait. So I didn't do anything else on that, but for them, but definitely it will like to. Now, now that evolution feels like a statement. Do you think that that's a statement for like engines like music direction? Music musical direction? Because you said you heard about them. Have you heard any other songs?
SPEAKER_00I've heard other songs, but it was I I cannot recall anything. So I don't I don't think it's really so much about their music as it is about like empowerment and strength and resilience. Do you know what I mean? Like this is really because there was a funny line about you watching Darwin and his theory of evolution, right? And they're like, I did it. So it could be musically that they're referring to it, like survival of the fittest, right? In the music world, and they've overcome things and managed to sustain and keep going. And this so that could be it, which ties into the whole idea of empowerment, inspiration, confidence, you know what I mean? Like they they're evolving, they've reached this point of evolution where I think, you know, in that sense, are they saying this is our final evolution? Here we are, or are they gonna continue to evolve? I'm not sure.
SPEAKER_03Okay. Now, the production. So for me, when it so the question is what stands out about the production? I'll have to say the vocal arrangements. The vocal arrangements I I found to stand out for this song. Music composition, kind of safe, but I wonder if they just have that safe sound just to bring out the vocals on the group, which definitely this is like the major thing for for this song is the vocal arrangement for them.
SPEAKER_00Oh, yeah, absolutely. You you because like I said, the the way they got their voices to sound to create a reverb sound without being produced as reverb. Like they did that with their vocals by the way they overlayered each other, but then someone shoots off with that evolution, you know what I mean? Right. So they really, yeah, that production-wise, those vocals were amazingly arranged with each other. And whoever was directing them on how to like you sing here, you sing there, you know, put it together. I mean, it was just it did, it really struck me. And that that chorus is really right there, what it grabs you and just shakes you and says, Here we are, wrong. So do you think that this song gets better with repeat listens? It did for me, because I kept hearing m more and more sort of little things here and there. Yeah, and then I would really focus on those vocals. Like I said, when they're singing over each other and the up and down and the yeah, it got catchy for me too, especially with that evolution part.
SPEAKER_03That that really was the hook for me. Like, yeah, yeah, this is this is the hook. Now, what will make someone who doesn't know engine want to check them out?
SPEAKER_00What about the song? Or what about just from this, yeah. From this song.
SPEAKER_03I need to hear more about engine so I can will be like oh, so fine for this song. The vocals are amazing. If that doesn't get you like, yeah, I gotta listen to more song. About them.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, no, you know, I think I think this would pull you in. It would take maybe other people a few listens. Because like you were saying, the the sound is safe. Yeah. But it is also, like I said, it's got that sort of industrial dance, trance, like repetitive humming sound. So I don't get the angel, but that's well, it's that beginning part. And then like I said, their vocals on the evolution. Yeah. So the the beginning is very much like placed. It's purposeful. The way the sound is put together is very planned and organized. So it's it takes a minute to sort of realize where the music's going to go. Well, like not a full minute, but you you sort of sit there going, so what exactly is this gonna be? Yeah. And then they they hit you with those vocals, and you're like, okay, I see what it is. Yeah. So I think it would definitely pique some people's interests.
SPEAKER_03Right.
SPEAKER_00Like I as you know, everybody's tastes are a little different. I know.
SPEAKER_03Some people are like, I don't know about this song. But the vocals are good, you know? Like, definitely the music arrangement throws you off. It threw me off. But when I start hearing the vocals on the on the guys, I'm like, well, these are really good vocals. I just do not know about this music arrangement. But that I don't know, they made it work. But it throws yeah, like the beginning. When I started listening to the beginning, I'm like, oh, but then you listen to the to the vocals, you're like, yes, you know, so that's how I felt about it. Definitely. So I wanna see, you know, when you say something interesting, an interesting song.
SPEAKER_01If you know you know, if you know you know, but it is, it's yeah, it is interesting.
SPEAKER_03I love the vocals. Music composition, I would like to hear a different remix.
SPEAKER_00They might have one.
SPEAKER_03That'll be you know, that's a good I'm putting it out there in the universe. Somebody will listen and be like, let's do a re-rearrange of this. But the guys' vocals are on point. Love the vocals, yeah, definitely.
Tag Right Bright And The Dusk Mood
SPEAKER_03So, moving on to the next group and song. Now, this one, Sarah's like, I never heard of the group, but I have. This is tag right with the song bright. Now, this song is a little lighter, more mutier, you know. Question. Those bright live up to the title.
SPEAKER_00Well, now I'm now suddenly my brain can't think of it because I've got evolution going through.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, because now you have the guys going, evolution.
SPEAKER_00Yes, I think it does, because this is another one where the beginning is sort of an unexpected beginning. Um that the light sort of chimey doo doo doo doo. And but then it sort of, you know, emos out a little angsty. So it's so it starts out, it starts out sounding light and bright, and then even though there's that angst, there's something underneath it shines through. Yes. I have emo in my head too. I was like, it it gets so angsty at points, but but yeah, it was totally. I think that underneath it all, there is a sense of bright.
SPEAKER_03I yeah, I will give that, you know, that yes, it sounds bright. It's like a pop rock kind of thing. You know, like, hee, it's but sweet, but the spicy. But yeah, it it it can get it got bright. It got bright at some point. It can. Now, was the first thing you noticed was it the vocals, the beats, the lyrics, or the production of the song?
SPEAKER_00I would say probably the production because of the like I said, the way that sound the way it started, and then it it got a little edgier as it went in. And another group with some amazing vocals, really just great like powerhouse singing going on. Yes, these are there's a lot of emotion behind these voices.
SPEAKER_03Oh yes. I'm with you. The production was like the music arrangement, the powerful, but not in your face, you know. They're just like, we're making our statement, but we're not all like meh, you know, we're just making a statement and we're making it powerful and strong.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, there were a couple of like um, I guess you could call them like accent sounds that just to give an emphasis, to give a a moment of like just pow, but not not maintained, not sustained, you know, like you said, in your face. It was yeah, it was just this quick like burst of energy, which can also be sort of like the bright part of something, because it's this mini burst of whatever's going on, you know, energy, excitement, angst.
SPEAKER_03Now, does the song give you a particular visual or mood?
SPEAKER_00Well, the mood would be sort of I guess did it give you a visual first or a mood? I think it gave me a mood first. Because I really felt sort of like that it was sort of an inner turmoil, inner struggle, maybe of some sort. Like trying to argue with yourself whether or not you belong. It it that was sort of what I got from it was like some self-doubt, some questioning, but coming out the other side saying, I am enough. I am, you know what I mean? I am bright. That was sort of I I just got the feeling that like underneath it all, there was sort of like this self-doubt and questioning that they were trying to overcome. So that's what I felt. I didn't really have a visual for it.
SPEAKER_03Okay. So yeah, I I got mood too. This is what like mood definitely a a a mood like like you're yeah, we're driving on this one together. Well, definitely gave me emo things. Yeah, when you're saying email, I'm like, I was thinking email too. So yeah.
SPEAKER_00Well, that's why I was saying, like, the struct I felt like a we're very similar with this song.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, definitely a mood of like, yeah, getting it together. It's gonna be brighter, you know, but yeah, I gotta, you know, keep myself rooted, you know, not not take a flight. Well, I got no wings, so no wings. Now I'm mixing, I'm mixing, mixing songs here. Now, is this an instant playlist edition or a grower?
SPEAKER_00Might be a grower because it doesn't like as far as the rest of the playlist, eventually I felt like it fit in. But at first I was like, wow, this one's so different than all the others. Yeah. Like it's so not like any of the others.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_00So to me, it was more of a grower because it took me a while to have like I started actually thinking in my head, oh, the next song, the next song. First couple of plays, I was like, what is the next? You know what I mean? Like that was the one I always was like, what is the next one? But that could also be because they were the only band I wasn't familiar with.
SPEAKER_03So, you know, but yeah, I will say it was a grower too. For a minute I thought you were gonna be like, girl, how's this now? I wanna say, yes, it was a grower. Just because how the playlist was curated, it was not like kind of in the same mood as the other one, especially with vocal arrangements, was completely different. And of course, the type of genre, because even though it's supposedly pop, but it had that rock edginess, the emo part, you know, and this group is nothing emo, nothing, nothing, they're not emo at all, except for this song is a little bit moody, so yeah, it's a grower. To me, it's a grower. Now, what kind of fan do you think will connect with this song? This one's difficult for me to answer. What kind of fan?
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Well, see, as standalone, just this song, right? I would say it would be someone who's more inclined towards indie music.
SPEAKER_03Like, you know, I was thinking indie too, but I was just like, but it's not really indie.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it's not quite. Yeah. But it's but it's not like a straight up pop song. Like, I would not someone who likes, you know, some of the bigger manufactured pop groups would not necessarily they might appreciate it on some level, but this wouldn't be a song that they'd be like, oh yeah, I'll totally go out and listen, you know what I mean? Right. So it has to be someone who's got a little more eclectic tastes for for sure. They've got a definitely wanna Well, like us. Yeah, exactly. So if if you listen to everything, then yes, this would be good for you. But some of our, you know, K pop fan friends who are only about K-pop or J pop, you know what I mean? Like, they I don't think they'd really get the song. Do you know what I'm saying? Yeah. I think they'd be like, Well, it's okay, but you know right.
SPEAKER_03Like, we have seen some fans talk about an album and then they hear this other song, they're like, Well, I don't like this version. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01If you know, you know. And we're like, what? You told that.
SPEAKER_03Anyways. Now, if bright were a time of day, what time would it be?
SPEAKER_00Dusk.
SPEAKER_03Ooh, yeah.
SPEAKER_00It would actually be the end of the day. Yeah. When the brightness is starting to fade. Yeah, yeah, that's good. Even though it's bright, you would think sunrise, but no, I immediately thought because it's so the edginess. Well, well, the edginess, but it's also it's sort of like trying to come down from a certain emotion or place. It's like it's trying to calm you and and level you off. Yeah. And dusk does set because that's when everything starts to settle and everything starts to be yeah, you know.
SPEAKER_03I agree with you. Definitely. That part. Definitely.
SPEAKER_00It's so weird because the minute you asked that, I was like, dusk, the end of the day. Yeah. I hadn't I had not even thought of that as anything I would ever associate with the song. So that's kind of crazy.
SPEAKER_03So hey, listeners, if you like tag right, let us know. We would like to hear from you. Is this an open conversation? Please. Yes.
J-O1 Sakura Versus Whatcha Doing
SPEAKER_03Join, join in. Now, we listened to song two songs by one group. I know we cheated. We usually do like different people, but now J One is actually touring North America soon. And Sarah and I we were discussing because we're like, huh, they're coming to New York. Yay. It's gonna be on a Sunday. So we're like, ugh, I already asked too many dates off for that month, and that is just you know, I can't.
SPEAKER_00It's I'd have to take like the week off because we already have other things going on that same week.
SPEAKER_03Exactly. So that's why I'm like, no, unless somebody will like transport us there and then bring us home, and we don't have to transport ourselves at all. So if we had a chauffeur, a chauffeur, then yes, you know. The most service. Door to door. I well, I mentioned oh, there was another conversation that Sarah and I had saying if I have money for a Concord, or if the Concord was still around, I would just go to the Japan for one event and then come back. But that, you know, you know, I'm putting it out there, just manifestations, things that will happen. So now I was telling Sarah that JY-1 was supposed to be at Terminal 5 with a cap of like 3,000 cap maximum. That's what I had written down here.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I think 3,000.
SPEAKER_03But now they move to the Webster Hall, which is 1,500 capacity or almost 2.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, a little a little over 1,500.
SPEAKER_03Depending on how much they open. So we were like, huh, what happened? Anyways, so the two songs that we are going to talk about by J One is Sakura and Whatcha Doing. Girl. That the Whatcha Doing that got stuck in my head.
SPEAKER_00Like heavily, heavily. I was like saying singing it to people. Yes. Like I'd just be like, what you doing.
SPEAKER_03Listen, I was in the kitchen going, whatcha doing? Where you going? Where you at? Where you at? I'm not even doing like the outlifts, the the back room. It's like, oh my god, this song not least, it's like living rent-free in my head. It's not going anywhere. Not going anywhere. I was like, wow, this this wow. Okay. With that being said, so yeah, so J-Wan is upcoming US E P Animal that includes the Sakura and What You're Doing. Now, What You're Doing is serving as an advanced release for the offici for for this tour. Now, the official description emphasized it rhythmic, electronic, pop is hip hop, energetic. It just wakes the whole world up. Come on, that message, police. Anyways, so let's start with this question. How different do Sakura and Wachoduan feel?
SPEAKER_00I don't I think they feel very different. They're both high energy, like just blood pumping, beat thumping songs, both very danceable, high energy, incredible music. So it's vibe-wise, they're sort of right on par with each other. Message-wise is where the difference is. You know what I'm saying?
SPEAKER_03So yeah, with me, Sakura is like the Japanese classic sound with a mix of EDM. I which we love. I love that that whole the when you're mixing the classical sound with something more modern. And then the what you're doing is just all EDM and greedy for me.
SPEAKER_00You know? Mm-hmm. Yeah, but see that because even though they've got the traditional sounding, you know, the flute and whatever, the way that they have produced them, the way they've incorporated them still is like super dancy. Yeah, it's EDM. In s in Sakura. So what you're doing, like that's why I think they're sort of almost the same. Just the feel about them because of those traditional tones as opposed to just like straight up dance.
SPEAKER_03So yeah, that's the difference. The like the sakura is a Japanese classic sound with a mix of EDM. And of course, for me, just what you what you're doing is just EDM. Oh, yeah. Yeah. But more like more gritty. Because there was some somebody out there with okay party vibe. Yes. Yes, yes, yes. So which one sounds more like J-O-1 for you? Actually, probably Sakura. Okay. For me is what you're doing.
SPEAKER_00Really?
SPEAKER_03Sounds more like J-O-1. Just because there were some other songs that kind of had the same vibe from past past releases. Hmm.
SPEAKER_00Okay. I'm I'm just I'm thinking like vocally and like tone-wise. I don't know. But I see what you're saying, yes.
SPEAKER_03There's definitely like for me, what you're doing does sound more like J One, but differently, just because it's giving that greediness. But they have made all the dancey, really good dancey songs in the past. So it still felt like it was them only with a little bit of edge in it. Little bit, it's a little bit different. Because of course, this one's gonna go to US. This is them representing themselves from Japan, but for a US audience for North America, not US, North American audience, because that's how they're saying it. North America. Okay. Now, which one feels more immediately accessible for a new listener?
SPEAKER_00What you're doing.
SPEAKER_03What you're doing?
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. I felt the same way too. I feel just the same.
SPEAKER_00Just the way they're saying it, you know? Yeah. What you doing? What's the vibe? Where you at? Yeah.
SPEAKER_03That's very much if everybody can uh what's the word associate with uh right when it's somewhere if we're let's say a regular North American listener, definitely what you're doing. If somebody like us, both, yeah, yeah, definitely like, whoa, what? This is so good. This is so good. So what do you think? For both, for the for the both of us, both is good.
SPEAKER_00Oh yeah, absolutely. Definitely because that's why I'm having so much trouble, because to me they're it's like the same sound, but with like one goes edgy gritty, one goes with that classical traditional, you know, background sounds, but the bass music, the underlying thing is that dance. You know what I mean?
SPEAKER_03So we so the next question, which is probably already answered, does what you're doing work as a US introduction? Absolutely, yes. Hell yeah, hell yeah, because you just you just made that answer. It's like definitely, definitely for the US audience, definitely, what you're doing is the song to like introduce, hey, listen to this group. Hey, what is it? J-O-1, okay. Joe One, Joe One, some people were gonna be saying that. Watch it now. Why do you think about the old English track for J O One? How do you mean? Like old English. What do you think of an old English track for J-O-1?
SPEAKER_00Because Well, if they you know, unfortunately, as we've said before, not everybody likes listening to music in other languages. So I think oh, I just totally lost my train of thought. The all English track is going to catch the Western audience, basically, because people will will listen because they understand it.
SPEAKER_03So, what do I think about an all-English track from J O One? I prefer both. Just come on, have some, you know, to represent your culture and have a mix on both. I prefer both. For the North American crowd, the regular crowd, you know, the the regulars, definitely an old English just to catch more, you know, get get an audience. But for me, I prefer a mix of both languages. It it works. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Well, you know, it works for us. All of the music we listen to is usually multiple languages going on and so it doesn't bother me.
unknownNo.
SPEAKER_03I I prefer both or just you know, just their own language. Just Japanese is fine. Japanese is fine.
SPEAKER_00But I think, like I said, I think that the the purpose is to get a certain core audience caught, grab their attention.
SPEAKER_03So now, does Sakura give you something different emotionally?
SPEAKER_00Well, it does because of the those traditional sounds and the traditional music. It's sort of when the way they like singura, sakura, like the like this chanting, it's like a pride in something. Like and with the the traditional sounds, the flute and the little bells and things, it's very much like this national pride, I is the only way to really say it. Like just being proud of who you are. And it could translate to anything else for anyone, you know, in their own culture and language, but like it definitely feels like a proud anthem of some sort. The the way they're chanting that is just like it, but it's like a party at the same time because the way they're doing it. They're like yeah, they're like jumping up and down, you know. Yeah, definitely. It's hard to describe what I mean, but it's like because they're singing about something so completely like Japanese culturally, like the Sakura, is like, yeah, it's gotta be something prideful, you know. Like, yeah, this is who we are. We are the cherry blossom people. So I don't know.
SPEAKER_03It's it yeah, different it the emotionally is the attitude. Yeah, just because it feels that that chant, the energy, but then you also get some melodic in there in the middle, which is just it gives that it also is showcasing some of those melodic parts of some you know traditional singing and also the the music, but then it comes into the whole rah rah it's like it just feels so good after it gets like Wow. It's like you you get all energetic and you're enchanted and you go in for it and you you're with every you're with the crowd and then it just starts lulling you with like that and it's like oh okay and then and you're like what okay we're back yeah yeah there yeah exactly there is that whole like you're drifting along like the petals in the wind yep and then they're like pow that bring you back and they're like whoa whoa was that definitely it does give you yeah some type of emotion definitely emotions now which one will you play for someone discovering J One for the first time never heard of the group which one will you play well it depends on how open they are to stop reading my answers because if it's someone like us I would go with Sakura because it's got everything yeah if it was someone that I was afraid would be like well what are they saying yeah I'd go with what you do we'd have we have so many friends like that what are they saying what is then yeah what is talking about what what's what language is then they give you the n then they give you the stinky face that you just want to slap it more like get the fuck off open your mind exactly slap it silly but even even for them I might still play Sakura because like it's just got something about it that just takes hold of you like one like you I just wake you up you know like um you know what this one gave me a visual yeah a bunch of guys in pink like kimono yeah yeah jumping up and down that's what I saw like partying like in a room like just pillows and whatever and like just jumping around singing yeah so yes that gave me a vision a very loud matsuri yeah very rowdy loud matsuti yep but this time your people have actually tattoos so they're yakuza wearing the kimonos and like I see that I see that anyway why I cannot bring the yakuza here something about bad boys I guess yeah anyways now just like you depends it depends on the person because most likely I'm gonna be playing what you're doing because some of our friends we don't have many of our friends that have open mind and we can just play Sakura first most of my friends family even yeah what you're doing is the most safe let's say to introduce exactly you know if this were the two options only for the group you know what you're doing will be like the first time song now okay jams which one are you choosing so I'm calling out the fans out there jams which one are you choosing as an introduction to the group you gotta you gotta let us know you know if it's Sakura or what you're doing please join the conversation we will love to hear this be honest with us now from so which one grew on you neither one needed to grow on me the minute I heard of I just got happy and I was like yeah yeah yeah you know it's like yeah one play then the other one you're like yay again I was like the parties keep going again again again yeah definitely yeah no no no no it was a a total like favorite love at first listen basically I was like wow now which song are you the which chong look at me which song are you defending if someone says they don't like it well both I but I think because just generally as you were saying amongst the people we know who would be like critical it would be more of Sakura.
SPEAKER_00So that's the one I would defend because I know that's the one that would need to be right with people you know the majority of people.
SPEAKER_03Right. Again because we have similar friends and if somebody will like well that's a one because it's just speaking a language I don't know and I'm like what what is what is why why do you need to know why they have some English in there you should catch what's it say exactly and you go in by the beat and the song it's amazing you know definitely how can you just like don't like this song yeah I don't I don't get that you like you you know if it's somebody that we know they like to dance I'm like you can dance to the song can you dance to the song that's all you need to need that's all yeah really you can hear the beat correct exactly and move to it they're they're not doing there's no profanity there's nothing like that they're not being they're just talking about a big old tree well not really but I mean metaphorically yeah the tree anyways so yes yeah that will probably yeah we'll do the same too so we're vibing with this one we really love these two songs by them it's just amazing they are they're all this I mean now this is an ending an ending question okay so J One gave us these two very different sides of their era so what are they trying to tell us?
SPEAKER_00Well they're trying to like I said I with Sakura I got sort of like this pride and celebration kind of feel from it. So there's one side they're like just go out there celebrate yourself your culture your whatever you want to celebrate whatever it is you feel you need to celebrate go out and do it. With what you're doing there sort of it's a different type of anthem I guess like a different type of celebration they're sort of questioning like where are you going? What are you doing? Where are you at, right? And they're like we want to party with you. So one's a celebration of you know like you and what's going on and the other one's a celebration of like I want to I want to be in on what you're doing right we should do this together. So I think that overall everything is about celebration and partying down but one's one's sort of more a clean cut happy go lucky side and the other one's like uh yeah let's just go out and like grab life by the horns and wrestle it to the ground. Okay.
SPEAKER_03Are you delirious?
SPEAKER_00You need some water I think so okay Miss Sarah needs some water but no I just I think I think that both of the they're celebrations of life just in different ways.
SPEAKER_03Okay.
SPEAKER_00So that's what I'm getting at.
SPEAKER_03Okay. So like Sakura is the chanting is the community together you know coming from Japan to your front desk to your front desk to your front door or yeah I'm thinking of work why I know and of course what you're doing is like what are you doing live your life you know live the moment you know so what they're telling us is like embrace what your present embrace your culture embrace what you have yeah definitely what you have now because it's like what you're doing where you going where you at you know like what's up and the whole Sakura one is like we're from Japan and we have something to prove we're here to just bring culture and our our talent let's say yeah I get you like I said I I think they're both celebratory.
SPEAKER_00Oh yeah but like I said one's personal level and one's like we want to take you on this journey with us like what you do yeah we're gonna we're gonna rack it up. Yeah we're gonna we'll do this together. I know that's one of the things they say what you do and we can do this together. So it is it's another type of celebration but it's sort of more global how's that one is one's the more personal level and one's the more global level like just everybody get together because I think they're both both confident songs. They're both oh yeah motivational songs. Oh yeah so again the this overall vibe to them is very similar but also vastly different.
SPEAKER_03Like yeah like I said when you're gonna wreck it up wreck the whole world up we can do it we can do it together like especially at the end but who's the one I don't know who's doing the breathy voice at the end but who's the one it's like hello hello who are you why you doing that what you doing to me anyways but now that was yeah those were those two songs they're just love so much party
Global Sound Choices And Final Asks
SPEAKER_03anthems. Yeah they are yeah and just for different reasons with different motivations and different you know it's so different okay so you can tell the vibe in the productions that these groups are doing when they're coming to North America now we have heard the past productions that you know they're not really for global let's say they're more for well in this case for Japan the sound is so different because remember there was one a few groups that we were listening that they were from Japan and we're like oh yeah this is a Japan sound this is very Japan sound yes very Japan sound and then we were looking for a song that is sound more global and that's the one that we actually will you know talk about just because we since our podcast is international we would like international fans listeners to listen to those songs and do their own deep dive on the rest of the group and pick what they like pick you know see all the songs that what we call it Sounds like Japan. Maybe they'll find you know one that they're like and I guess that's our hook or yeah that's our net throw out the net yeah this is a few songs catch catch catch you know what you like and get you to to experiment with other yeah so for J O1 who are coming to North America definitely this EP is very geared to this sound for this side of the of the globe yes you know as per just home Japan which is different so it's and of course all the groups that we like I'm not gonna say names newest album which is a global sensation so different that they have made many many many years or through the years yes again just to get that global attention so I'm very happy for J One I'm very happy for this EP mm we will love to see them but I don't know we'll we'll uh I don't know rest on it and see how we're feeling yeah sunday I know you know people gotta work and go to school I know you know there's there's life after Sunday yeah we we've done it more than once more times than we'd like to count yeah now mind you we were invited to this event so anyways wink wink nudge nudge anyway oh okay enough all right so please everybody give a chance to these groups give a chance to this group and please can you please let us know jams I call them I call you out you know we will like to hear as well as you know SF9 SF9 fans you know we would like to hear and as well as the other fans please what do you think give us your opinion we will love to hear from you definitely anyways anything else Miss Sarah no okay think we could please leave us a review that's all we need and five stars yeah why why because we love our constellations