Drum vocals… It might not be a term you hear often, but even with a little thought, you can easily imagine how challenging it is, right?
Overseas, bands where the drummer handles vocals—like the Carpenters or the Beatles—are well-known, but what about here in Japan?
You can probably think of a few groups, but in this article we’ll dig a bit deeper!
We’ll introduce bands where the drummer serves as the lead vocalist.
Feast your eyes on these musicians with incredible technique!
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A roundup of cool drum-vocal bands: vocalists who sing while drumming (1–10)
IMPERIAL BLUEMōmō Rurugyaban
MowMow LuLu Gyaban is a guitar-less three-piece band.
Their vocalist is the drummer, Gary Bitch.
Even while pounding out intense, intricate patterns, he delivers solid vocals—something any drummer would find inspiring! Their songs, born from an unorthodox approach to making music, are a must-hear—you’ll definitely want to experience this band live.
Love CoridaShishido Kafuka
Shishido Kavka, who makes the most of her tall stature, is active as both a model and an actress, and she’s also a full-fledged professional drummer.
She started playing drums at 14 after receiving a set as a gift from her parents.
In her twenties she also performed as a vocalist, and when she discovered her talent for singing while drumming, that unique style caught the industry’s attention and led to her debut.
You can’t take your eyes off her powerful drumming, which you’d never expect from her slender frame.
With her long arms and legs, she stands out even when seated, and as a female drummer she’s a truly valuable artist.
Can’t Stop the RomanticC-C-B
When you hear “drummer-vocalist,” I think many people think of them first.
Pink hair and a singing drummer… such an overwhelming presence.
It’s truly amazing that, although they were a band active in the 1980s, they’re still this well-known today! Their style, which incorporated what was then novel electronic sounds, still offers new discoveries even now.
telepathy; tacit understanding (literally: ‘heart-to-heart communication’)Yellow Magic Orchestra
Yellow Magic Orchestra, affectionately known as YMO, is a band that has had an immeasurable impact on the Japanese music scene since its formation in 1978.
They employ a style in which the lead vocalist changes depending on the song.
Among them, drummer Yukihiro Takahashi often took the lead vocals, making YMO one of the bands known for having Japan’s most famous singing drummer.
Many listeners have surely been captivated by his vocal work—delivered with a languid air—while maintaining a precise beat.
NanahitsujiShinario Aato
When it comes to female drummer-vocalists, Scenarioart’s Kumiko Hattori is a must! Scenarioart is actually a dual-vocal band since guitarist-vocalist Kosuke Hayashi also sings, but having a female voice adds a great accent, doesn’t it? While performing at numerous rock festivals, in 2019 they also showcased their versatility by handling all composition and performance of the background music for the musical play “Like a Chance Encounter,” starring AKB48’s Erina Oda.
Sperm of LoveMakishimamu Za Horumon
A four-piece rock band that sends fans into a frenzy with powerful, audience-immersing performances and unpredictable arrangements.
Nao, the sole female member who handles drum vocals, delivers drumming with such presence and impact that it makes you forget about things like gender in music.
Her vocal style, switching between cute and cool depending on the song, aligns seamlessly with the band’s musical identity.
A rock band with a next-generation drum vocalist, adding a unique flair to their aggressive, genre-blending sound.
Mr.David8otto
8otto, with Masaki Maenosono handling drum vocals.
They have songs that make you want to sway gently, as well as tracks where the danceable bass lines and groovy drum beats leave a strong impression—the balance between underground vibes and catchiness is superb.
Maenosono’s singing voice has a somewhat melancholic, languid feel to it, and that oddly feels very pleasant.