[A must-listen for high school students!!] A roundup of standout tracks from trending artists

Grapefruit MoonTOMOO

TOMOO – Grapefruit Moon (Official Audio)

If you’re looking for chill tracks, I also recommend “Grapefruit Moon.” It’s a song by singer-songwriter TOMOO and serves as the lead single from her first major album, “TWO MOON.” The track expresses that uniquely adult sense of emotional dryness.

What stands out is how it captures feelings everyone carries, conveyed clearly through both words and sound.

By the way, “grapefruit moon” refers to a large, orange-colored moon hanging low in the sky.

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yamamoto

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Super BallTOMOO

TOMOO – Super Ball【OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO】

Singer-songwriter TOMOO had already been attracting attention for her talent, having performed as the Tokyo FINAL representative at Yamaha’s amateur contest “The 6th Music Revolution” during her amateur days.

The lead track Super Ball from her major-label debut album TWO MOON features a lush, urban-tinged ensemble that feels delightful.

The lyrics, said to depict someone who holds on to their childlike spirit even as an adult, evoke an image of staying true to oneself amid the harshness of society.

It’s a stylish number with a cool yet soulful arrangement that lingers in the ear.

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Hoshino Takashi

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The Last MagicTani Yuuki

The Last Magic – Tani Yuuki [MV]

Singer-songwriter Tani Yuuki, whose debut digital single “Myra” created a huge buzz and drew widespread attention.

His 18th digital single, “Saigo no Mahou” (The Last Magic), opens with a lyrical guitar intro that sets a sentimental tone.

The lyrics evoke the way memories fade over time, stirring a sense of emotional complexity.

It’s a heartrending number that many who’ve experienced the feeling of wanting to forget yet not wanting to let go will find relatable.

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Hoshino Takashi

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machine; mechanical deviceTani Yuuki

Mechanical Thing – Tani Yuuki [MV]

Tani Yuuki, whose nomination for the 2022 Japan Record Award’s New Artist prize is still fresh in our minds, has released his 17th single, “Kaimono,” which also serves as the opening theme for the anime EDENS ZERO.

The standout vocals from the very beginning, the arrangement that stokes anticipation, and the lyrics that evoke the anime’s story depict the struggle of connecting to the real world.

For those who strongly associate him with his signature song “W/X/Y,” it may be surprising to hear how powerfully he can deliver this rock-tinged style.

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utatane

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First loveTele

Tele | First Love – Music Video

Tele is the solo project of Kitaro Taniguchi, gaining attention for its literature-tinged worldview.

The track “First Love,” released digitally on November 29, 2023, also sparked buzz with its lyrical music video directed by Ao Inoue.

Its sound, at once weightless and rapidly unfolding, creates a uniquely inventive hook.

It’s a stylish yet faintly nostalgic pop tune that offers a glimpse into the exceptional sensibilities of the artist known as Tele.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Candy KissTravis Japan

Travis Japan – ‘Candy Kiss’ Music Video

Travis Japan is a seven-member idol group drawing attention for their global activities, such as studying abroad for an indefinite period before their major debut and signing with an American label.

Their third digital single, “Candy Kiss,” also made waves with its sharp choreography in the music video, created by Nicky Andersen.

The stylish, all-English lyrics offer a different kind of appeal from previous Johnny’s groups.

It’s a modern dance tune with a pleasant, pop-infused ensemble.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Like breathingVaundy

Like breathing

Vaundy, who is active as a singer-songwriter, released “Kokyū no Yō ni” ahead of his album “replica.” It’s also been getting attention as the theme song for the film “Just Remembering.” In fact, it isn’t a newly written track; he selected it from his unreleased songs to match the movie.

Even so, it’s been crafted into a grand, heartrending ballad that seems to capture the film’s worldview.

I love how the mood shifts dramatically between the first and second halves.

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yamamoto

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