Tobias Jesso Jr. emerged a decade ago with Goon, a collection that Mark Richardson said showcased the Canadian-born singer-songwriter’s “knack for writing songs that you feel like you’ve heard before, even if you can’t quite pin down a precise antecedent.” Jesso, who was 29 years old at the time of his debut, then stopped releasing music of his own and began to work with some of the biggest names in music. He co-wrote Sia’s “Alive” and multiple songs on Adele’s 25, including the standout “When We Were Young.” And those were just his 2015 contributions.
Jesso continued his work as a writer and producer, collaborating with Adele (on 30), Florence and the Machine, Haim, FKA twigs, Orville Peck, Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa, Bon Iver, Justin Bieber, Dijon, Rosalía, and many others. He also won the Grammy Award for Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical, in its first year of existence, and he’ll look to win it again in 2026.
Now, just as unassumingly as he arrived, Jesso has announced his second studio album. The new album is called Shine (stylized as: s h i n e), and it is out on November 21 via R&R. Jesso, who is now 40 years old, produced Shine, and the album was mixed by Shawn Everett. Leading the eight-track effort is “I Love You,” which comes with a music video directed by Christopher Ripley and starring Dakota Johnson and Riley Keough. Watch it below.
According to a press release, Shine is about Jesso, as well as “his mom, his son, a breakup, and his life at this moment in time, with some help from Danielle Haim, Eli Teplin, Julian Bunetta, Justin Vernon, Rosie Hamilton, Tommy King, and a psychic.” He wrote the album during a six-week sabbatical and recorded it live on the piano, alone at his house.
Revisit the review of the 2014 song that put Tobias Jesso Jr. on the map, “True Love.”
Callahan’s last studio album was Ytilaer—or YTI⅃AƎЯ—which he followed with the 2024 live album Resuscitate. The band that played on that record remains in place on My Days of 58: guitarist Matt Kinsey, tenor saxophonist Dustin Laurenzi, and drummer Jim White. Those shows, said Callahan in press materials, showed “that they could handle anything I threw at them.” He added: “Improv/unpredictability/the unknown is the thing that keeps me motivated to keep making music. It’s all about listening to yourself and others. A lot of the best parts of a recording are the mistakes—making them into strengths, using them as springboards into something human.”
The album also includes contributions from Richard Bowden (fiddle), Pat Thrasher (piano), Chris Vreeland (bass), Mike St. Clair (trombone), Bill McCullough (pedal steel), Eve Searls (backing vocals), and Jerry DeCicca (tambourine).
Bill Callahan: My Days of 58
My Days of 58:
01 Why Do Men Sing 02 The Man I’m Supposed to Be 03 Pathol O.G. 04 Stepping Out for Air 05 Lonely City 06 Empathy 07 West Texas 08 Computer 09 Lake Winnebago 10 Highway Born 11 And Dream Land 12 The World Is Still
One hill we’re willing to die on is that Sienna Spiro is our next global star. She might just be getting her start next to Sam Smith and Teddy Swims, but we’ve known for a while that her start is bigger than what meets the eye, and there is so much more to come. If you haven’t heard Sienna Spiro sing live, prepare to be utterly blown away. Her popular songs, ‘MAYBE.,’ ‘Back To Blonde,’ ‘Dream Police,’ and our personal favorite, ‘Taxi Driver,’ have been on repeat for us throughout this entire year. As we’ve become bigger and bigger fans, we’ve noticed that the rest of the world is following suit, including some of the biggest brands in fashion.
Image Source: Jennifer Cheng
Sienna For GAP
The GAP brand continues to give music lovers exactly what they want. They’ve worked with some of our favorite pop artists, such as Troye Sivan and KATSEYE, on recent ads. Now, they’ve brought Sienna onto our screens for the holiday season, and we couldn’t be happier. We didn’t expect Sienna to sing Miley Cyrus’ ‘The Climb,’ but we’re so glad that she did. She did this iconic song so much justice and put her own spin on it that we love.
Does this mean we’re about to spend our entire next paycheck at GAP? Absolutely!
‘Die On This Hill’
“This song is about stubborn love — the kind that makes you stay when you know you should leave.”
Sienna Spiro stated in a press release
Like we said, we’re dying on the hill that Sienna Spiro will be one of the greats in our lifetime. Her latest song, ‘Die On This Hill,’ gave us all the feels. Like all of Sienna’s songs, it hit us right in the heart and made us ugly scream all the words at the top of our lungs. For all the honeybees who need to leave their current relationship and need a little push to take that final step, this one is for you.
“I’ll take my pride, stand here for you No, I’m not blind, just seeing it through You take my life just for the thrill I’ll take tonight and die on this hill I always will”
What did you think about Sienna Spiro’s recent commercial with GAP? Did you love her new song, ‘Die On This Hill,’ as much as we did? Let us know in the comments down below or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Want to know what else is trending in music right now? See what’s new!
Ever since Bearings gave us the deluxe edition of The Best Part About Being Human, we have been itching for more music. Lucky for us, they’ve come back better than ever with their fourth full-length album, Comfort Company! They’ve drawn us in with singles like ‘Quick Release’ and ‘Float Away’ featuring Derek Discanio of State Champs, but we would’ve never guessed how hard the album was going to hit us.
While this may be their fourth full-length album, Bearings are closer to themselves than they’ve ever been. These songs started from places that lead singer Doug Cousins would describe as “honest” and were recorded in the same studio where their first album was recorded. They have encapsulated what it’s like to grow up and really come to terms with the fact that maybe we actually don’t know what we’re doing. And the timing of this album couldn’t be more perfect. Days are shorter, the weather is colder, and the need for some comfort? It’s heavy on all of our minds right now.
“Comfort Company is for us the record that feels like coming back home.” – Doug Cousins
It’s never been easy for us to pull just a few songs from Bearings’ discography, but that doesn’t mean we won’t try! Here are our four recommendations that brought us the most comfort:
Courtesy of: Bearings
‘Comfort Company’
We obviously couldn’t talk about this album without talking about the title track. This song embodies the classic pop-punk vibe we are always craving. It has that hard-hitting sound that makes us just want to get up to dance, but don’t let that fool you. These lyrics? Ouch. But that’s what Bearings do best, and we can never get enough of it. Like, come on, “Is it a miracle we somehow make it by?” Someone pass us the tissues, quickly.
‘Float Away’ Featuring Derek Discanio
This next one is so special to us. As long-time lovers of all things pop punk, seeing Bearings collaborate with Derek Discanio has got to be the highlight of our year. It blew us away when we heard it as a single, but in tandem with the whole album? Now that hits different. This song puts into words how crazy it can feel sometimes when you’re left to figure it out on your own. As much as you want to escape from it all, a lot of times it feels like everyone is just trying to pull you back down.
‘Freaking Me Out’
Another single, but we couldn’t leave out this banger of a fall anthem. Doug even says it himself: “It’s the season I believe in all my subconscious doubt.” The lyrics take us through such a whirlwind of emotions that a lot of us have been dealing with recently. There’s almost a humorous aspect to it, like when Doug says he’s “dying” but then immediately switches to “I’ll just shave my hair”. And while we did laugh upon first listen, we also can relate. (But please, put the scissors down. Your hair is fine).
‘Never Ending Cycle’
Now this song is the epitome of what Bearings does: tear-jerking lyrics mixed with a**-shaking instrumentals. This song had us up and ready to dance… but then Doug said, “I know failure’s part of living / When’s success gonna make an appearance?”. We won’t lie to you; we had to pause it for a minute just to take that one in. One of the hardest parts of growing up and being on your own is feeling like nothing you do is good enough. Bearings absolutely nail this feeling on the head with this song, and truthfully, it feels good to know we aren’t alone in that feeling.
To say we were impressed by this Bearings album would be an understatement. Truthfully, it felt like a mug of hot chocolate and a nice pair of fuzzy socks on a rainy day. Let us know which track brought you the most comfort by commenting. You can also talk to us about all things Comfort Company on our Twitter @TheHoneyPOP, Instagram, and Facebook!
Wearing a cheetah-print beret like she’s the newest member of the feline elite, Faouzia lounges with a white cat in her arms—because of course she does. The whole scene feels straight out of a monochrome fever dream, as if your Spotify app accidentally time-traveled to the 1950s. From her vintage visuals to those powerhouse vocals that could shatter martini glasses, Faouzia doesn’t just fit into another era—she owns it. With 4.2 million monthly listeners and a fanbase that made her the second-highest streamed international artist in China, right after Taylor Swift (casual), Faouzia’s not a rising star—she’s a meteor, rewriting her own orbit. Since her 2021 project CITIZENS—and that career-defining ‘MINEFIELDS’ duet with John Legend, which casually pulled 325 million YouTube views for its music video—she’s been crafting something cinematic.
The result: FILM NOIR, an 11-track masterpiece sung partly in French, entirely self-made, and draped in mystery, chaos, and candlelight. It all ignites with ‘PEACE & VIOLENCE,’ a track that perfectly captures the album’s duality: soft and sharp, glamorous and guttural. We sat down with Faouzia to talk about the making of FILM NOIR, the lyric she’s betting her fans will scream back the loudest, and how she turned vintage glamour into modern mythology.
Image Source: Alejandra Hinojosa
FILM NOIR
Hi Faouzia, congratulations on the release! FILM NOIR is not only your first full-length project, but also your first fully independent one—huge. Looking back at the journey, what part of the process are you most proud of, whether artistically or personally, in finally bringing this album to life? I am most proud of completing this album independently and following my instincts. I always knew that building a world around a project was my calling. Finally being able to do that is what I am most proud of, and I am absolutely in love with every song on FILM NOIR.
Because the term film noir originally came from French critics dissecting American thrillers, the genre has this built-in idea of reflection and critique. After the three-year gap since CITIZENS and the global response to ‘MINEFIELDS,’ did you approach this record by “critiquing” what worked and what didn’t from the last era—or did you intentionally wipe the slate clean and start fresh? After years of reflection and critique, I wiped the slate clean and started fresh. Almost in a “learn the rules to know how to break them” type of way. I followed my heart and wrote this album very instinctually. Every word stemmed from stories that were very personal to me, but crafted by skills that I learned along the way. I think my essence is present in this album because I led with my heart first, then my mind.
Faouzia’s Parisian Duality
The album opens like we’ve just stepped into a smoky 1950s Paris alleyway—sirens, trumpets, the whole curtain-rise—before it slinks into that sensual, romantic-thriller soundscape. When you were crafting those first 40 seconds, what visuals were playing in your mind? I wanted to set the mood in this opening track and transport people into the world that is FILM NOIR – live instrumentation, drama, and an emotional rollercoaster filled with tension and heartache.
You speak English, Arabic, and French fluently—and we hear French spotlighted both in the voice-note outro and in ‘TOUS CES MOTS’—and you even wrote your first ever song in French at age six. What is it about French as a language that feels most creatively you? French is my second language. I grew up speaking it at home and spent most of my education immersed in it, so many of my most formative memories live in French. It’s the language in which I first learned to express sorrow and depth, to give shape to feeling. There’s an inherent poetry in its softness and a quiet melancholy that made it the natural choice for the stories I needed to tell in this album.
Image Source: Alanna Durkee
Several tracks have that gorgeous cinematic build—the strings on ‘UNETHICAL’ feel like they’re doing the dramatic lighting. You’ve genre-blended before, but this time, working with Arthur Besna and F E R R O, how did you stay rooted in your sonic identity while leaning into those big, film-score moments? A big part of my musical identity comes from big, dramatic instrumentals as well as classically-inspired pieces. It came very naturally to me to make this album in this world because it felt like “coming home” to what felt the most natural to me.
Flashbulbs & Frequencies
“Sometimes I wish our puzzle aligned” from ‘WEIRDO’ feels like an instant-tattoo/future-bio line. Is there another lyric or couplet on the album you secretly suspect fans are going to claim as their identity quote? This is a hard question… There are so many lines in this project that I love, but the one that is coming to mind right now is the mantra-esque lyric, “I am not my emotions, they’re a point in time.”
Fashion is such a big storytelling device in this era. Is there one outfit from this cycle—a video look or shoot—that you feel most embodies the persona of this record? I’d say the ‘DON’T EVER LEAVE ME’ music video and outfit. Or… ‘PORCELAIN.’
Finally, when listeners close the curtain on FILM NOIR for the first time, what do you hope they walk away feeling? I hope they’ve connected to the music and can feel the depth and passion in it. I hope they can find solace in it.
What’s the song playing as you strut through your black-and-white FILM NOIR TikTok fantasy? Picture this: shadowy lighting, oversized hood, mystery in your eyes—basically giving “I might be in Paris, or just really good at curating vibes.” Spin FILM NOIR one more time, let the credits roll in your head, and then tell us—what’s your soundtrack for the sequel over on our Twitter, Insta, or even Facebook if you’re feeling retro.
Cabin in the Sky is the first album from De La Soul since the 2023 death of David Jude Jolicoeur, the founding member who was also known as Trugoy, Dave, and Trugoy the Dove. It features contributions from producers DJ Premier, Super Dave, and Pete Rock, as well as guests Killer Mike, Little Dragon’s Yukimi, Common, Nas, and the Roots’ Black Thought.
“Cabin in the Sky lives in that space between loss and light,” Posdnuos said in a press release. “It’s about the pain we carry and the joy that somehow still finds us. This album is therapy and celebration at the same time. There’s a vulnerability in these songs, because everything we’ve been through has brought us to this moment, to this album, honoring what we’ve lost and lifting up what still remains. That duality. That’s life, and that’s De La.”
In an additional statement to Pitchfork, Posdnuos explained that he and Maseo started working on Cabin in the Sky in February 2025 after Mass Appeal’s Peter Bittenbender approached them about participating in the label’s “Legend Has It” campaign.
“We had some music, of course, with Dave’s voice on it, like ‘Good Health,’ that was produced by Supa Dave West,” Posdnuous said, “‘The Package,’ which was produced by Pete Rock, which was originally supposed to be a part of an idea for an album we had called Premium Soul on the Rocks that would have been exclusively produced by Pete and Premier. And then we had the song ‘Pattycake,’ which was produced by Jake One. That was just something we had did a while back.”
“So those are the tracks we chose to use,” he continued. “At first, with some of the tracks we did have with Dave’s voice on it, we thought to maybe have certain producers now make music to it, but then we just realized, you know what, let’s leave those tracks as is. With the energy that Dave had written to that track, let’s allow that marriage to still exist.”
Redveil has announced a new album. Sankofa is the rapper’s full-length follow-up to 2022’s Learn 2 Swim. The self-produced record is out December 4, via Fashionably Early, and includes the recent single “Mini Me,” as well as the Smino collaboration “Brown Sugar.” Redveil has also shared a new song “Lone Star,” which features singer Carolyn Malachi. Check out the accompanying video, directed by Tyler Shuler, below; scroll down for the Sankofa artwork.
Revisit Serge Selenou’s review of the 2023 Redveil EP Playing w/ Fire.
Paula Kelley, a co-founding singer-guitarist in Boston shoegaze band Drop Nineteens and several other indie-rock acts, has announced her first solo album in 20 years. Blinking as the Starlight Burns Out is out March 27 via Wharf Cat. Lead single “Party Line” is described, by Kelley, as a “post-Cold War influenced track” that incorporates some of the gauzy shoegaze she’s knowing for, as well as some slowcore touches. Give it a listen below.
“When the song came to me it presented nearly fully formed: a pedaling bass line, a four part vocal harmony, an expansive soundscape,” Kelley said in a press release. “Sometimes songs sound great in your head but then don’t translate well into reality. I was lucky with this one. As I was recording part upon part, it felt as though the song was writing itself. It’s a dreamy song about dreams—not the kind that come during sleep, but rather wishes, anxieties, projections—as a way to work through and reconcile an unhappy past.”
Spanning 11 tracks, Blinking as the Starlight Burns Out was written over the past few years while Kelley was stabilizing her pathway to sobriety. Her fourth solo album overall, following 2006’s Some Sucker’s Life, Part 1: Demos and Lost Recordings, turns its ear toward pop hooks and also builds off Kelley’s background as an arranger and cowriter for studio sessions and indie film soundtracks.
Drop Nineteens broke up in 1995 and reunited in 2022. Their comeback album, Hard Light, came out that following year.
Smerz have assembled an enviably chic guest list for a new companion to their May album Big City Life. Out now via Escho, Big City Life Edits features a cast of American and Scandinavian maestros including Clairo, ML Buch, Astrid Sonne, Erika de Casier, Fine, They Are Gutting a Body of Water, and, on “You Got Time and I Got Money,” MIKE, Zack Sekoff, Elias Rønnenfelt, and Fousheé. Check out the new album below.
Let us start by saying that Starkissed is the most perfect name for a TXT album. It’s beyond fitting, and just so cute. TXT’s most recent album finished with ‘Song of the Stars,’ and now we get lots of Starkissed songs!
Instrumentals
One of the very best things about TXT’s Japanese albums is that we are treated to beautiful intro and outro instrumentals! ‘Intro: SPARK’ and ‘Outro: GLOW’ are no exception. We love how these two tracks open and close this chapter and, as always, we hope to see them live on in something else too… perhaps background music for the VCRs at the ACT: TOMORROW Japan Dome Tour? TXT’s creative team, our door is always open.
‘Can’t Stop’
The names ‘SPARK’ and ‘GLOW’ for an album with a starry concept are so gorgeous too, but they’re not the most-aptly named songs on Starkissed. The title track, ‘Can’t Stop,’ is perfect. It’s shot up to the top of all our ‘On Repeat’ playlists, and we truly ‘Can’t Stop’ streaming it. TXT, like a lot of K-Pop groups, usually lean towards ballads for Japanese singles, and this is easily their most fun, catchy Japanese release to date. Full of 80s synth and irresistible guitar riffs, the THP MOA hive was never going to survive this comeback unscathed.
Original Japanese B-Sides
Another one of the new Japanese original songs on Starkissed is ‘Where Do You Go?,’ a song that made us immediately jealous that we won’t be attending the Japan tour shows to see this IRL. It has a cute, bright energy that we haven’t seen from TXT in a while, and instantly reminded us of 2020’s ‘Wishlist.’
The final original track is ‘SSS (Sending Secret Signals),’ which is a pretty good tongue twister. Written by HYDE, this song is rich with the rock-pop energy everybody loves to see from TXT. The pre-chorus breakdown stole our breath the first time we heard it, not to mention Yeonjun’s spoken lines. HYDE is a music icon in Japan, having been active in the industry since 1988. As TXT’s global and Japanese fandoms continue to grow, we are so happy to see them getting the opportunities to work with such storied artists!
Re-Releases
Additionally, we were treated to Japanese versions of some of our other favorite TXT singles, ‘Beautiful Strangers,’ and ‘Deja Vu,’ as well as re-releases of ‘Step by Step,’ ‘Rise,’ and CHIKAI’s ‘We’ll Never Change’ and ‘Kitto Zutto.’ Not to mention that we, of course, had to be gifted with a Japanese version of our beloved ‘Song of the Stars!’
With the Starkissed release, we’ve got to indulge in several brand new songs, renew our love for some familiar ones, and enjoy plenty of TXT content on Japanese music and variety shows! Considering The Star Chapter: TOGETHER still feels like it came out yesterday (how has it been three months already?!), MOAs really do feel like the luckiest fandom.
What’s your favorite track from TXT’s Starkissed? What have you enjoyed about this comeback? Let us know on Twitter @TheHoneyPOP! Or, if you’d rather, you can also find us on Facebook and Instagram!
Is it hot in here, or is it just PSYCHIC FEVER turning up the heat with their latest release, ‘SWISH DAT?’ We’re betting on the latter! KOKORO, WEESA, TSURUGI, RYOGA, REN, JIMMY, and RYUSHIN have had a banner year, complete with their PSYCHIC FILE III EP, sold-out shows across multiple continents, and an appearance at SXSW’s Friends From The East Showcase, but they’re still giving their absolute all to this new drop. We’re exhausted even just thinking about all the hard work they’ve put in throughout 2025 yet they make it look so effortless. ForEVER are so proud of their dedication and passion!
‘SWISH DAT’ was selected as the theme song for the Japanese show Masked NINJA Akakage, and we think it was a truly perfect choice. If we were channel surfing and heard a theme tune like this, we’d immediately drop the remote and add it to all our playlists! It pays homage to Japanese culture in its lyrics, choreography, and music video while also feeling like a mission statement of sorts for PSYCHIC FEVER. It shows off their ambition and drive to be the best artists they can be while proudly repping Japan as they rise on the global music scene. And REN’s stunning high note?! They “go swish” and we go to recommend it to all of our friends.
“A silent declaration, proven in the darkness Leaping past even flaws to the heights beyond…”
Whether ‘SWISH DAT’ is the first you’ve heard from PSYCHIC FEVER or you’ve been a ForEVER for a while, we have a special treat for you! We’re psyched to share that we got to do a fun Q&A with the members for fans to get to know them better. Press play on ‘SWISH DAT’ above or maybe even their PSYCHIC FILE III EP, then keep reading to learn all about PSYFE from PSYFE.
KOKORO
You’ve said that your training was a difficult time and that you were anxious about the future, but you’ve been able to push through and light up so many fans’ lives as part of PSYCHIC FEVER. What motivates you during hard times, especially now that you’ve made it through some of the hardest ones you faced? My dreams and the support of everyone who cheers me on are my driving force. All the struggles and worries I’ve faced have now become part of who I am, allowing me to motivate myself no matter what.
Earlier this year, you released your first photobook, Kokoro no Oto, which you shot in Thailand! What was it like for you to create this book and see how much ForEVER have loved it? It truly made me happy and was a blessing for me. The photobook brought out charms I didn’t even know I had, so I hope you’ll continue to enjoy it.
You’ve been learning guitar, which must be so fun! What are your favorite kinds of songs to play? Will you be playing on a PSYCHIC FEVER song in the future? I practice guitar as a hobby! I play ballads, jazz, rock, and a wide range of genres! My dream is to perform live someday!
Which PSYCHIC FEVER song do you think matches your personality best and why? The song that immediately comes to mind is ‘BAKU BAKU.’ It’s a track about moving toward your dreams even amidst anxiety and tension, and it’s one I feel truly represents who I am. It captures the emotions I feel when facing new challenges like my first stage performance or recording sessions, so I chose this song.
I think it also applies to songs I haven’t released yet, so please look forward to them!
At The Honey POP, we love all things sweet! Could you say something sweet about your fellow PSYCHIC FEVER members? What I love about our group is how warmly everyone sends each other off when we have individual activities, and cheers each other on with “Do your best!” You don’t often see this on stage, but I’m constantly reminded how kind my members are and how glad I am to be in this group.
Is there anything else you’d like to mention or say to your fans, ForEVER, that the questions didn’t touch on? Thank you so much for always giving us your warm support and energy. We’ll keep working hard toward our dreams to deliver music and live entertainment that’s uniquely ours and that you’ll enjoy. Please look forward to our future activities!
Image Source: LDH Japan
WEESA
Mac Miller has been a big inspiration for you, and you’ve called him your hero! What do you love most about his work? What would it mean for you to be able to move PSYCHIC FEVER fans who want to be musicians in a similar way? I’ve loved Mac Miller since middle school, and listening to his music made me want to create my own songs. I think the first time I properly made a song, I used one of his type beats. His vibe and singing style felt truly one-of-a-kind, and I got hooked.
If there are people out there who see us and think, “I want to start making music too,” that would make me incredibly happy.
You told KpopWise that you listen to music before your performances to get yourself hyped up. What kind of music has been motivating you lately? The songs I listen to vary completely depending on my mood, but I basically listen to whatever songs I like across all genres.
In addition to music, you also love art and have been drawing for a long time. What inspires your art, and might we see your art on a PSYCHIC FEVER album cover anytime soon? I often get inspired by watching movies or looking at other artists’ paintings. Drawing also helps me switch gears, so sometimes I draw instead of writing in a diary.
If there’s ever an opportunity that my works fit the album’s concept, I’d definitely love to draw for it.
Which PSYCHIC FEVER song do you think matches your personality best and why? I really love the lyrics to ‘Rocket (Take You Higher).’ I’m not sure if it matches my personality, but I get really into singing it.
At The Honey POP, we love all things sweet! Could you say something sweet about your fellow PSYCHIC FEVER members? All the members have such unique personalities. They might look a little scary… it’s [a] joke! but they have cute sides too, so please come check out our live shows if you can.
Is there anything else you’d like to mention or say to your fans, ForEVER, that the questions didn’t touch on? We’ll keep working hard to deliver even more amazing songs to everyone. I’d be thrilled if you listened to our music a lot and came to our live shows.
Image Source: LDH Japan
TSURUGI
You’ve mentioned that you continued training while working part-time jobs and facing many struggles. How does it feel now to have become a shining member of PSYCHIC FEVER and to be loved by so many fans worldwide years later? It really made me realize nothing beats experience! Working for someone else, or working for others and for myself—I learned that from part-time jobs! Now I live for my fans!
You have a black belt in karate and started practicing when you were very young – what’s something you learned through your karate journey that’s helped you in your music career? Greetings! Karate is a martial art that values etiquette! It taught me that greetings are extremely important.
Even now, in my work as an artist, I believe greeting people and communicating are essential. So I think my karate experience really comes into play.
It’s so cool that you collect vintage cowboy hats! What interests you the most about cowboys and their style? Where do you get inspiration for your own style? What fascinates me is their attitude of “working to live!”
I deeply respect how they cherish the land and live authentically alongside all life! I believe expressing your true self is crucial for artists, so this became my inspiration!
Which PSYCHIC FEVER song do you think matches your personality best and why? It’s ‘Temperature!’ In this song, I rap about the relationship between me and my fans in a super real way! Of course, body temperature rises, but it also really captures how fans mimic me and come to match me! I think it gets the crowd the most hyped at live shows.
At The Honey POP, we love all things sweet! Could you say something sweet about your fellow PSYCHIC FEVER members? Just looking at you guys makes me feel like I’m melting! Like the sweets, you guys are absolutely essential to my life.
Is there anything else you’d like to mention or say to your fans, ForEVER, that the questions didn’t touch on? I’m always so incredibly happy that you all support us. I’m also looking forward to seeing everyone! I love you! Always have, always will!
Image Source: LDH Japan
RYOGA
You spent some time studying dance in the United States, and you’ve now gotten to perform throughout the U.S. at sold-out PSYCHIC FEVER shows. Those must have been such full-circle moments for you! If you could go back and give some advice to your younger self who was working so hard to study dance around the world, what would you tell him? I want to tell them, “Just keep believing and moving forward, and you’ll be fine. ”The time I spent in America taught me more than just dance technique—it taught me the courage to challenge myself. In an environment with different language and culture, I learned the importance of believing in myself and taking action.
Thanks to that experience, where I never gave up and kept going, I’m able to stand on this dream stage today.
And, the skills and senses I gained from that experience are definitely alive in my current performances with PSYCHIC FEVER. I feel everything connects to the present.
Earlier this year, you said that your keyword for PSYCHIC FEVER in 2025 was “EVOLVE” so you could keep growing and learning. How do you feel that you and your groupmates have evolved throughout this year? Our “teamwork” as a group has grown stronger. Of course, each member has improved their skills, but the biggest change is that we’ve become able to naturally move in sync with each other on stage, sensing one another’s presence.
Personally, I feel I’ve become better at expressing my emotions more honestly.
Also, being able to perform in many countries and regions this year is also a factor in our evolution. Being exposed to new cultures and atmospheres definitely allowed us to “evolve” in terms of our expressive range and mindset.
You’ve enjoyed movies like Fast and Furious – if you could choose one PSYCHIC FEVER song to appear in a Fast and Furious sequel or a similar movie, which would you pick and what kind of scene would you want it to be in? I’d choose ‘Hotline.’ It has a sense of speed and energy, and I think it would be perfect for car racing scenes or scenes speeding through the city at night. The feeling of the sound racing forward feels like it would link well with the Fast & Furious world.
Which PSYCHIC FEVER song do you think matches your personality best and why? ‘Choose One.’ I’m the type who sees things through once I decide on them, so I really resonate with the message of “believing in your path and moving forward.” I think it’s close to how I live my life. Listening to this song reminds me of past decisions and efforts, and it still gives me the strength to keep moving forward.
At The Honey POP, we love all things sweet! Could you say something sweet about your fellow PSYCHIC FEVER members? Everyone is truly made of “kindness.” Probably. lol.
Even with our demanding schedules, if someone looks tired, we naturally check in on them. We support each other. In that sense, I think we’re more of a “warm” group than a “sweet” one.
Is there anything else you’d like to mention or say to your fans, ForEVER, that the questions didn’t touch on? Thank you so much for always supporting our music and activities. It’s because of you that we can stand on stage. Let’s keep “evolving” together from here on out. We love you, ForEVER!!
Image Source: LDH Japan
REN
Before you joined PSYCHIC FEVER, you originally wanted to be a professional dancer. What has it been like for you to get to pursue dancing while also touching so many people with your music? I originally started dancing because I admired Michael Jackson’s moves, wanting to become a dancer who could inspire others. Dance allows me to express myself in various ways and connect with everyone watching, transcending language barriers. I’ll keep striving to continue moving many people through dance.
You’ve said discovering new ramen spots is one of your biggest hobbies. What’s your go-to ramen order? My absolute favorite is tonkotsu shoyu (soy sauce and pork bone broth ramen). Within that, adding a boiled egg and extra scallions, then mixing them into the soup, makes it incredibly delicious.
You were more shy as a child and have said that your face would turn bright red when speaking in front of people. How have you built your confidence over the years to be able to connect more with ForEVER? Through performance. Performing makes my shy side disappear. I naturally smile and pour my feelings into conveying my message through the performance. It’s like another version of myself.
Which PSYCHIC FEVER song do you think matches your personality best and why? ‘Best For You.’ It’s not just about personality—it was also the first song I sang lead vocals on, and it’s a song where I discovered a new side of myself. So it’s a key song for me.
At The Honey POP, we love all things sweet! Could you say something sweet about your fellow PSYCHIC FEVER members? I’ll invite you to a sweet paradise with my voice. With a beatbox. lol
Is there anything else you’d like to mention or say to your fans, ForEVER, that the questions didn’t touch on? Thank you for always supporting us. We’ll keep practicing and training hard to shine on the stage. We have lots of songs in production and things in the works, so please look forward to them. I love you all.
Image Source: LDH Japan
JIMMY
Fans call you the fashion icon of PSYCHIC FEVER and we love your personal style! You’ve even walked some runways and helped design merch for ForEVER to enjoy, which must be so fun. What inspires your fashion choices? I’ve loved fashion since I was little, so I’m incredibly happy to be involved in it. Having worked as a model, I enjoy wearing various genres, but for our apparel brand, since we often perform and move intensely, I focus on creating silhouettes that look cool no matter when you wear them, yet remain comfortable.
You grew up listening to iconic R&B artists like Boyz II Men, Destiny’s Child, and TLC. How do you bring those early influences to your work with PSYCHIC FEVER? I listened to a lot of Black music from a young age, influenced by my parents. Those roots serve as an incredibly valuable reference point for me when creating music and performances. We actively incorporate the preferences and styles that resonate with other members as we explore new genres.
You’ve spoken about wanting to try acting to inspire fellow mixed-race people and show them that they can pursue their dreams, which we love. What has it been like for you to embrace your Nigerian-Japanese identity and get to empower others in the process? I have so many moments in my life where music, starting with R&B and hip-hop, helped me. But in the TV shows and dramas I watched growing up, there weren’t many mixed-race people like me. The same was true when choosing a career path. So I think I unconsciously gravitated toward music.
As an artist in the spotlight, I want to show the next generation of young people that there are many possibilities. I just happened to be good at dance and rap, but I want to show that I can shine in other areas too. That’s why I wanted to try acting and play various roles.
Which PSYCHIC FEVER song do you think matches your personality best and why? ‘Highlights.’ I think the feeling of occasionally letting loose and getting hyped up really suits my personality. It’s super fun to perform, too!
At The Honey POP, we love all things sweet! Could you say something sweet about your fellow PSYCHIC FEVER members? Thanks for always putting up with my whims! I love cooking, so someday I want to treat everyone to a special full-course meal.
Is there anything else you’d like to mention or say to your fans, ForEVER, that the questions didn’t touch on? Thank you for always supporting us! I’d be thrilled if you keep cheering for PSYCHIC FEVER, and please come hang out whenever we have a live show! Also, check out our apparel brand, PCF APPAREL DEPARTMENT!
Image Source: LDH Japan
RYUSHIN
You’ve been described as the mood maker of PSYCHIC FEVER. How do you keep the energy high and motivate everyone while working hard for your dreams? I’m incredibly grateful that what I’ve always done—like dancing—has become my job, so I always get to do it with joy!
That’s why even when I’m with the members, it feels like working with friends, which probably creates a great atmosphere!
One of your hobbies is playing games, and you told tmrw that it helps you stay grounded through your hectic schedules. What are some of your favorite games to escape into? Smash Bros! I play it with Ren and Kokoro. We always play after a performance to refresh!
You played baseball and practiced judo when you were younger before focusing on dance and music. What’s something you learned from your athletic training that you’ve taken with you into your journey with PSYCHIC FEVER? Teamwork, I guess! Baseball is also a team sport, so that aspect is the same. I feel like I naturally apply it!
Which PSYCHIC FEVER song do you think matches your personality best and why? ‘Temperature!’ Both the choreography and the music are totally my style, and I’ve always loved it! When we perform that song, I feel like I can really express myself and give my all in the performance!
At The Honey POP, we love all things sweet! Could you say something sweet about your fellow PSYCHIC FEVER members? I think everyone might have a slightly intimidating image at first glance, but they also have adorable sides in everyday life. If you check out our SNS, you’ll probably see that!
Is there anything else you’d like to mention or say to your fans, ForEVER, that the questions didn’t touch on? Thank you so much for always supporting us! It’s because of all of you, ForEVER, that we can keep doing what we do, and you give us energy every single day!
We’ll keep working hard to give back double the love we receive from you all, so we’d be thrilled if you’d continue supporting us!
Image Source: LDH Japan
Thank you so much to PSYCHIC FEVER for answering our questions and lighting up our playlists with ‘SWISH DAT’ and PSYCHIC FILE IIIthis year! We’re so proud of how far you’ve come and can’t wait to see what you have in store for ForEVER next.
Now, honeybees, we have some questions for you! What’s your favorite song PSYCHIC FEVER have released in 2025? Who’s your favorite member? Let us know in the comments below or hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! You can also buzz on over to our Reddit community to chat with us.
Saba has dropped his second project of 2025. Written and recorded entirely in the Chicago rapper’s black Bronco Wildtrak truck, the 19-minute C0ffee! follows March’s full-length No ID collaboration From the Private Collection of Saba and No ID. Listen to it, and find the music video for “Today Years Old,” below.
C0ffee! features Maxx Moor, Senite, Felix!, and Ogi, the latter of whom also appeared on the From the Private Collection of Saba and No ID’s “Head.Rap,” “Big Picture,” and “A Few Songs.”
Revisit the review of Saba’s 2022 studio album, Few Good Things.
Nintendo has announced a new box set celebrating the soundtrack of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. In addition to answering many Zelda fans’ requests to own the music on vinyl, the box set also marks the first time the infamously strict Nintendo has ever released a physical soundtrack for sale in the United States. The 8xLP box set is out June 19, via Nintendo and Laced. Check out the tracklist and artwork below.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild soundtrack is available to pre-order as a 8xLP box set and a 2xLP set. The former goes all out, with blue and gold splatter vinyl, archival artwork on each sleeve, and a blue rigid board slipcase. All 130 specially mastered tracks are in the box set, covering the scope of the game’s soundtrack as composed by Manaka Kataoka, Yasuaki Iwata, Hajime Wakai, and Soshi Abe.
Prior to now, Nintendo has released its video game soundtracks on vinyl only in Japan. Nintendo Switch players with an Online membership have access to Nintendo Music, too, which is the company’s app to stream the soundtracks and songs from Nintendo games.
01 Main Theme 02 A Sheikah Tower Emerges 03 Sheikah Tower 04 The Shrine’s Trial Begins 05 The Shrine’s Trial 06 The Temple of Time 07 The Old Man’s Secret 08 One Hundred Years Ago 09 Impa Speaks 10 A Legendary Tale 11 The Stables 12 Kass’s Theme 13 Kass: Song of Shrines 14 Kakariko Village 15 Hateno Village 16 Kass: Legendary Verse
01 The Great Plateau 02 Overworld (Day) 03 Galloping (Day) 04 Galloping (Night) 05 By the Water 06 Ruins 07 Overworld (Freezing) 08 Overworld (Fiery Heat) 09 Overworld (Scorching Desert) 10 Overworld (Battle) – Original Soundtrack Ver. 11 Battle (Shrine) – Original Soundtrack Ver. 12 Stone Talus Battle 13 Hinox Battle 14 Guardian Battle 15 Battle Inside the Divine Beast 16 Molduga Battle 17 The Lord of the Mountain 18 Omen of the Blood Moon 19 The Blood Moon 20 Game Over
01 Sidon’s Theme 02 Zora’s Domain 03 Vah Ruta, Divine Beast of Water 04 Recovered Memory: Mipha’s Touch 05 Battle With Divine Beast Vah Ruta 06 An Accord with Sidon 07 Exploring Divine Beast Vah Ruta 08 A Blight Ganon Appears 09 Battle with Waterblight Ganon 10 A Heart Container Appears 11 Reuniting with Mipha 12 A Champion’s Divine Gift 13 A Divine Beast’s Majesty 14 Mipha and the Divine Beast 15 Naydra, Possessed 16 Attendants to the Sacred Springs 17 Restoring Malanya’s Power 18 Malanya’s Spring 19 Lurelin Village
Now, Now, the Minneapolis indie-rock duo of KC Dalager and Brad Hale, have returned with their first new music in six years. Today, they’ve surprise-released 01, a new four-song EP that indulges their pop inclinations. Now, Now have also shared a visualizer for the song “About You.” Check that out and listen to the full EP below.
“I think these songs are really a great example of the culmination of everything we’ve learned over the 23 years of making music together,” said Hale. “I’ve gotten a lot of fun gear over the years that we’ve been using, lately some vintage digital reverbs that have been great to incorporate.”
01 is Now, Now’s first record since releasing their third studio album, Saved, in 2018. A press release notes that two of the songs on the new EP have been in the works since the late 2010s, but evolved as Hale and Dalager “better came to understand themselves.”
After originally forming in 2003 under the moniker Now, Now Every Children, the band released a debut album, Cars, in 2009 and member Jess Abbott joined the band that same year. After a handful of other lineup changes, they shortened their name to Now, Now and released their breakout album Threads in 2012. Abbott eventually parted ways amicably to pursue her solo career as Tancred, and the rest of the band went on hiatus.
After returning in 2017, Now, Now rolled out Saved, as well as the original 2019 holiday song “Lonely Christmas,” hopped on an Owen album, and remixed a song by Lies. Dalager also pursued solo work, releasing her debut album, Think I’m Gonna Die, as KC Rae in 2023.
“Child Actor has been a guiding light and force for me and my creative process,” Navy Blue said in a press release. “When he shared the beat, it was titled ‘Orchard,’ just as ‘Low Threshold’ was. The titles of his beats are always spot on and seem to set the stage. This time with the warm glow of a winter sun piercing through the clouds. I visualized an apple orchard melting into a singular vanishing point, and began to write. Thousands of individual trees bearing fruit, connected through soil and roots, with an expansiveness that resembles the infinite source.”
This week, Aesop Rock quietly shared a new album called I Heard It’s a Mess There Too. The quick follow-up to May’s Black Hole Superette is now widely available across digital streaming platforms, via Rhymesayers. Listen to the 12-song album below, and watch a video for “Full House Pinball,” directed by Justin “Coro” Kaufman.
Aesop Rock says in a press release, “The phrase ‘I Heard It’s a Mess There Too’ started as a lyric, but it got its hooks in me soon after. It felt familiar, like something I’d said a thousand times while checking in with friends across different cities. The more I sat with it, the more it started to feel like the center of this project… It’s about observation and communication. Sonically, I wanted a reset—cleaner beats, more space, fewer layers. Just enough to get a wave rolling and not much more.”
Daniel worked on Can Such Delightful Times Go On Forever?—the follow-up to Is It Going to Get Any Deeper Than This?—with his husband and Matmos bandmate M.C. Schmidt, guitarist Bill Orcutt, and many others. On the new album, according to a press release, “Daniel probes the limitations of pleasure in the midst of our dystopian contemporary landscape.”
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The Soft Pink Truth: Can Such Delightful Times Go On Forever?
Can Such Delightful Times Go On Forever?:
01 Mere Survival Is Not Enough 02 And By and By a Cloud Takes All Away 03 Phrygian Ganymede 04 Underneath (I) 05 L’Esprit de l’Escalier 06 Time Inside the Violet 07 Orchard 08 Underneath (II)
Brian Ross Weitz, the Animal Collective musician better known as Geologist, has announced his debut solo studio album. The full-length, Can I Get a Pack of Camel Lights?, is out January 30 via Drag City. Below, watch director Molten Synapse’s music video for lead single “Tonic.”
Geologist named his new single “Tonic” in honor of a Keiji Haino show he saw at the now-closed New York music venue of the same name. The song features contributions from drummer Alianna Kalaba and Geologist’s Animal Collective bandmate David “Avey Tare” Portner.
“Most of the formative music in my teens was guitar based, and, at that age, you try to play like your favorites,” Geologist said in a statement. “But I was never very good at guitar myself. A couple years ago when trying to come up with a solo hurdy-gurdy drone set to take out on tour, I heard a story about Greg Ginn playing guitar solos over a drum machine. I was coming to accept that whatever drone I could make on the hurdy-gurdy would never live up to when I first heard Keiji Haino play one at Tonic in 1998. So I went the Ginn route instead and wrote this record. I still can’t play or write like my favorites, but the hurdy-gurdy got me closer than guitar ever did.”
Geologist worked on Can I Get a Pack of Camel Lights? with Alianna Kalaba, Avey Tare, recording engineer Adam McDaniel, drummers Emma Garau and Ryan Oslance, clarinetist Shane McCord, cellist Mikey Powers, and vibraphonist Adam Lion. In addition, his son, Merrick Weitz, plays guitar on “Government Job.”
Earlier this year, Geologist released a collaborative album with Doug Shaw called A Shaw Deal. The latest Animal Collective album, Isn’t It Now?, arrived in 2023.
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Geologist: Can I Get a Pack of Camel Lights?
Can I Get a Pack of Camel Lights?:
01 Oracle Road 02 Tonic 03 RV Envy 04 Not Trad 05 Color in the B&W 06 Compact Mirror / Last Names 07 Government Job 08 Pumpkin Festival 09 Shelley Duvall 10 Sonora
Chicago indie-rock band Ratboys have announced a new album: Singin’ to an Empty Chair is out out February 6 via New West. Featured on the album is the new single “Anywhere,” a tightly wound slice of pop-rock with a music video directed by Bobby Butterscotch. Check it out below.
Singin’ to an Empty Chair spans 11 songs—including recent track “Light Night Mountains All That”—and was produced by Chris Walla, the former Death Cab for Cutie member who also worked on the band’s 2023 album, The Window. According to a press release, singer-guitarist Julia Steiner penned most of the songs after attending therapy for the first time and finding new ways to work through a tough, but necessary, conversation with a loved one from whom she’s estranged.
“The goal is to update this person on what’s been going on in my life and to try to bridge that impasse and reach out a hand into the void,” explained Steiner. To do so, she followed the “Empty Chair” technique learned in therapy, during which a person attempts to have a difficult conversation with someone who isn’t physically present by imagining they’re in a chair opposite them and speaking directly to it.
Ratboys recently announced a 2026 North American tour, which begins on February 25, in Detroit, and lasts on through until mid-April. They’re set to perform at Pitchfork Music Festival London next month, too, alongside Upchuck and Party Dozen.
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Ratboys: Singin’ to an Empty Chair
Singin’ to an Empty Chair:
01 Open Up 02 Know You Then 03 Light Night Mountains All That 04 Anywhere 05 Penny in the Lake 06 Strange Love 07 The World, So Madly 08 Just Want You to Know the Truth 09 What’s Right? 10 Burn It Down 11 At Peace in the Hundred Acre Wood
The Kasambwe Brothers are a band of four decades, based in the Ndirande township near Malawian capital Blantyre. They found their way to a Mass MoCA residency with help from Hen House and Luc Deschamps, the director of the Jacaranda Foundation and France’s honorary consul to Malawi. Watch a documentary on the making of the album, which involves collaborators from the Massachusetts music scene, below. Clement Kammwamba is the artist behind the cover painting.
Mass MoCA Records will operate in tandem with the museum’s curatorial ethos, a press release notes, and is running as a three-year pilot. Museum director Kristy Edmunds said, “By joining forces with Hen House Studios and being able to tap into the remarkable number of music studios and intimate venues in the local area—the ingredients for a hand-made record label were all around us. I see this label as an extension of how we innovate to support the mobility of artists’ ideas and connect audiences the world over.”
Harlan Steinberger, the producer and engineer behind Hen House, added, “Though technology today can work wonders, the digital world has de-humanized us. I believe in an older-world method that emphasizes the magic of a band making music together in one room, playing off the creativity of the moment. The humanistic approach creates a deeper emotional listener experience that can not only be heard, but also felt.”
An album from Compton jazz artists Black Nile will follow in 2026, the press release notes.
