What do you listen to when there's nothing new from Ayu?

[Lilly]

Hey guys, I'd like to know what other japanese acts you like to listen to. i'm looking for more japanese songs to listen besides Ayu. I also listen to Sekai no Owari, Superfly and Mika Nakashima. I personally hate Kana Nishino and her ridiculously in love teenager songs and I don't care for Koda and Namie.

[xLuna&1LOVE]

These days I listen mostly to Ayu's older songs like SEASONS, TO BE, kanariya, Depend on you and NEVER EVER. Most of them are also remixes.

Namie's newer stuff is kinda good. I used to like Daoko, alan, Anna Tsuchiya and Jolin Tsai (not Japanese) too. Sorry, can't help you out because I listen to a lot more Western music, than J-Pop.

[Miduhyo]

I listen a lot to Kokia. Her music is unique and her voice is beautiful. Hontou no Oto is one of hers, it's literally my favorite song in the world. We have a thread here to download her discography. I'd put the link but I'm on my phone.

If you like rock there's One Ok Rock. I also personally like Mai Kuraki, Utada Hikaru, Anna Tsuchiya (though I'm picky about her songs. She's very hit or miss with me.) Leo Ieiri (her music is a little generic but her voice is strong for such a high pitched register and her lyrics are more on the mature side.) Oh and Ayaka. Her album The Beginning is absolutely amazing and so is her voice.

Hmmm I listen mostly to Asian music so I should have an entire lists worth of people for you to check out but I'm at work and my brain is kinda fried right now. So I'll leave it at that for now, but I may come back to edit with more variations. Good luck, my friend.

[Zeke.]

Sometimes you have to dig for the gems of certain artists. Or revisit them continuously until you find material they have released that clicks. The songs that are most prevalent in the mainstream by artists are usually the worst. I used to find Kana dreadful until I discovered her b-sides. I also tried and gave up on Perfume twice before they grabbed me with "Natural no Koishite." They've gone downhill once again.

I generally just rotate through the releases I love. Sometimes I get Ayu fatigue though, because I continuously circulate through the same stuff. A change in the seasons helps shift the material I am listening to though.

Basically, when there is nothing new being released by any of the artists I like, I just rotate through their past releases. When I step outside and feel the air, analyze the environment... I look into my heart and mind and listen to whatever piece captures the essence of that moment in time most accurately.

[KarenPang]

Frankly sometimes at the end of the day if I don't know who to listen to , I listen to AKIHIDE

I'm not big on instrumental albums but AKIHIDE's instrumental albums are great & each of his albums has a different concept/theme which showcase just how artistic , talentedly gifted he's

For his latest instrumental album Furusato , all the songs on it are based on the 12 different months of a year (like the 1st track summarises what January is to him & vice versa) while his previous albums were based on an outdoor carnival , the weather , the bright blue metamorphic rock Lapis Lazuli respectively

I personally adore his debut album Amber as it's so far the only release that he sings in all the songs & it's a pity that he has stopped singing because vocal wise , I prefer his over DAIGO

[Aderianu]

I listen to girugamesh =) I prefer something completely different from jpop, because after that I can enjoy ayu more

[Lilly]

Thank you guys, I'll try all the suggestions!

[SayukiChoco]

Originally Posted by xLuna&1LOVE

These days I listen mostly to Ayu's older songs like SEASONS, TO BE, kanariya, Depend on you and NEVER EVER. Most of them are also remixes.

Namie's newer stuff is kinda good. I used to like Daoko, alan, Anna Tsuchiya and Jolin Tsai (not Japanese) too. Sorry, can't help you out because I listen to a lot more Western music, than J-Pop.

Yes, Jolin Tsai is really worth a listen. She's great, I love her! I also listen to Nana Mizuki and LiSA from time to time.

But I know how you feel. There was a time when I was so bored of Ayu (and some other J-Pop artists I like) that I gave AKB48 a try I even found songs that I still like... That was a dark time

[chocopockymaster]

One of my favorite albums for the past few months has been "Konya Zettai" from a band that I know nothing about called itsue. I stumbled across it randomly on a j-pop tumblr that's now defunct but there are some great gems on the album and the lead singer has a very memorable voice which I think you might enjoy if you like SUPERFLY.

[Zeke.]

Aira Mitsuki's "I'LL BE BACK" album is seriously a blast to listen to. Catchy, energetic, fun. I alway feel super happy and excited when listening to it.


My favorites are:
"you know" (1:31)
"Make new world" (3:00)
"Tell me" (3:45)

[oaristos]

I highly recommend Leo Imai, either his solo career or his side projects such as Kimonos and METAFIVE:

[Uknow!]

Lately I'm listening:

We are one EP of Celeina.
AoA's new song: Ai o choudai
SKE48 - Chicken Line
Axel Rudi Pell - Between the walls [Album] <- One of my favourites albums.

[Lilly]

I really liked Ayaka and also Minori Chihara which wasn't a suggestion but is good anyway. I listened to akihide, but I guess I'm not into instrumental, even though it is high quality. Aira Mitsuki is very good too. Also, I found out Mika Nakashima released a Acoustic MTV and it is gorgeous. I'd so like Ayu to do the same...

[Bigtop]

Ayaka, miwa, Sayuri Sugawara (THE SxPLAY), AKB48, Nogizaka46, LoVendoR, maybe a bit of Leo Ieiri and LiSA, and occasionally YUI, SCANDAL, Ikimonogakari and Yanawaraba...that's what I'm currently in the mood for. (Although I'm suspending my use of J-pop at school for now...)

As for Johnny's groups, such as Arashi...not as much as I used to back in high school.

And I miss azusa, well known for Amagami theme songs, but left in 2013... Also miss Angela Aki as well.

[Kacku]

Originally Posted by chocopockymaster

One of my favorite albums for the past few months has been "Konya Zettai" from a band that I know nothing about called itsue. I stumbled across it randomly on a j-pop tumblr that's now defunct but there are some great gems on the album and the lead singer has a very memorable voice which I think you might enjoy if you like SUPERFLY.

OH MY GOD ANOTHER ITSUE FAN YES!! Konya Zettai is seriously such an addictive album, so many good songs (although I do have a clear favourite: Good Night ). And I love the lead singer's voice so much, it just sounds so delightfully warm and colourful.

(Sadly, Itsue apparently disbanded back in October. Right after I had started following them too. )

So I also heartily recommend Itsue! In addition to Konya, Zettai, they havee another album and a single out, I can upload any of them if OP ot anyone else is interested.

Aside from Itsue, lately I've been listening to Do As Infinity, MONKEY MAJIK (their new album, southview, contains some really awesome songs!), and Suiyoubi no Campanella. I also try to follow some music blogs (like lately, I've been reading Memories of Shibuya a lot, and I now have a long list of shibuya-kei songs and albums to try when I can find the time) and try something new whenever I see something interesting on download sites. I really recommend checking out miusiq, that's how I discovered Itsue and many other acts.

[KarenPang]

If you like Rock music , I recommend BREAKERZ , Acid Black Cherry , flumpool , SPYAIR , UVERworld , B'z

I'm a big BREAKERZ fan but their recent material after their comeback (in focusing on their solo activities) to me has not been as good as their older works . My most favourite album of them is FIGHTERZ as it's their most musically versatile to date and it's their only album that I do not skip a single song from start until end

Acid Black Cherry , no introduction needed . After all 2012 was the album that beat Ayu's Party Queen to the #1 spot and for a good reason as it's a pretty good album but L was even better imo

flumpool's latest album EGG (despite the questionable title) is so far my favourite album of the year . It's normally quite hard to get into their albums but EGG is pretty good and it's worth the 4 years wait over their last album

As for SPYAIR , their latest album 4 which was released last year was good & 1 of my favourites releases last year . I say most of their material is very easy to get into but I realised the songs they provided for animes tend to be much more stronger/memorable

For UVERworld , it's either a hit or miss . I tried getting into their albums but wow it's tough . Their last single I LOVE THE WORLD was brilliant though

Lastly for B'z , their discography is extremely long but the song that got me into them was Ichibu to Zenbu which was used to promote Yamapi's Buzzer Beat drama . Still a great song and their latest album EPIC DAY is not bad even though there're only 10 tracks in the CD but I guess for them it's quality over quantity

[MeltingCORE]

Here's some albums I have heavily on rotation...

Lia - Diamond Days (compilation of her greatest hits, versatile singer, genres span from light pop to hard trance)

Various Artists - I've GIRLS COMPILATION ALBUM Vol.4 - LAMENT (compilation of I've Sound songs, one of the few truly perfect albums imo, Trance-y, electronic, KOTOKO is heavily featured)

川田まみ - MAMI KAWADA BEST BIRTH (compilation of Mami's greatest hits, rock to electronic)

島みやえい子 - E.P.S -Eiko PRIMARY SELECTION- (compilation of Eiko's greatest hits, versatile like Lia, some very unique songs here)

m.o.v.e - SYNERGY (classic J-Trance album, has some light rapping)

T.M.Revolution - coordinate (male singer, related to the Gundam anime, electronic)

TWO-MIX - DREAM TACTIX (90s J-Pop)

globe - globe (1st album) [90s J-Pop, classic J-Pop album]

榊原ゆい - EVERGREEN (there are a couple of denpa tracks but still worth checking out for the orchestral songs)

橋本みゆき - Prismatic colors (somewhat standard J-Pop but very pleasant to listen to)

MEG - STEP (produced by Nakata Yasutaka)

And if you'd like to try something very unique...

Ryukyu Underground - Ryukyu Underground (1st album) [prismatic blend of electronic dub and traditional Okinawan music]

[oaristos]

Originally Posted by MeltingCORE

川田まみ - MAMI KAWADA BEST BIRTH (compilation of Mami's greatest hits, rock to electronic)

I used to listen to Mami Kawada a lot a few years ago! She has a lot of good tracks, and I think it's quite easy to like her if you're a fan of Ayu Her first album, SEED, is amazing.

[DonkeyKongRemix]

Originally Posted by Miduhyo

I listen a lot to Kokia. Her music is unique and her voice is beautiful. Hontou no Oto is one of hers, it's literally my favorite song in the world. We have a thread here to download her discography. I'd put the link but I'm on my phone.

If you like rock there's One Ok Rock. I also personally like Mai Kuraki, Utada Hikaru, Anna Tsuchiya (though I'm picky about her songs. She's very hit or miss with me.) Leo Ieiri (her music is a little generic but her voice is strong for such a high pitched register and her lyrics are more on the mature side.) Oh and Ayaka. Her album The Beginning is absolutely amazing and so is her voice.

Hmmm I listen mostly to Asian music so I should have an entire lists worth of people for you to check out but I'm at work and my brain is kinda fried right now. So I'll leave it at that for now, but I may come back to edit with more variations. Good luck, my friend.

Aside from Ayu, Kokia is definitely one of my favorite female artists.

When I'm not listening to Ayu, there are three bands I consistently turn to:
-Girugamesh
-the GazettE
-Oz

Other groups/artists I like to listen to are Diaura, Aira Mitsuki, Green Day when I'm in the mood, and other people.

[asagarichan]

Anna Tsuchiya, Kannon Wakashima, Kalafina, KAT-TUN, Arashi, Maki Goto and other.