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The Japanese quartet CHAI excavate joy from every crevice of life: a ping pong match, a box of donuts, the moles on your faceânothing is spared from their ecstatic gaze. Their first two releases, 2019âs
PUNK and 2017âs
PINK, radiated positivity and playfulness, while also challenging the pressure they felt as young Japanese women to be seen as cute all the time. At their live performances, they wore avante-garde matching outfits and performed effusive, blocky choreography, and their songs channeled the same energy: loud affirmations and saccharine hooks that erupted from hectic arrangements and kinetic riffs.
But last year, when the pandemic forced them to stop touring and stay in, CHAI slowed down, adopted new hobbies like pottery and a dog-themed Instagram account, and decided to make the kind of music they enjoy listening to at home. The band members exchanged music via Zoom, worked for the first time with outside producers (Mndsgn and YMC
Published May 17, 2021
8CHAI are a whirlwind of a band. The Japanese quartet of identical twins MANA and KANA, YUNA and YUUKI deal in the kind of joyful abandon that seems to be pretty absent in music these days. Known for their raucous live shows that feature the group in matching outfits, partaking in choreographed dance moves and showing off their enviable musicianship, CHAI have become a breath of fresh air in the world of indie music.
When the pandemic hit, CHAI decided to start crafting a new set of songs, something perhaps a bit subtler and more introspective than their previous output. The outcome is their third album,
CHAI have remixed a track by the New Yorkâbased collective MICHELLE, sharing a new version of âFYOâ with a colorful video. Check it out below.
MICHELLE first released âFYOâ in late January, and the track addresses the difficulties of navigating multiracial identities. The band shared a brief statement about working with CHAI on the track:
CHAI s rework of âFYOâ breathes new life and sound into what it means to grow up in a certain state of limbo. To connect audiences and languages across the world in this way, to this particular track, means a lot to us as a band and we hope for our listeners too.
Dove Cameron
Looking for some motivation to help power you through the start of another work week? We feel you, and with some stellar new pop tunes, we’ve got you covered.
These 10 tracks from artists like Dove Cameron, Bree Runway, Anthony Ramos and CHAI will get you energized to take on the week. Pop any of these gems into your personal playlists or scroll to the end of the post for a custom playlist of all 10.
Dove Cameron, “LazyBaby”
Disney Channel star Dove Cameron has made a few music overtures over the course of her career, but “LazyBaby” marks the first indisputable win of her recording career: a disco-pop gem that gains momentum and conviction as it progresses, “LazyBaby” quickly morphs the