The sixth Spotify Early Noise Night, an event featuring up-and-coming artists promoted by Spotify, one of the world's largest music streaming services, was held on June 15th.



Linked to the Spotify playlist of the same name, the event aims to introduce promising newcomers from Japan to a wider audience. With an affordable admission fee of just 1,000 yen, the event has always attracted attention, especially from young music listeners. This year's event will be held in Osaka for the first time, and will be the first all-night event. In addition to the six live acts - SIRUP, the engy, Attractions, Mukai Taichi, Akko Gorilla, and AFRICA - the DJ was DAWA, manager of FLAKE RECORDS, a record shop trusted by indie listeners, especially in the Kansai region, and the MCs were Kawashima Natsumi and Obata Takuto from FM802, which is also a major player in the Kansai music scene, creating a truly exciting night.

■SIRUP

After DAWA's vinyl-focused DJ set, SIRUP took the stage first. He kicked off the night with "Synapse," a track produced by TOKYO RECORDINGS, led by Nariaki Obukuro, who has been acclaimed for his collaborations with Hikaru Utada. He and his bandmates performed a string of popular tracks in perfect harmony. The new song "Isshun," played midway through the set, is a funky, disco-style number that hints at the possibility of becoming a new SIRUP anthem. The audience swayed to the groove created by the band's live sound, which at times incorporated flute and saxophone. The set ended with "SWIM," the most played song on Spotify in SIRUP's discography.

■the engy

The second act was the Kyoto-based four-piece band the engy. They introduced the audience with "She Makes Me Wonder," a track from their debut EP, "the engy," released last year and also featured on the 7-inch "Say It" released in May. Their low-key, robust groove filled the venue. Though the tempo was slow, the performance conveyed a deep energy. Vocalist Yamaji's performance was also impressive, sometimes playing guitar and sometimes hyping up the audience with a handheld microphone. While their sound is strongly influenced by black music, they avoid easy familiarity or flashiness—their hard-core approach no doubt captivated many in the audience.

■Attractions

Next on stage was Attractions, a five-member band from Fukuoka that's garnering attention not only for their music but also for their stylish looks. As soon as the curtain rose on their set, they instantly captured the atmosphere with their danceable yet tight band sound. While centered around the UK and US indie rock of the 2000s and beyond, their cross-disciplinary sensibility, freely moving between electronic influences and straightforward rock numbers, is truly contemporary. Vocalist URO's smooth pronunciation of English lyrics and his demeanor were truly impressive, and their free-spirited attitude of enjoying music was contagious to the audience. They performed a series of anthemic numbers, including the just-released "Leilah" and last year's "Knock Away," and ended with a moving performance of "Escapist," in which they spoke about the friends they've made through music.

■ Taichi Mukai

Taichi Mukai, singer-songwriter and model, made a dashing entrance with the intro to "FREER," the song used in the Galaxy Note8 commercial. Making his second appearance at "Spotify Early Noise Night," he then performed "FLY," produced by Kai Takahashi of LUCKY TAPES. The excitement in the venue instantly rose. Despite the minimal lineup this time, Mukai's vocals and expressive performance were more powerful than ever. Even though the clock was already pointing to midnight, the audience responded with a reaction that seemed to say they'd been waiting for this performance. They showed off their mellow side with "Nemuranai Machi" and "Slow Down," before slowly building up the excitement with "Great Yard." They then performed the just-released tofubeats-produced track "Siren," and ended the night with the positive vibe-filled "Sora," bringing the show to a grand finale for the umpteenth time.

■Akko Gorilla

With Nirvana playing as the background music, Akko Gorilla appeared in a shopping cart, revealing that she had a broken left leg. She clambered up onto a ladder and announced, "It's Akko Gorilla. I broke my leg. How are you all doing in Osaka?" The crowd responded with thunderous cheers. Incidentally, the reason the background music was Nirvana was because the band's frontman, Kurt Cobain, was riding the shopping cart. Accompanied by the solid performance of her familiar backing band, BNNZ, Akko Gorilla delivered a series of tight raps that didn't hint at her injury. She showed off her signature interaction with the audience in "Denkousekka," and collaborated with Mukai Taichi on "Guerrilla," which was also used in a Spotify TV commercial. She also included some rap from her band members, which has become a staple, and finished off her set with a swift performance of her major debut track "Yuyū," and "Ultra Gender," a collaboration with Nagahara Manatsu that features a very characteristic reference to gender.

■AFRICA

And it was already dawn. The final act of the night was AFRICA, a rising star in the Kansai scene, who will be releasing their mini-album "Desert Lovers" in July. Their simple vocals, which seem to cherish the sound of the Japanese language, and their expansive band sound were endlessly evocative. They evoked a sense of escapism, making you forget you were in the bustling Shinsaibashi district of Osaka. They played a light and airy rock number that had the audience dancing along, and during the MC they introduced merchandise from Scoobie Do, a band they admire, drawing laughter from the audience. They finished with "Yorokobi no Wa," a song whose music video was released last year and will be included on their new album. The soundscape evokes the grandeur of nature, making it the perfect number to close out the morning as the sun began to peek through, filling the venue with a sense of euphoria.