In this music column series, we ask music and film personality Leila Okuhama, who hosts festivals and music shows around the world, about artists to watch this month.
With the proliferation of streaming services, we now live in an age where we can keep up with music trends both domestically and internationally in real time. Who are the hottest artists dominating Spotify's top charts (most played songs) and viral charts (songs currently trending on social media)? This time, we asked her to name three of the best artists in the Western music scene of 2019!
Every December, we often see projects that look back on the past year. Naturally, it's a time to reflect on your own past year, and today we'll be introducing some of the most memorable artists in the Western music scene this year, the last of the 2010s.
We've narrowed it down to three artists, so of course that alone isn't enough to talk about this year, but take this opportunity to check them out along with their albums.
When it comes to the face of the music scene in 2019, it's undoubtedly Billie Eilish. Her presence has been a hot topic since last year, and in March she finally released her long-awaited first album, "When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?", which reached number one in 11 countries. She's currently enjoying a huge breakthrough across generations, becoming Spotify's "Most Streamed Album of the Year."
Personally, this was the album I listened to the most this year, and I was glued to her every move. When I first visited Japan at Summer Sonic in 2018 and witnessed her talent in person, I was overcome with goosebumps, anticipating something great was about to happen.
She's been nominated in all four major categories for the 62nd Grammy Awards, which will be held in January next year, breaking the previous record held by Mariah Carey as the youngest nominee. Finneas, Billie's brother and only collaborator, who produces all of her albums, has also been attracting attention, having been nominated in five Grammy categories. The two have been nominated in a total of 11 categories, which is an amazing achievement.
The music they've created together as a brother and sister duo features a dark and downbeat sound, a dangerous yet beautiful worldview, and an introverted atmosphere. She's a new generation icon who is breaking down the traditional framework of mainstream pop music and forging a new path with undeniable momentum. Her lyrics and comments, which address social concerns such as mass shootings, prescription drug overdoses, and global warming, often make the news, making her a must-see, even though she only turned 18 this December.
Rex Orange County, a new generation singer-songwriter from London, has been making waves in the music scene. His real name is Alex O'Connor, and he is 21 years old. He enrolled at a prestigious music school in the UK at the age of 16. A multi-instrumentalist playing drums, piano, and guitar, he caught the eye of Tyler, the Creator after releasing an album in 2017, and quickly gained attention when he contributed as a songwriter and singer to Tyler's work.
He came to Japan in 2018 to perform at Summer Sonic, and his performance became a hot topic. He has sublimated a variety of pop music from the 1950s to the present day, incorporating a hip-hop approach, and has captured the hearts of core music listeners with his sophisticated pop sensibility.
And Kanye West has been making waves in 2019. Earlier this year, there were rumors he might perform at Coachella in April, but news broke that he wasn't even on the lineup and the performance was canceled.
The reason for this was the massive set Kanye insisted on building just for the Coachella stage. Even with Kanye's request, it seems negotiations with the organizers fell through, as it would be difficult to set up such a large set. However, just before the event, it was announced that he would be performing at "Sunday Service."
This is an attempt to bring the gospel-inspired event Kanye has been hosting, which is invitation-only, to Coachella.
While headlining artists like Kanye typically perform in the evening, "Sunday Service" will start early Sunday morning. The stage was on a hill at the campsite, and featured a band dressed in matching purple, a choir, Kanye himself, and even Chance the Rapper and Kid Cudi. Watching the streamed performance, as is customary at Coachella, featured a unique view as if looking through a peephole (some even suggested it was a God's-eye view), making it a performance that stood out from the average live show, and it quickly spread on social media.
The audience was also incredibly impressive, including his wife Kim Kardashian, his mother Kris Jenner, his entire family, and even Justin Bieber and his wife. Thanks to this buzz, Kanye West's recent activities have spread around the world.
He declared, "I'm not going to make secular music anymore. I'm only going to do gospel music from now on," and released the gospel album "Jesus Is King" in October. Taking inspiration from Christianity, a theme closely tied to American life, the album reached No. 1 on the US charts. Though it's a gospel album, it's more than just classical, showcasing Kanye's true style. Even Japanese people unfamiliar with worship culture should be able to enjoy this uplifting feeling.
He released his follow-up album, "Jesus Is Born," this Christmas, and his creativity shows no signs of stopping.
He has also expressed his desire to run for president in 2024 and said he is considering changing his name to support that, so people are also curious about his activities outside of music.
Which artists captured your heart this year? Next year, we'll keep our antennae open and introduce you to great music from a wide range of genres. We look forward to your continued support in 2020!
With the proliferation of streaming services, we now live in an age where we can keep up with music trends both domestically and internationally in real time. Who are the hottest artists dominating Spotify's top charts (most played songs) and viral charts (songs currently trending on social media)? This time, we asked her to name three of the best artists in the Western music scene of 2019!
Leila Okuhama's Music Recommendations Vol. 8
__________________________________
Every December, we often see projects that look back on the past year. Naturally, it's a time to reflect on your own past year, and today we'll be introducing some of the most memorable artists in the Western music scene this year, the last of the 2010s.
We've narrowed it down to three artists, so of course that alone isn't enough to talk about this year, but take this opportunity to check them out along with their albums.
Billie Eilish
When it comes to the face of the music scene in 2019, it's undoubtedly Billie Eilish. Her presence has been a hot topic since last year, and in March she finally released her long-awaited first album, "When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?", which reached number one in 11 countries. She's currently enjoying a huge breakthrough across generations, becoming Spotify's "Most Streamed Album of the Year."
Personally, this was the album I listened to the most this year, and I was glued to her every move. When I first visited Japan at Summer Sonic in 2018 and witnessed her talent in person, I was overcome with goosebumps, anticipating something great was about to happen.
She's been nominated in all four major categories for the 62nd Grammy Awards, which will be held in January next year, breaking the previous record held by Mariah Carey as the youngest nominee. Finneas, Billie's brother and only collaborator, who produces all of her albums, has also been attracting attention, having been nominated in five Grammy categories. The two have been nominated in a total of 11 categories, which is an amazing achievement.
The music they've created together as a brother and sister duo features a dark and downbeat sound, a dangerous yet beautiful worldview, and an introverted atmosphere. She's a new generation icon who is breaking down the traditional framework of mainstream pop music and forging a new path with undeniable momentum. Her lyrics and comments, which address social concerns such as mass shootings, prescription drug overdoses, and global warming, often make the news, making her a must-see, even though she only turned 18 this December.
Rex Orange County
Rex Orange County, a new generation singer-songwriter from London, has been making waves in the music scene. His real name is Alex O'Connor, and he is 21 years old. He enrolled at a prestigious music school in the UK at the age of 16. A multi-instrumentalist playing drums, piano, and guitar, he caught the eye of Tyler, the Creator after releasing an album in 2017, and quickly gained attention when he contributed as a songwriter and singer to Tyler's work.
He came to Japan in 2018 to perform at Summer Sonic, and his performance became a hot topic. He has sublimated a variety of pop music from the 1950s to the present day, incorporating a hip-hop approach, and has captured the hearts of core music listeners with his sophisticated pop sensibility.
KANYE WEST
The reason for this was the massive set Kanye insisted on building just for the Coachella stage. Even with Kanye's request, it seems negotiations with the organizers fell through, as it would be difficult to set up such a large set. However, just before the event, it was announced that he would be performing at "Sunday Service."
This is an attempt to bring the gospel-inspired event Kanye has been hosting, which is invitation-only, to Coachella.
While headlining artists like Kanye typically perform in the evening, "Sunday Service" will start early Sunday morning. The stage was on a hill at the campsite, and featured a band dressed in matching purple, a choir, Kanye himself, and even Chance the Rapper and Kid Cudi. Watching the streamed performance, as is customary at Coachella, featured a unique view as if looking through a peephole (some even suggested it was a God's-eye view), making it a performance that stood out from the average live show, and it quickly spread on social media.
View this post on InstagramNew song called “Water”. text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"> A post shared by Kanye West (@kanyew.est) -
The audience was also incredibly impressive, including his wife Kim Kardashian, his mother Kris Jenner, his entire family, and even Justin Bieber and his wife. Thanks to this buzz, Kanye West's recent activities have spread around the world.
He declared, "I'm not going to make secular music anymore. I'm only going to do gospel music from now on," and released the gospel album "Jesus Is King" in October. Taking inspiration from Christianity, a theme closely tied to American life, the album reached No. 1 on the US charts. Though it's a gospel album, it's more than just classical, showcasing Kanye's true style. Even Japanese people unfamiliar with worship culture should be able to enjoy this uplifting feeling.
He released his follow-up album, "Jesus Is Born," this Christmas, and his creativity shows no signs of stopping.
He has also expressed his desire to run for president in 2024 and said he is considering changing his name to support that, so people are also curious about his activities outside of music.
Which artists captured your heart this year? Next year, we'll keep our antennae open and introduce you to great music from a wide range of genres. We look forward to your continued support in 2020!
The Viral Chart, which lets you find out the songs that are currently the hottest topics on social media around the world, is updated daily! Be sure to check it out.
【Profile】
Okuhama Leila
Music and film personality. Active in film stage greetings and as an MC for music programs. Currently writes for the new releases introduction column in the women's magazine "GINZA." Her hobby is attending music festivals overseas.
【Inquiries】
Spotify
www.spotify.com
Okuhama Leila
Music and film personality. Active in film stage greetings and as an MC for music programs. Currently writes for the new releases introduction column in the women's magazine "GINZA." Her hobby is attending music festivals overseas.
【Inquiries】
Spotify
www.spotify.com
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