In the music industry around the world, boy group and girl group members are known to leave their groups to pursue a career in music or acting, sometimes both. J-pop is not an exception to this and in fact, it is a pretty common path especially if someone was a part of a girl group. From Namie Amuro to ano, these solo endeavors can bring these newly independent acts into the spotlight. While Amuro has retired from her successful solo career, ano has just started hers.
A member of the alternative idol group You'll Melt More! from 2013 to 2019, she later made her solo debut in 2020 with the digital single “Delete” going major in April 2022 with the single “Aida” under the well-known record label Toy’s Factory. In November same year, she released “Chu, Taiyousei”, which became her breakthrough song in Japan and is known internationally amongst anime fans from its use as the 7th ending song of the popular series Chainsaw Man. Her first solo album which featured the song ranked #9 at the Oricon Album charts and she also performed it at the 74th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen that December, signaling her rising popularity.
She is known for her cutesy voice with nasally overtones and uniquely quirky persona seen both in her music videos (akin to Kyary Pamyu Pamyu) and Japanese variety television appearances, and embraces this wholeheartedly while forging her unique identity as singer and a celebrity. In addition to her solo work, she formed the four-member punk rock band I’s in 2021 to debut in August of the same year. They released two singles and a few EPs, eventually disbanding by the end of 2024. Although there are singers with a band of their own on the side such as Sheena Ringo’s Tokyo Jihen, ano’s time with I’s became a testament of her musical versatility.
Despite being a pop album, BONE BORN BOMB experiments with different sounds. From dance music to punk rock, it has it all. One such example, “Zetzetzetzettai Seiiki” features YOASOBI's Lilas Ikuta. They sing (and scream) their heart out in this pop metal number and seem to be in harmony, despite confusing moments discerning who is singing what even though both of them have a distinct vocal color in their own work. “Bubble Me Face” is a pop rock song with a trap beat in parts and a unique background vocal, giving it a cutesy vibe. “Hone Baki☆Yugure Diary” also embraces the metal pop style (she also screams here), this time as a solo endeavor. “Iinazukkyun” follows the standard J-pop formula with a traditional Chinese music touch it to give it an exotic flavor. “Loli Rockyun Robo♡” is an upbeat and cute electropop song. “Aishiteru, Nantene” is a basic but good dance music track with piano melodies throughout. “Kono Sekai ni Futari Dake”, “Shakai no Mado”, and “Swim in Suimin Tokyo” are all pop rock numbers, the latter incorporating some EDM elements for additional flavor. “Happy Lucky Chappie” is a rock track that picks up the tempo at the chorus while “YOU&Ai Heaven” is an acoustic pop song with spoken word parts giving it a unique sound. Closing out the album is “Past die Future”, a punk rock song from her time with I’s.
From loving someone, to complaining about the rotten earth, to the extent of wanting go to heaven, as a lyricist, ano is able to write upbeat and positive stuff with utmost joy as well as treating heavy topics with compassion while conveying them in a relatable way. She composes many of songs for this album as well, mixing genres and creating songs which can be listened to multiple times. Other tracks being handled by frequent collaborator Taku Inoue, alongside contributions from TK and Sekaikan Ozaki.
BONE BORN BOMB is delightful album, successfully showing ano’s versatility as both singer and songwriter. With experience in music, acting, and variety shows, she forges an identity of her own, making her stand out in an industry where someone like her often has to mold themselves in a certain way to survive. Her music might not be everyone’s cup of tea, nevertheless she persists to make something which sounds true to her.
