Pop-punk – Page 2 – 7th Level Music

Review: CHAI – Wink

It’s entirely possible that CHAI has been having more fun than anyone else in rock, Japan, or even the world for the last few years. Each of their albums, Punk, Pink, and now Wink, is pop-punk / electro perfection and all of them are brimming with positivity.

Wink continues the trend and starts a new one for the band – collaborations. Ric Wilson, YMCK, and Mndsgn all appear on the album to join the fun. The first track, “Donuts Mind If I Do” is a song about aging gracefully and eating donuts. What’s not to like (especially with that Earth, Wind & Fire-like groove)? “Maybe Chocolate Chips” (featuring Mr. Wilson, whom they met at Chicago’s Pitchfork Music Festival) posits the theory that a birthmark on your body might be a tasty treat.

“It’s okay. Everything is okay.”, CHAI sings on “ACTION” – a sharp dance track inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement that lets us know that we can change dour circumstances by, if nothing else, getting up and deciding to do something. The electro-bass slides into near-goth industrial territory for a great effect. Speaking of dancing, just keep at it during “END” – a bouncy, dance-punk cut with the band yelling “Shut up!” at their doubters and haters and throwing in rap verses because they damn well can.

“PING PONG” (with YMCK), with its video game sounds and aerobic workout beats, is one of the best dance tracks of 2021 and is a song about playing ping pong after spending a day at a spa. The world needs more songs like this, not to mention a day at the spa. I beg to differ with “Nobody Knows We Are Fun,” a song in which CHAI claims no one realizes they’re cool and worth inviting to the party, because (as I mentioned earlier) CHAI are having more fun than 90% of the planet.

“It’s Vitamin C” has a bit of a slow-jam groove to it as “It’s good for you, it’s good for me, it’s good for the body,” they sing, and I have a feeling that their lyrics about orange juice are a metaphor for…ahem, something else. “IN PINK” (with Mndsgn) blends electro-pop with P-funk. The lazy beat of “KARAAGE” is hypnotic and, let’s face it, sexy.

“Miracle” has some thick bass to go along with its booty-shaking beats and sunshine lyrics. “Wish Upon a Star” is another R&B-like jam with soft organ tones and subdued beats. The closer, “Salty,” is about fond memories – sometimes rediscovered through food (one of CHAI’s favorite subjects).

Wink is a bit stripped-down compared to CHAI’s first two records, but is no less fun than them. As always, CHAI deliver uplifting music when we need it most.

Keep your mind open.

[Why not subscribe while you’re here?]

[Thanks to Jacob at Pitch Perfect PR.]

CHAI get bouncy on “Ping Pong” – one of the best singles of the year so far.

Japanese quartet CHAI present a new single/video, “PING PONG!,” from their forthcoming album, WINK, out May 21st on Sub Pop. The track is a laser beam ode to a social activity that CHAI love but cannot currently partake in. In Japan, CHAI would often play ping pong after visits to the public hot springs, called onsen. “PING PONG!” also features YMCK, who brought a gaming feel to the production, which CHAI wanted to match.“

CHAI elaborate: “We’re channeling our inner playful selves, challenging ourselves to fun, and bringing you that nostalgic-feel with this song! There’s just something about old video games that’s super cute, a little tacky, yet at the same time fancy. Something that you think is “old-school” but at the same time super refreshing. YMCK collaborated with us on this and created the ultimate 8bit World of CHAI!”

“The theme for PING PONG is exactly as is, ‘ping pong.’ In Japanese culture, there’s this routine where Hot Springs or ‘onsen’ and playing PING PONG go hand in hand.
When the four of us hit the hot springs, we always wear a Yukata (unlined Summer kimono), drink a cup of milk, and go right into some PING PONG! It’s very Japanese, something we don’t think exists overseas and that’s exactly what we want to share! You can hear it in the lyrics and you can feel it in the music video!”

YMCK adds: “It was our first time creating something from start to finish remotely but everything turned out amazing with each member’s character shining through!
Don’t miss this ever-so free and forever dancing world of CHAI! “
WATCH CHAI’S VIDEO FOR “PING PONG!”

CHAI is MANA (lead vocals and keys) and KANA (guitar), drummer YUNA, and bassist-lyricist YUUKI. Following the release of 2019’s PUNK, CHAI’s adventures took them around the world, playing their high-energy and buoyant shows. They took quarantine as an opportunity to shake up their process and bring their music somewhere thrillingly new. Rather than having maximalist recordings like in the past, CHAI instead focused on crafting the slightly-subtler and more introspective kinds of songs they enjoy listening to at home—where, for the first time, they recorded all of the music. WINK is also the first CHAI album to feature contributions from outside producers (Mndsgn, YMCK) as well as Ric Wilson. They draw R&B and hip-hop into their mix (Mac Miller, the Internet, and Brockhampton were on their minds) of dance-punk and pop-rock, all while remaining undeniably CHAI.
WATCH THE “NOBODY KNOWS WE’RE FUN” VIDEO

WATCH THE “MAYBE CHOCOLATE CHIPS” (FEAT. RIC WILSON) VIDEO

WATCH THE “ACTION” VIDEO

WATCH THE “DONUTS MIND IF I DO” VIDEO

WATCH THE “PLASTIC LOVE” VIDEO

PRE-ORDER WINK

Keep your mind open.

[Bounce on over to the subscription box while you’re here.]

[Thanks to Jacob at Pitch Perfect PR.]

CHAI claims “Nobody Knows We Are Fun.” I don’t believe them.

Japanese quartet CHAI reveal a new single/video, “Nobody Knows We Are Fun,” from their forthcoming album, WINK, out May 21st on Sub Pop. It’s the third single off of the album released thus far, following “Maybe Chocolate Chips” (Feat. Ric Wilson) and “ACTION.” CHAI are known for their fun, vibrant music videos, and “Nobody Knows We Are Fun” is no exception.

Directed by Hideto Hotta, the video is cinematic and polished, showing the band adorned in colorful outfits and settings. The track was inspired by an at-home activity: YUUKI was watching 2019’s Booksmart when she had the idea for the song. (The movie’s whip smart protagonists decide to attend a party before high school graduation after realizing, “Nobody knows we’re fun!”) “I thought, ‘We, CHAI, can really relate to that scene,” YUUKI said of the song, which the band describe as “a mix of screaming our annoyances—why don’t you guys notice us!—while trying to be cute and sexy.”

Let’s check in with CHAI and see what they have to say about the song:

“It’s like ‘Nobody Knows We Are Fun,’ right?!”
“Seriously! Not cool!”
“Perhaps they underestimate us? ♡”
“Or maybe they are like ‘don’t be a show off!’”
“Say what you want! What matters is that despite always being ourselves and never changing, we are still the most FUN!”
“Totally!! ♡♡”
“It’s that type of song! Take a listen and loosen up♡”

WATCH CHAI’S VIDEO FOR “NOBODY KNOWS WE’RE FUN”

CHAI is MANA (lead vocals and keys) and KANA (guitar), drummer YUNA, and bassist-lyricist YUUKI. Following the release of 2019’s PUNK, CHAI’s adventures took them around the world, playing their high-energy and buoyant shows. Like all musicians, CHAI spent 2020 forced to rethink the fabric of their work and lives. They took this as an opportunity to shake up their process and bring their music somewhere thrillingly new. Rather than having maximalist recordings like in the past, CHAI instead focused on crafting the slightly-subtler and more introspective kinds of songs they enjoy listening to at home—where, for the first time, they recorded all of the music. They draw R&B and hip-hop into their mix (Mac Miller, the Internet, and Brockhampton were on their minds) of dance-punk and pop-rock, all while remaining undeniably CHAI.

WINK is also the first CHAI album to feature contributions from outside producers (Mndsgn, YMCK) as well as Ric Wilson. This impulse towards connection with others is in WINK’s title, too. After the “i” of PINK and the “u” of PUNK—which represented the band’s act of introducing themselves, and then of centering their audiences—they have come full circle with the “we” of WINK. In that act of opening themselves up, CHAI grew into their best work: “This album showed us, we’re ready to do more.”
WATCH CHAI’S VIDEO FOR “MAYBE CHOCOLATE CHIPS” (FEAT. RIC WILSON)

WATCH THE “ACTION” VIDEO

WATCH THE “DONUTS MIND IF I DO” VIDEO

WATCH THE “PLASTIC LOVE” VIDEO

PRE-ORDER WINK

Keep your mind open.

[Subscribing is fun.]

[Thanks to Jim at Pitch Perfect PR.]