OKAMOTO'S Release Young Japanese, Announce Complication

Japanese Funk-Rock Band
OKAMOTO'S
Release New Single “Young Japanese” on Jan 27th,
Announce “Complication” To Be Released February 24th

Japanese funk-rock band OKAMOTO'S released their energetic first single of 2021 “Young Japanese” last week on January 27th. The band have also announced their second single of the year, “Complication” to be released on February 24th. Additionally, they have announced English versions of both “Young Japanese” and “Complication” will follow, to be released on March 19th. Having spent 2020 celebrating their 10th anniversary with their first “best of” album 10'S BEST and then following that up by kick starting the next phase of their musical journey with the hit single Welcome My Friend and an EP of the same name, the four-piece are looking to continue to build on that success with these new tracks. “Young Japanese” captures lead singer Shō Okamoto's experience as a young person in Japan, while the contemplative “Complication” takes the band into heavier rock territory.

The artwork for both “Young Japanese” and “Complication” was created by Japanese designer MA1LL.

“This song is about ‘complicated things’, it might be your relationship with someone, or it might be something else going on in around the world. These strings that tie you up tight are not always easy or simple to get out of or remedy, and that can make you feel blue. It's a rock anthem for 2021!”

-Shō Okamoto (Vocals)

Listen to “Young Japanese” here!

[Bio]

Dubbed “the Japanese Red Hot Chili Peppers” by Japanese media and fans alike, OKAMOTO'S is an energetic funk-rock four-piece from Tokyo, Japan, formed by a group of friends from junior high school: Shō Okamoto (vocals), Koki Okamoto (guitar), Hama Okamoto (bass), and Reiji Okamoto (drums). Their name is a tribute to the avant-garde artist Taro Okamoto and the legendary punk band Ramones, whom they both highly respect. The band burst onto the scene in 2010, making their debut age 18 years old, and have since released 9 singles and 8 albums to date.

The band themselves cite RHCP as an important influence, along with The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Stooges, and of course The Ramones. They've also performed with legendary rock acts such as The Verbs and Paul Weller for their Japan tours, and continue to merge generations and music genres by collaborating with a wide range of artists, including writing songs for DISH//, Kanjani8, and more recently working with rappers Gottz, Tohji, and Shurkn Pap on the OBKR/Yaffle remix of their song “ART(FCO2811)” off of their 2019 record BOY.

In 2020, the quartet released their first “best of” compilation 10'S BEST in April, followed by the 6 track EP Welcome My Friend, featuring the titular hit song, in August. Most recently, they kicked off the new year with the release of their latest single “Young Japanese”, and are looking forward to releasing more new music throughout the year, as well as touring and performing in front of a live audience as soon as that is possible again.

Each of the members is highly active outside of their work as a band as well, Koki having released his solo debut album GIRL in 2019, and Sho having released his first solo singles in 2020 (collaborations with Japanese hiphop artist Pecori and AAAMYYY of psychedelic pop band Tempalay). Hama frequently collaborates with other artists, while Reiji is an active DJ spinning at many popular nightclubs in Tokyo.

PRAISE FOR “Young Japanese”

“With their latest effort, OKAMOTO'S seamlessly fuse funk, alt, and indie for a cutting edge jam that overflows with personality” – Earmilk

“As the name suggests, this is a youthful celebration of rock imbued with both American and Japanese influences – quite a find.” – Alt77