Japanese rock sensation Yojiro Noda, best known as the singer-songwriter and guitarist of the internationally acclaimed band Radwimps, has just unveiled his first solo album, "Wonder Boy's Akumu Club."

Since 2001, he has released numerous hit songs with his band, such as the soundtrack for the popular animated film, "Your Name," which includes songs "Suzume," "Sparkle," and "Dream Lantern." In 2024, he released "The Parades (Original Soundtrack)" and singles "Evergreen," "Last Love Letter," and "Pain Killer."

Earlier this year, the musician officially started his solo career as Yojiro Noda and released the said 13-track hip-hop/rap album.

In an interview with Music Geek, he disclosed that the solo album preparation commenced after Holly, the beatmaker, reached out to collaborate. Regarding his previous solo project, Illion, he clarified that it was relatively experimental and did not resonate with him much as an individual, unlike the current solo project.Besides, the singer's recent work highlights his distinct blend of rapping and singing. In particular, Noda claimed that words are comparable to instruments, and rapping enables him to convey his message eloquently. Likewise, he mentioned that having over 20 years of experience as a band member allowed him to explore and integrate various elements to preserve his craft's appeal.

Without a doubt, this was evident in his latest album, "Wonder Boy's Akumu Club," where he also candidly admitted that an element such as 'voice change' can be tricky when performing live on stage. Nevertheless, he emphasized the euphoria of experiencing the entire process, from songwriting to performing.

Further discussing his album, he recounted moments during the preparations, "I had the luxury of spending about two years to complete this album, so I was able to make adjustments as I went along. I saw the big picture and balanced out the album at the end."

The singer also mentioned that, unlike his work in Radwimps, he could concentrate more on the lyrics, rap, and melody since Holly preestablished the song's foundation.

He added, "Something inside that I didn't think was necessary to put into words naturally started coming out."

Indeed, the record paints a clearer picture of Yojiro Noda as a musician through his electrifying and hypnotic sounds. Moreover, the artist explained the album title, stating that there was constant ambivalence whenever he created music.

Consequently, he added, "It feels like there is no border between a dream and reality, and you're in both a happy world and a nightmare at the same time; that strange feeling became the title." Aside from this, the album character Akumu-kun is an essential part of the project, explaining how symbolic and iconic the character turned out to be and that it's comparable to his alter-ego.

Despite encountering challenges such as dwindling motivation, he claimed that making the record was delightful for the most part.

"I create music because I love it, but completing it always comes with pain. Those are a set. You can't complete the process with just pleasure," he said.

For instance, the soloist shared how he struggled with the song "Hazy Sigh," which he eventually considered a distinctive piece on the album. Another notable composition was "Stress Me," where he confidently expressed himself by composing an authentic rap. Additionally, he mentioned "Pipe Dream" as another track he enjoyed preparing as the 70's style was relatively new to him.

Breaking down the album further, the singer mentioned fellow collaborators kZm and J.I.D, with Peterparker69 and lilbesh ramko, as notable artists that inspire the "Wonder Boy's Akumu Club." Sincerely, he commended the rising young talents for their admirable passion for creating a new genre of music.

Along with this, creating the album brought to light Noda's desire to continue pursuing music.

"I'm excited to keep going with this journey in music. I've already been in the music industry for more than 20 years, so maybe people think I'm on a 'veteran stage,' but I still have so much more I want to accomplish and so much I haven't done," the musician stated.

Despite the global success, Noda humbly revealed how shocked he was by the immense support he received from listeners across regions. Furthermore, the singer assured his audience that he'll continue to focus on music with pure energy and heart, pursuing art beyond his imagination.

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