NiEW’s “exPoP!!!!!” Announces Free Lineup for August 30

The free-entry music event ‘exPoP!!!!! Vol.165’ hosted by NiEW is set to take place on August 30 (Friday) at Spotify O-nest in Shibuya, Tokyo.

Sponsored by the music distribution service TuneCore Japan, this event will feature five acts: Emerald, Fried Banana Shop, STAP Sigh Boys, Cosmic Mauve, and DinoJr. (band set).

Emerald, a six-member band formed in 2011, blends jazz, neo-soul, AOR, and Japanese pop to create a new wave of city pop music. Their debut mini-album “On Your Mind” featured the lead track “Moonlight,” which received extensive radio play. They also performed at NiEW’s ‘TAMATAMA FESTIVAL’ in 2023. Their latest single “in the mood” is currently airing as the ending theme for TV Tokyo’s ‘Moyamoya Samma~zu 2,’ and they are set to release their first new album in seven years, ‘Neo Oriented,’ on August 28, 2024.

Fried Banana Shop, formed in 2021 by Yoji (Sax), Tomo (Gt), and Ryuju (Dr), mixes jazz, R&B, funk, and rock influences into a unique indie pop sound. They have collaborated with vocalists and rappers, showcasing a genre-crossing musical style. Their debut EP “Tomorrow is too much for me” was released in May, and they perform primarily at club events in Tokyo, embracing a wide range of performance styles.

STAP Sigh Boys, an alternative/rock act based in Tokyo but originally from Ireland, performed at the 2021 ‘FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL’ Rookie A Go-Go stage despite having never played live before. They released their debut album ‘Hey’ in November of the same year. Their performances often feature surreal and interactive elements, including shadow puppetry and ventriloquism.

Cosmic Mauve, a summer band from Machida City, Tokyo, consists of five childhood friends who love summer. Influenced by city pop, soul, rock, and country, they express the joy of summer and the comfort of daily life with upbeat sounds. They have released a series of singles and a 7-inch record, with activities intensifying as summer progresses.

DinoJr., an alternative R&B artist/producer with Taiwanese and Japanese heritage, handles nearly all aspects of his music, including instrumentals, track-making, and art direction. His work features a blend of Japanese groove, West Coast indie R&B, and alternative hip-hop. He has produced music for Rakuten Fashion’s commercials and provided tracks for New Balance. His participation in ‘exPoP!!!!!’ is supported by TuneCore Japan and will feature a band set performance.

Additionally, ‘exPoP!!!!!’ will collaborate with ‘JAPANESE CURRY FESTIVAL 2024,’ ongoing in the Shibuya area until September 8. The event will feature a fusion curry dish, ‘Hardcore Pork Tongue Curry,’ created by CURRY THE HARDCORE from Zoshigaya, Tokyo.

Tickets for ‘exPoP!!!!! Vol.165’ are available for reservation on the official site (requires a 2-drink order). The event will also be live-streamed on YouTube.