I created the music video for “True Self,” a track by WHISPER OUT LOUD, an alternative R&B/rock band based in Tokyo. For this project, I took on the major challenge of handling every stage of the video production myself, including directing, shooting (including aerial footage using a drone), lighting, editing, 3DCG, and VFX. All filming was done guerrilla-style outdoors, using a run-and-gun approach. Production was carried out with extremely limited resources: the shooting period was only one day, and the editing period was about two weeks. In particular, I used Blender in the 3DCG/VFX process to achieve large-scale, original visual expressions. This work expanded the possibilities of solo video production.

This work is set in 2020, a year in which, due to the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), not only the Olympics but also many activities and events around the world were restricted. Its theme is the “Great Cosmic Robot Festival,” created to honor the disappointment of all the festivals, celebrations, and events that regrettably had to be canceled. In addition, this work is inspired by Japanese festivals. Festival culture, rooted in the history and traditions of local communities, has continued for about 400 years, carrying a variety of wishes such as “a bountiful harvest,” “family safety,” and “disaster prevention prayers” to protect against earthquakes, epidemics, and other calamities. Its form varies from region to region: in some places, people dance while praying to the gods; in others, they carry portable shrines and parade through the town. What they all share, however, is a wish for peace. However, in 2020, almost all festivals and ceremonies were canceled, including those whose origins lay in driving away epidemics. This music video contains BATTLES’ and AC-bu’s wish to replace the festivals that were unfortunately canceled, and to give courage and hope to music fans and festival organizers around the world, allowing them to enjoy themselves even just a little.

Wednesday Campanella released the music video for “Shichifukujin” today at 7:29 a.m. on Saturday, July 29. The song is also used as the CM song for Pizza Hut’s “Hut Melts.” The track is included on their second EP, RABBIT STAR ★, which was digitally released on Wednesday, April 26 and physically released on Wednesday, May 3. It features a memorable riff built around heavily used voice samples with a deep, gritty tone, and it was one of the songs that got the crowd going at the recently held RABBIT STAR ★ TOUR, thanks to the driving force of its bass and beat. The music video released today is a sequel to the “Momotaro” music video released during the Kom_i era, when she served as the original lead vocalist and performer. It was directed by OTAMIRAMS, who also handled the “Momotaro” MV. In the story, the “Seven Lucky Gods” go up against an “evil organization? The Gikichiku Party” in an election. And then, in a surprising twist, it is revealed that Hoteison was actually the former Momotaro... Whether true or false, this comical yet message-driven work can be enjoyed as an alternate story that expands beyond the song “Shichifukujin.” At the end, the three letters “to be continued” appear once again; the truth behind it is currently unknown, but it leaves us looking forward to what comes next.

Canigou "Tape"MV