17/10/2025

FRIDAY | OCT 17, 2025

23

LYFE

Sekai No Owari is a four-member Japanese pop band.

Sekai No Owari makes Malaysian comeback

JAPANESE-AUSTRALIAN singer, songwriter and producer Joji has released Pixelated Kisses , his first single since the third studio album Smithereens ’s release in 2022. Entirely written, produced and recorded by Joji, Pixelated Kisses once again sees Joji experimenting with his own sound. Joji’s pared-down vocals and an indelible hook unite with a gritty trap beat for a masterclass on the art of simplicity. The resulting product is a haunting, moody and indelible track. The single comes off the back of Smithereens , which featured the RIAA 2× platinum song Glimpse of Us , which also nabbed the top spot of Spotify’s Global 50 ranking. Prior to it was Nectar in 2020 and his debut Ballads 1 in 2018, which included the RIAA-certified 5× platinum single Slow Dancing in the Dark . In support of these projects, he has toured internationally and performed at major festivals including Coachella, Lollapalooza and Reading & Leeds, along with a scheduled performance for Malaysia’s Good Vibes Fest 2024 prior to its cancellation. Joji unveils Pixelated Kisses Joji’s new single hints at a possible incoming fourth album. – PIC BY EVERS PUND

o Group plays mix of ballads, upbeat tracks

J APANESE band Sekai No Owari recently performed in Kuala Lumpur as part of its Phoenix Asia Tour. The concert took place at Zepp Kuala Lumpur, marking the band’s first show in Malaysia since its 2015 MTV World Stage appearance. The group, also known internationally as End of the World, performed a mix

Fans at Zepp Kuala Lumpur showing their effusive love for the band.

of emotional ballads and upbeat tracks, including Anti-Hero and SOS from the Attack on Titan films. The Kuala Lumpur show

was one of several stops on the tour, which also included Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore.

DJ Love, the band’s DJ performing in his iconic clown mask.

The band notes its fondness for anime.

Re:inc. aims to create songs that empower people to embrace their own choices.

Good Kid releases bittersweet anthem Wall TORONTO indie rock band Good Kid has returned with its new single Wall , a bittersweet, high-energy anthem about the unexpected gut-punch of running into the ex that almost became “the one”. and unpredictable. “This is the most uninhibited and unfiltered we’ve ever been. We wanted the song to feel alive, even imperfect, because that’s what makes them real,” said the band. In keeping with Good Kid’s

Japanese group drops cover of Plastic Love JAPAN’S next-generation girl group Re:inc. breathes new life into Mariya Takeuchi’s timeless Plastic Love . Re:inc. is a seven-member answer” and living creatively, at their own pace, while respecting others’ paths as well. Originally released in the

1980s, Plastic Love stands as one of the most iconic songs in city pop history, beloved across generations and around the world. Countless artistes have reinterpreted the song, but all eyes are now on how Re:inc. will bring their own artistry to it. By honouring the original’s timeless atmosphere while infusing it with their distinct creative vision, Re:inc. bridges classic and contemporary city pop for Japanese and global listeners. This cover marks not only a tribute to a genre that continues to captivate worldwide, but also a statement of Re:inc.’s creative identity – one that celebrates freedom, individuality and authenticity.

collective consisting of five performers focused on dance and vocals, and two members who specialise in visual, art, and design work. Beyond the framework of a traditional girl group, Re:inc.

Written with its signature mix of hook-driven riffs and clever lyricism, Wall captures the

innovative spirit, the band turned its latest video into a one-of-a-kind fan experience. Through a contest, one lucky fan was animated into the story, forever immortalised in

Artwork for Wall .

awkward armour we put on to appear unbothered, even as the smallest reminder can send us spiralling into what-ifs. “ Wall is a story about running into your ex – the ex. It’s about putting up walls, pretending you’re fine, even though a simple encounter at a vintage clothing shop can stir up everything you thought you left behind,” the band shared. Lyrically raw and musically explosive, Wall also marks a new chapter for Good Kid, one that pushes its sound into bolder, grittier territory. Fans will hear the band leaning harder into visceral vocals, chaotic guitar solos and production choices that feel unfiltered

The group has seven members.

the Good Kid universe. Speaking on the new video, the band explained: “Working again with animator Xray Alpha Charlie, we wanted Wall to feel like an anime opening for our universe, a mix of friendship, music and everyday life in Neo-To , until everything suddenly unravels. “As a band we grew up obsessed with animated series and anime... the way they could make you believe in impossible worlds and the people fighting to protect them. Wall is our way of capturing the joy, the stakes and the magic of the anime we grew up on.”

explores what it means to be creators – artistes who express themselves freely across music and other mediums. In an age overflowing with information and choices – often called a “stress society” – Re:inc. aims to create songs that empower people to embrace their own choices rather than simply go with the flow. Through their music and lyrics, they embody a “stress-free” way of life: unbound by the idea of a single “right