For November 5th, HearJapan has two very special visual-kei releases for the fans.  The first being the new GaGaalinG mini-album entitled Alice (http://www.hearjapan.com/store/album_info/ALICE).  Alice is packed with 4 new songs and completes another addition to HearJapan’s visual-kei catalog thanks to all the user support we have been getting.  It is also a shift to a major label, UP-FRONT WORKS, and HearJapan is the first store that UP-FRONT will sell in the mp3 format in its history.  While HearJapan will soon be featuring more and more big name artists in the near future through legal downloads, HearJapan will still shine the spotlight on a lot of the great up and coming artists rising up out of Japan.

On November 5th, our other Visual-kei release will focus the light on one such band.  Although almost everything about the band is a dark secret, HearJapan is letting a little light shine through by offering their debut single on HearJapan for free.  That’s right.  All you have to do is register to HearJapan and download Kuroi Taiyou (http://www.hearjapan.com/store/album_info/Kuroi_Taiyou) by XodiacK (http://www.hearjapan.com/store/group/XodiacK) .  This free single will only be offered in a limited time so make sure you pick it up while it is still available.  The single will be taken down once the band reveals themselves to the world.  Also, by downloading the single you will get to see an as of yet unseen picture of the band that will blow you away.

HearJapan also has another visual-kei related announcement.  HearJapan has officially changed its policy in regards to upcoming visual-kei releases.  Before we would only add an album to our list once we had the songs and album artwork to upload.  This let everyone sample the music before it came out to help their purchasing decision.  However many users requested a form to preorder the album months in advance.  We are now offering the ability to do this.  We are starting with the upcoming D’espairsRay single “HORIZON” (http://www.hearjapan.com/store/album_info/Horizon).  You can preorder it now one month in advance for 10% off the normal price.

Tokyo, Japan- HearJapan is excited to announce the worldwide exclusive digital-only release of DuelJewel’s newest single “against” in high-quality DRM-Free mp3 format.  The new single will not be sold in CD format.  The band desired to share this single with its large international fan base and turned to HearJapan to make this happen.  After being one of the first j-rock bands to make the plunge and do extensive international tours, the band thought it would only be fitting to enable the fans to legally obtain their music.  Beyond their newest single “against” the band also decided to make their previous 7 releases available through HearJapan, as well as their highly anticipated upcoming album, “GLASSFIA”.  The single can be downloaded starting at midnight in Japan (that’s only in a few more hours).  Fans who purchase the single before midnight will be treated with a special 10% discount!

About “against”:
This release will be the single version of “against” which will also appear on the album as an album version. “against”, written by Shun, is a powerful track which touches all the right nerves. Some of the tracks highlights include a melodic chorus before a heavy buildup and furious screams along with deep and intricately crafted bass lines.

Download it here:
http://www.hearjapan.com/store/album_info/against
Download other DuelJewel albums:
http://www.hearjapan.com/store/group/Duel_Jewel

Tokyo, Japan-Ever heard of PERFUME?  No, I don’t mean the fragrance enhancing Eau de Toilette that you apply after showering, I mean the Japanese Electro-pop trio that has been taking the blogosphere by storm since their debut a few years back.  PERFUME is catchy, fun, danceable, and cute, but most of all it is well produced–which comes as no surprise considering their producers’ roots in the Electro-pop scene in Japan.  What, you say?  Are their really that many more Japanese groups with that  kind of sound?  Yep, and you’ve come to the right place to find them!  HearJapan.com is proud to announce we now carry 19 Electro-pop albums on 6 different labels–enough to give you a sample of the full spectrum of the sweet sounds of Japanese Electro-pop and help you became a bona-fide Japanese Electro-pop aficionado.

Fun Fact:  In Japan, Electro-pop is sometimes referred to as Pico Pop.

Let’s start with one of the true founders of the Japanese Electro-pop movement, Usagi-Chang Records.  This label led by Akira Suzuki has spawned some of the most influential Electro Pop artists in Electro-pop history.  Acts such as as YMCK, Macdonald Duck Eclair, and Sonic Coaster Pop.  Usagi-Chang Records offers such a vast collection of Electro-pop, that we recommend you start your Electro-pop exploration with an Usagi-Chang records compilation album: http://www.hearjapan.com/store/album_info/Usagi_Chang_Super_Star_Vol0001.  Not only does this feature music from all of Usagi-Chang Records artists but also other notable artists such as Motocompo, Plus-Tech Squeeze Box and The Aprils.  This compilation is significant because not only is it the first release from Japan’s first ever, solely Electro-pop label, but it signaled the solidification of Electro-pop as a genre, and opened the doors for all that came after it.

On the label Soflty!, the Aprils are another group we offer here on HearJapan we recommend you check out!  Both of their albums have been big sellers on HearJapan and for good reason, they are a really good group!  Another great act on Sofly! that is worth giving a listen to is Hazel Nuts Chocolate, whose popularity is probably rooted in their so-cute-you-can’t-stop-listening-vocals.  Check it out and you’ll see what we mean.

Dr. Usui is another artist you might dig.  A side project of one of the members of Motocompo, Dr.  Usui’s new album DATAJOCKEY has a much harder electronic sound than other artists in the genre. For those of you who are into acid grooves and thumping beats, we strongly recommend giving it a listen!  Dr. Usui recently had a successful tour of Britain that had droves of fans dancing along to every thump and beep.  From the same label, but practically from a different planet,  comes the all  female trio, Tokyo Pinsalocks.  Tokyo Pinsalocks are a bit on the lighter side,  with a moderate use of synthesizers and catchy melodies.

The latest addition to our Electro-pop collection is Eel http://www.hearjapan.com/store/album_info/keep_making_fun_of_me.   Eel was featured on the very first Usagi-Chang Records compilation 6 years ago, and has been exciting us ever since.  This intricate and mesmerizing album consists of 5 original songs and a cover of Kraftwerk’s  “we are the robots”.  At only 855 yen it is a good deal!  Check it out, you won’t be dissapointed!

For a list of all the great Japanese Electro-Pop albums on HearJapan, please check out HearJapan’s electropop genre page! http://www.hearjapan.com/store/genre?genre=22&sortby=1

HearJapan.com is proud to announce the new name of the band formerly known as Versailles in the United States.  As many of you already know, the band formerly known as Versailles was forced to change their name do to a legal reason in the United States.  After asking their fans for help in deciding a new name for the United States, the band received a mountain of submissions. By combining a few of the submissions, the addition of “Philharmonic Quintet” to the band name was decided by the band.  Thus, the official name of the band in the US is now “Versailles -Philharmonic Quintet-”.  The new name evokes two important aspects of the band.  The philharmonic aspect alludes to lovers of harmony and quintet alludes to the band’s five members.
Not only is HearJapan.com announcing the new name of the band, but is announcing the first single under the new band name entitled “Prince” can be downloaded from HearJapan for FREE.  HearJapan.com has released “Prince” worldwide exclusively through our download service on September 14th, 10:00 AM, Japan time.  Versailles -Philharmonic Quintet- is using this opportunity to thank all of the fans for their creative suggestions they received to help decide their new band name.  Not only will the fans of the band receive the single for free, but by downloading through HearJapan, fans will have a better chance of seeing Versailles -Philharmonic Quintet- play near them.  With every download the band is notified of the location of the downloader to aid in future tour planning purposes!
To download the new single for Free is very easy.  Simply go to http://www.hearjapan.com/store/album_info/PRINCE and follow the easy instructions.

Megamasso signs deal with HearJapan for new single and future
releases, exclusive bonus materials–emphasizes fan interaction

Tokyo, JP - August 4, 2008 - Megamasso is here! Where is here, you
might ask? HearJapan.com, that is, and in a BIG way, one could even
say a MEGA big way!
Megamasso, in a rejuvenated interest in developing stronger ties with
their dedicated worldwide fan base has inked a deal with HearJapan to
deliver not only their new singles and albums, but also exclusive
content, videos, lyric translations, and more!

When asked how they feel about their fans outside of Japan, former
Ayabie guitarist Ryouhei reflected for a moment before responding,
“our worldwide fans have been there for us throughout, and we want to
start to give back as much as they have given us. Sorry to have made
you guys wait! (Omatase-itashimasita!)”
It starts on Tuesday August 5th at midnight Japan time (11am EST)
with the release of one of Megamasso’s strongest maxi-singles to date,
“Beautiful Girl” (
http://www.hearjapan.com/store/album_info/Beautiful_Girl ).

Yes, that is the same date and time as the release of the new D’espairsRay
single “Kamikaze”, and you can get both together for under 10 US
dollars!

Back to Megamasso… “Beautiful Girl”, is the first of a two song
cycle about, you guessed it by the title, different types of women.
“I have explored all kinds of topics in my songwriting, but never the
concepts of women or relationships. You could say I built up so many
ideas surrounding it that it took two songs to get it all out!”,
Ryouhei commented in a conversation with HearJapan.

What does this new deal mean for fans of Visual-Kei worldwide? It
means that not only will information about Megamasso be available more
readily, faster, and completely in English, but interactions with the
band can be customized to the needs of the community. Want an
exclusive interview with Megamasso for your website? Send HearJapan
your questions and we will ask them, and translate the answers for
you. Want Megamasso to appear at the Anime convention you are
planning to attend? Request that the promoters of the convention
contact HearJapan at any address listed below! Have a silly, personal
question that you are dying to get an answer to? Let HearJapan know
and they’ll be sure to include it in the next of their regular
interviews to be conducted on the fans’ behalf. Bloggers in Japan (or
whom are visiting Japan), contact us to do a Megamasso live report!

“For HearJapan, communication between the artists and the fans is one
of our top priorities”, says HearJapan president Nathan Reaven, “check
out Megamasso and get involved”.

Megamasso email hotline: megamasso@hearjapan.com

ABOUT HEARJAPAN.COM: HearJapan (http://www.hearjapan.com) is a
digital music store specializing in Japanese music of all kinds. With
an easy to use English-language interface, an ever-expanding catalog,
and tons of exclusive content, HearJapan has become the preferred
source for music and information for Japanese music fans world-wide.

Megamasso Artist Profile: http://www.hearjapan.com/store/group/Megamasso
Megamasso New Single: http://www.hearjapan.com/store/album_info/Beautiful_Girl
D’espairsRay Artist profile: http://www.hearjapan.com/store/group/DespairsRay
D’espairsRay New Single: http://www.hearjapan.com/store/album_info/KAMIKAZE
Price: Megamasso’s “Beautiful Girl” is 3 tracks, 150 yen per track,
with a discount for purchasing the complete single–making it 428 yen,
$4.13 US, or €2.65. Comes with downloadable DVD version of the
“Beautiful Girl” music video, one high-quality (1mb) image of the
band, a set of recent live photos, translated blog entries of each
member, lyrics in Japanese. D’espairsRay’s 3 track single “kamikaze”
is 200 yen per track, with discount, it comes to 540 yen, $5.21 US,
€3.35. Comes with translated lyrics.
Format: variable bit rate (high quality) Mp3s, DRM free (no copy protection)

That’s right, On May 14th at MIDNIGHT Japanese Standard Time, a quick download from HearJapan.com and the two new D’espairs Ray tracks “brilliant” and “cocoon” will be YOURS in a matter of seconds.  No importing fees, weeks of waiting, nor scouring the internet for sub-par uploads!  For only about 4 dollars you can show your support for the band and be the first of yours friends to enjoy the brand new single!  Preorder now at a 10% discount, exclusively on HearJapan.com!…always high quality, always DRM free… HearJapan IS J-music Mp3.

More than a year of silence by Japan’s D’espairsRay has made the anticipation for their new release deafening. This is truly an exciting day not only for us at HearJapan but for D’espairsRay fans all over the world. We are proud to announce that the new D’espairsRay single “Brilliant” will be released worldwide exclusively through HearJapan!

The title track’s name, “Brilliant”, truly says it all. It is both heavy yet delicate, in-your-face yet intriguing layered, and catchy to boot! “Cocoon”, the aptly named companion track to “Brilliant”, is a decidedly darker song, showcasing lead singer Hizumi’s beautiful voice in a mix of English and Japanese lyrics.

Included as a special bonus to those who purchase the complete single is an approved translation of Hizumi’s magnificent and poetic lyrics–make Hizumi proud and understand his every nuanced word! Ordering the album is simple and simply the most direct way to show support for one of our favorite bands. In fact, with every album sold, the band receives their proper royalties and the label is notified of the location of the purchaser to aid in future tour planning purposes!