Chai

Japanese ensemble CHAI draws upon an eclectic array of inspirations ranging from 1990s hip-hop and lively alternative rock to rough-edged post-punk, mellow soft rock, and upbeat R&B grooves, yielding their vibrant and cohesive musical expression. They dub this approach "neo-kawaii," pursuing genuineness and broad participation while crafting striking visual productions that convey their message of empowerment. The group's opening full-length releases, 2017's Pink and 2019's Punk, presented vigorous and expansive introductions to the guitar-driven, punk-oriented dimension of their work. Later projects adopt a more restrained musical direction, as 2021's Wink explores polished contemporary pop and R&B while the 2023 self-titled CHAI incorporates city pop elements, yet each continues to transmit the joy and vitality of earlier material.

The quartet originated in Nagoya during the early 2010s after identical twins Mana on vocals and keyboards and Kana on guitar and vocals began performing together in high school. They invited drummer Yuna into the lineup, later adding bassist Yuuki, and settled on the name CHAI. During their school years the project remained secondary to academic priorities, yet after choosing stages over studies the members relocated to Tokyo and treated the band with greater seriousness. They shared a house, began performing live, and issued the EP Hottaraka Series in late 2015, followed months afterward by Homegoro Series. The group also began producing videos that showed them in pink attire executing playful synchronized choreography. Their recordings and imagery proved sufficiently compelling for Sony Music Entertainment Japan to sign them and issue several singles in 2017. That same year the band secured victory in the SXSW Asia audition, journeyed to Austin, and visited additional U.S. cities.

CHAI's debut album Pink appeared in 2017; a video for one track drew the interest of California's Burger Records, which included a song on the Japanese bands compilation Burger World: Japan and reissued the album in the United States in early 2018. The group embarked on a U.S. tour and released the Wagama-mania EP in May. They also secured a deal with Heavenly in the United Kingdom and supported Superorganism on British dates. After returning from the road they commenced work on their second album, Punk. The ensemble refined their influences and concentrated the album's sonic identity while preserving exuberant, high-energy songs. It surfaced in March 2019 through the combined efforts of Burger, Heavenly, and longtime Japanese label Otemoyan Record. Subsequent touring included dates alongside Whitney and Mac DeMarco plus appearances at major festivals such as Primavera and Pitchfork.

During 2020 the band issued several singles, among them the Hinds collaboration "United Girls Rock'n'Roll Club," "No More Cake," and "Keep On Rocking," while developing their third album. Crafted with GarageBand and assembled through Zoom exchanges because in-person gatherings proved impossible, the material drew greater inspiration than before from modern pop and R&B. Featuring a guest turn from Chicago rapper Ric Wilson along with production assistance from Mndsgn and YMCK, 2021's Wink marked CHAI's first release on Sub Pop Records. Once travel resumed the members toured and composed on the road, stopping at studios including Ometusco Sound Machine in Mexico City and Stones Throw in Los Angeles to capture tracks shaped by the smooth R&B and soft rock aesthetics of city pop, the style prevalent in 1980s Japan. The quartet supplies the genre an energetic refresh and a potent dose of their characteristic empowering outlook. The self-titled record appeared on Sub Pop in September 2023.