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The Japanese House
Artist

The Japanese House

Genre: Alt / Indie, Indie Pop, Indie Electronic
Origin: England
Active: 2012 - Present
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Biography

London-based singer and songwriter Amber Bain shapes the Japanese House as her solo outlet, merging opulent dream pop atmospheres with introspective electronica. After inking a deal with the Dirty Hit imprint, she issued a string of EPs and singles throughout the second half of the 2010s, among them Swim Against the Tide and the wistful 2017 track "Saw You in a Dream." Her first proper album, 2019's Good at Falling, drew widespread praise and modest commercial traction. Following the Chewing Cotton Wool EP in 2020, the project maintained a subdued presence until resurfacing with the sophomore set In the End It Always Does, which entered the upper reaches of the U.K. Albums Chart at number 29 in 2023.

Raised in Buckinghamshire, Bain experimented with several earlier aliases before settling on the Japanese House moniker in 2015. The name stemmed from a weeklong childhood stay in Devon, during which she presented as male and received the attentions of a local girl who later discovered Bain's actual identity. The property, then owned by actress Kate Winslet and itself called the Japanese House, supplied lasting imagery that shaped the deliberately fluid visual identity of her recordings.

Once signed to the U.K. indie Dirty Hit Records, Bain debuted with two 2015 EPs: Pools to Bathe In and, months afterward, Clean. The 2016 single "Face Like Thunder" appeared on the subsequent Swim Against the Tide EP. In 2017 she released the dreamy pop cut "Saw You in a Dream," later collected on an EP bearing the same title. September 2018 brought "Lilo," the opening single previewing her full-length debut. Good at Falling arrived in early 2019, earning strong reviews while peaking at number 64 on the U.K. Albums Chart ahead of the 2020 Chewing Cotton Wool EP.

After a three-year hiatus, Bain returned with the pastoral Japanese House single "Boyhood" in March 2023, launching the cycle for In the End It Always Does. The album included a guest turn from Muna plus production and songwriting input from the 1975's George Daniel, Muna's Katie Gavin, Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, and Chloe Kraemer. Additional singles "Sad to Breathe" and "Sunshine Baby" supported the release, which also reached number three on the U.K. Independent Albums chart.

Top Songs

  1. In the End It Always DoesTouching YourselfIn the End It Always Does · 2023In the End It Always Does3:01
  2. In the End It Always DoesSunshine BabyIn the End It Always Does · 2023In the End It Always Does3:39
  3. :):):) · 2024:)3:01
  4. Saw You In A DreamSaw You In A DreamSaw You In A Dream · 2017Saw You In A Dream3:28
  5. In the End It Always DoesBoyhoodIn the End It Always Does · 2023In the End It Always Does3:09
  6. In the End It Always DoesSad to BreatheIn the End It Always Does · 2023In the End It Always Does3:34
  7. In the End It Always DoesMorning PagesIn the End It Always Does · 2023In the End It Always Does3:47
  8. In the End It Always DoesIndexical reminder of a morning well spentIn the End It Always Does · 2023In the End It Always Does4:43
  9. Chewing Cotton WoolChewing Cotton WoolChewing Cotton Wool · 2020Chewing Cotton Wool3:29
  10. In the End It Always DoesOver ThereIn the End It Always Does · 2023In the End It Always Does4:42
  11. In the End It Always DoesFriendsEIn the End It Always Does · 2023In the End It Always Does3:08
  12. In the End It Always DoesBaby goes againIn the End It Always Does · 2023In the End It Always Does3:31
  13. In the End It Always DoesSpot DogIn the End It Always Does · 2023In the End It Always Does4:28
  14. CleanCool BlueClean · 2015Clean3:51
  15. Swim Against the TideFace Like ThunderSwim Against the Tide · 2016Swim Against the Tide3:57
  16. In the End It Always DoesYou always get what you wantIn the End It Always Does · 2023In the End It Always Does2:48
  17. In the End It Always DoesOne for sorrow, two for Joni JonesIn the End It Always Does · 2023In the End It Always Does4:30
  18. Pools To Bathe InStillEPools To Bathe In · 2015Pools To Bathe In3:18
  19. CleanCleanClean · 2015Clean4:59
  20. Letter By The WaterLetter By The WaterLetter By The Water · 2015Letter By The Water3:27

Albums

In the End It Always Does

In the End It Always Does

E2023
In the End It Always Does
The Japanese House · Album · 2023
Play
  1. Spot DogThe Japanese House4:28
  2. Touching YourselfThe Japanese House3:01
  3. Sad to BreatheThe Japanese House3:34
  4. Over ThereThe Japanese House4:42
  5. Morning PagesThe Japanese House feat. MUNA3:47
  6. BoyhoodThe Japanese House3:09
  7. Indexical reminder of a morning well spentThe Japanese House4:43
  8. FriendsEThe Japanese House3:08
  9. Sunshine BabyThe Japanese House3:39
  10. Baby goes againThe Japanese House3:31
  11. You always get what you wantThe Japanese House2:48
  12. One for sorrow, two for Joni JonesThe Japanese House4:30
Good At Falling

Good At Falling

E2019
Good At Falling
The Japanese House · Album · 2019
Play
  1. went to meet her (intro)The Japanese House2:32
  2. Maybe You're the ReasonThe Japanese House3:39
  3. We Talk all the TimeEThe Japanese House3:15
  4. WildThe Japanese House3:43
  5. You Seemed so HappyThe Japanese House2:42
  6. Follow My GirlThe Japanese House4:05
  7. somethingfartoogoodtofeelThe Japanese House4:26
  8. LiloThe Japanese House4:10
  9. Everybody Hates MeThe Japanese House3:09
  10. Marika Is SleepingThe Japanese House3:03
  11. WormsThe Japanese House3:19
  12. f a r a w a yThe Japanese House2:50
  13. i saw you in a dreamThe Japanese House3:20

Singles & EPs