An electronic trio originating from Derry in Northern Ireland, the Japanese Popstars focus on melody-driven, high-impact beats in the vein of 1990s outfits including Underworld, the Prodigy, and Orbital. The lineup features Gary Curran, performing as DJ Curntables, Declan McLaughlin under the alias Decky Hedrock, and Gareth Donoghue, who goes by Galo. Their initial outing arrived in 2006 via the single “Rodney Trotter,” titled after a character from the British sitcom Only Fools and Horses and built around a central riff drawn from New Order’s “Blue Monday.” The year 2007 brought the follow-up track “Dirty Popstars on Your Radio” and a split remix EP alongside Groove Armada. After signing with Gung Ho Recordings, the group delivered the three-song EP 1 in spring 2008 and issued their first album, We Just Are, that summer. The record reached number 89 on the Irish Albums Chart and led to a deal with Virgin. Their debut release for the label, Controlling Your Allegiance, appeared in 2011. Equally acclaimed for their live shows, the Japanese Popstars received the Irish Dance Music Awards’ Best Live Act prize for several years running.
