Japanese Ska, Korean Rap & Tate McRae - Music Discovery Diary #9
I'm sending these less often now.
Hey ya’ll. I’m back with another rendition of My Music Discovery Diary, where I listen to an artist I’ve never heard of every day and write at you about it.
I’m sending these every two weeks now instead of every week because I figured they were annoying and no one was getting anything out of them.
I have more ideas for newsletters I’m going to send so look out for that. Sorry as always.
2.28.25
The Jim Yoshi Pile-Up - Silver Sparkler
This seems like something I would have loved back in the day. Band from Oakland. Formed in 1997. Indie rock as we came to know it was on the up and up then, wasn’t it? Love this style of singing. That “twinkly” guitar sound. Breaks down into a cool arrangement at the end. Awesome.
3.1.25
Susquatch - Spin the Words
Japanese math rock type shit.
3.2.25
Weed420 - Volando Alto
Horrible name, interesting music.
3.3.25
Tea Eater - Obsession
Got this from a PR email. Pleasant. Not great.
3.4.25
The Ska Flames - “I won’t never let you go”
This name was on a poster for a concert in Japan that features a bunch of electronic artists I don’t like. The word “Ska” stood out to me and I wondered what a Japanese ska band might sound like. They sound awesome. I recommend everyone check this out.
3.5.25
NSW Yoon - Busan City
My friend who lives in Japan & previously lived in South Korea who knows I’m doing this project sent me NSW Yoon and said “Discover this.” Kinda reminded me of Dizzee Rascal. I went to the aforementioned friend’s wedding in Busan and have an admiration for that city. This is a great anthem for it even though I can’t understand a word. South Korea is inexplicably the most hip-hop place I’ve ever been - you hear the music everywhere and they’ve really embraced that kind of culture, which is fascinating.
3.6.25
Marietta - “God Bless Eric Taylor”
I was a little disappointed with the lineup announcement for Best Friends Forever Festival. Last year it was basically a “Midwest Emo” fest. This year it’s basically a “Midwest Emo” or “Second Wave Emo” fest from all the bands who weren’t from the Midwest. Which is cool for their audience of fans, but might not entice me to return to Vegas. Marietta is one of the bands on the lineup who I didn’t recognize. People online call them “Midwest Emo” even though they’re from Philadelphia, because they were a part of that 2010s scene there. Good stuff. I didn’t know who Eric Taylor is but apparently he’s a character from Friday Night Lights, so it fits in with the whole Explosions in the Sky thingy.
3.7.25
Miracle Blood - “Oh My Lord!”
Algorithmic recommendation on Spotify, couldn’t find anything else. A little intense and over dramatic but kinda awesome. Came out in 2024.
3.8.25
Surprise Chef - “Drinking from the Cup of Bob Knob”
Found this band via an IG reel of them recording a drum in a bathroom. Checked em out and they’re pretty cool. I wish them success.
3.9.25
The Birthday Party - “Mr Clarinet”
I recently purchased the C-Clamp discography from Nonesuch records. Read about this band in the liner notes. This is from 1981 and really strange but great. It’s cool how so many bands end up influencing new artists.
This day I also discovered this wild song from Kind of Boring, an architecture book by Paul Preissner that’s relevant to the book I’m working on about “Midwest Emo” (a term I don’t necessarily like).
3.10.25
Nigo - “Alley Oop with Peso Pluma & Duki”
Got this from a PR email, too. Great. Never heard of NIGO but Peso Pluma always crushes it.
3.11.25
Ola Runt - “Spankin”
This is a young rapper I believe from Atlanta who’s catching a lot of buzz lately. He’s good.
3.12.25
The Teardrop Explodes - Reward
Awesome.
3.13.25
Tate Mcrae - “Sports Car”
My wife introduced me to this song on our drive back from a Japanese spa, which was super relaxing and incredible. This song is horrible, but apparently people love it.
Thanks for reading My Music Diary. Here is a playlist of all the songs I’ve listened to so far this year. The streak/marathon continues…