Consisting of unique vocals (Motoki Omori), a complementary keyboard (Ryoka Fujisawa), speedy guitar riffs (Hiroto Wakai), a jamming bass line (Kiyokazu Takano), and precise drumming (Ayaka Yamanaka), Mrs. Green Apple is an indie rock band you never really forget once you hear them.
I became a fan after hearing their song 「パブリック」(Public). Accompanied by a video showing images of a young girl watching worldly tensions like war and death through a pair of hands, the song quickly became one of my favorites. Deservingly so, the album “Twelve”, which “’Public” features on, is one of their most successful albums, hitting No.10 on the Oricon Charts in 2016. (1).
Since “Twelve”, Mrs. Green Apple has released singles such as “Summer Festival” and “In the Morning”, which segued into their full length, self-titled album released in January of 2017. The album peaked at No. 9 on the Orion charts on Jan. 11, 2017 for nine straight weeks!
As an owner of the album, I can attest that it’s as gorgeous as the album teaser implicates; it includes not only the upbeat “Summer Festival” and the motivational “In the Morning”, but the album showcases the band’s talent for synchronization, particularly in「絶世生命」 (Living Creatures) and「鯨の唄」 (Whale Song). Almost as if in reaction to the netizen’s heavy praise of the teaser versions of these songs, the band released a full-length music video to 「鯨の唄」to quench our thirst.
The video is simple and beautiful, taking us through a dream-like sequence of a girl moving through a luxurious Victorian mansion and natural scenes of the forest and seaside. According to Purespirit, the whale is a symbol of ever-flowing creativity. Perhaps this girl is exploring her creative mind through her connection with the natural world.
In the video, the band is all donning black suits whilst playing their respective instruments. Vocalist, Motoki Omori, is singing in what resembles a kind of worship room lined with religious figures, reminiscent of a cathedral. Recurring images of the video include white feathers and water, which are both associated with spirituality. The layering of voices in the song further lends the feeling of a choir, inviting the listener to venture into a different world.
The band seems to enjoy playing with themes of transcendence and purity, as just a few days ago, on May 1st of 2017, their new single「どこかで日は昇る」, which I believe translates to something like “Someplace where the sun will rise.” The song incorporates Irish flute and acoustic piano to lend it a sort of magical feeling. The video features vocalist, Omori, being revealed from beneath a white sheet, and then proceeding to walk through the city, past other objects…perhaps memories, covered in white cloth. Each item revealed seems to have a memory tied to it, though I don’t think they’re necessarily Omori’s. The lyrics, unfortunately, are far above my Japanese capabilities, so I feel that there’s a lot I’m missing to the song, but it still quickly became one of my favorite songs and videos.
Having bought three of Mrs. Green Apple’s albums, (Progressive, Variety, and Mrs. Green Apple), ‘otherworldly’ experience is probably the best way to describe their music. They really go out of their way to make each song sound different, taking you through constant changes in timing and vocal ranges, keeping each song unique and memorable in its own right. With their vivid language and imagery, Mrs. Green Apple is definitely worth a taste!
For more information on the band, merchandise, and tour dates, please visit their official website: https://mrsgreenapple.com/
You can also follow them on Twitter and Instagram!
that foreign music blog🌎 
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