ATARASHII GAKKO!

Japanese girl group Atarashii Gakko! takes a playful and wildly left-field approach to J-pop and J-rock, spun with their own smart, subversive philosophy that challenges cultural mores. Formed in 2017, the quartet scored an immediate hit in their home country with their Top 100 debut single “Dokubana,” a crunchy rock blast whose b-side “Wakaranai” showcased their beat-oriented pop side. From there, they maintained a steady output, notably with additional charting singles “Kimiwaina′17” (from their 2018 debut Maenarawanai) and “Ookami no Uta” (from 2019′s Wakage Gaitaru). As their global audience grew into the next decade, they were picked up by the Asian-focused label 88rising in 2021, releasing popular singles like “Nainainai” and 2023′s stomping “Tokyo Calling.” Taking direct aim at Japanese societal norms, the foursome — whose full name is Atarashii Gakkou no Leaders (“New School Leaders”) — pushes individuality and freedom to the fore, eschewing genre and industry standards in the process. Decked out in school uniforms, kawaii guises, and carefully-chosen personalities, Mizyu, Rin, Suzuka, and Kanon toss the typical girl group rules out the window, self-choreographing intense dance sequences and performing a hybrid of rock, pop, and even a little jazz. Their debut single “Dokubana” arrived in 2017 and made an immediate splash, rising to number 84 on the Japanese chart. The track landed on their first full-length Maenarawanai, which was released in March 2018. Their sophomore follow-up Wakage Gaitaru landed in 2019; single “Ookami no Uta” made a modest showing on the charts at number 142. The funky “Otonablue” arrived in 2020 and became one of their most popular streaming songs. From there, a steady flow of singles followed, including “Que Sera Sera” and “Koibumi.” The group was signed by 88rising in 2021, immediately releasing the single “Nainainai” to mark the event. With this new backing, they paired with labelmate Warren Hue for the electronic dance track “Freaks” and dropped their first EP, Snacktime, at the end of the year. A pair of EPs, Ichijikikoku and Maningen, landed in 2023; both were Top 10 hits on the Japanese album chart. As the year came to a close, Atarashii Gakko! launched an international tour that included in-demand dates in the U.S., coinciding with the release of their rousing single “Tokyo Calling.” ~ Neil Z. Yeung