Breakfast In Japan

Happy Wednesday and welcome back to Finetuned, friends! Okay, now I really want tamagoyaki. My apologies if the same is true for you (but like only a little bit, I like to egg people on). This week is all about an indie-pop artist that delivers a bit of the fuzzy wuzzy to tickle our ears (and maybe some sax 🤯). Let’s talk about Japanese Breakfast.

Who Are Japanese Breakfast?

Japanese Breakfast is the musical project of Michelle Zauner, a Korean-American artist who has made her mark as a musician, author, and director. She first gained recognition with her 2016 debut album, Psychopomp, an emotionally charged work exploring themes of grief and loss following her mother’s death - similar to that of most things I talk about here, lol. SORRY, NOT SORRY!

Zauner’s subsequent albums, Soft Sounds from Another Planet (2017) and Jubilee (2021), showcase her growth as an artist. While Soft Sounds from Another Planet ventures into ethereal and experimental territory, Jubilee embraces vibrant, upbeat pop with lush orchestration. Jubilee earned widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 2022.

In addition to her music, Zauner is a best-selling author. Her memoir, Crying in H Mart (2021), offers a deeply personal account of her experiences as a Korean-American and her relationship with her late mother. Praised for its heartfelt exploration of identity and loss, the memoir resonated with readers around the world.

Michelle Zauner is celebrated for her ability to craft powerful narratives across multiple forms of media, making her a standout figure in contemporary music and literature.

What To Expect Sonically

Sax, pingy (in the best way) guitar, clarified vocals with an understated tonality, 2s and 4s on the drums to carry out the rhythm. I think that if you are a fan of groups like Snail Mail, Caroline Polachek, and the sound of 90’s pop, you’ll be happy with this listen! There is a lot of space sonically for a lot this specific record I am recommending but it carries emotional weight.

You’ll hear some synth undertones that give your ear something to attach to while you ride the wave the drums are producing. From there you can sort of expect to be sucked in by the vocal runs and the ethereal nature of their performance.

Paprika AND Slide Tackles?

This release, Jubilee, is really a special album! I think from the recognition alone for this release it should garner a bit of attention from you all. This is a really phenomenal pop album that I do think pretty highly of. It carries a lot of what I’d want from a pop release and still gives my shoegaze loving ears a bit of fuzz to smile at.

Thanks for reading here, Finetuners! I do hope you all have enjoyed this week’s Finetuned. I’d appreciate any insights, admiration, or otherwise. You can reply to the newsletter directly or DM me on Twitter. (or email me here: [email protected])

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See you all in the next one! 🙌