This Friday, May 1, Bandcamp plans to waive their revenue shares for all purchases made on their platform for 24 hours starting from midnight Pacific Daylight Time. It’s a move meant to offer financial support to artists amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and the initial sale of this type last month raised around $4.3 million for creators.
Ahead of this special day, Otaquest wanted to highlight some recent Bandcamp releases from Japan worth supporting. The country’s music community is feeling the COVID-19 crunch too — some of Shibuya’s best electronic venues have started shuttering — so now is a great time to buy some music and add to your collection.
Various Artists — Save The Metro Compilations
Live venues across Japan face an uncertain future, with all shows canceled for the time being. Many have turned to online fundraising to try to keep the lights on, while Kyoto’s Club Metro — which has been open for 30 years and has been a hub for all genres in the city — has shared a new compilation. It gathers nearly 60 tracks from all kinds of artists, doubling as a reflection of how Metro operated over the last three decades.
Various Artists — The Encounters Vol. 1
Osaka’s Club Stomp has similarly started releasing a series of compilations to help them get through the pandemic. The first installment is highlighted by electronic acts from the Kansai region, which this space has become known for since opening.
Various Artists — NAVARO COMPILATION
Kumamoto city’s Navaro venue has hosted a lot of artists since opening in 2005, and this compilation celebrates this eclectic history, with a mix of new numbers from rockers and electronic acts to groups sharing live recordings from the space.
Serph — Mirapyd
The latest from electronic composer Serph uses spliced-up vocals and elements of R&B music to make a giddy set of songs.
PICNIC WOMEN — Come Back
The juke maker returns after a multi-year silence with a trio of high energy tunes.
Masayoshi Iimori — DECADE4ALL
The debut album from the Trekkie Trax staple brings the noise, and then some.
Kotetsu Shoichiro — Ge’ Down EP
The latest from tofubeats’ HIHATT imprint is a joyful set of house optimal for the warming weather.
THE PATS PATS — live at Chofu cross 3/15/2020
One of Tokyo’s best indie-rock duos shares a strong live set from before everything shut down.