Yahyel

yahyel
Origin	Tokyo, Japan
Genres	indie pop, dream pop, synth pop
Years active	2015 (2015)–present
Labels	Beat Records
Members	Shun Ikegai Miru Shinoda Wataru Sugimoto Kento Yamada Kazuya Ooi

yahyel are a five-piece indie pop band from Tokyo, Japan. The band was formed by Ikegai, Shinoda, and Sugimoto in 2015, and Yamada and Ooi joined the band in September 2016.^[citation needed]

The name of the band, "yahyel", is a word meaning "alien", according to a cult based in the United States. The band chose the name since Japanese artists are often treated as alien outside of Japan.[1]

History

2015: formation and Y

In 2015, Ikegai, Shinoda, and Sugimoto formed the band.[2][3]

In May 2015, they released their first EP Y, which was acclaimed by critics.^[citation needed]

In January 2016, they toured in London and held a mini concert at Rough Trade. They released their second EP Fool / Midnight Run soon after their tour.^[citation needed]

2016: smash hit of "Once"

On 8 July 2016, yahyel's first single, "Once", was released. On 28 September 2016, "Once" was re-released with additional track "The Flare". The CD was mastered by Matt Colton and sold out soon after its release. In November 2016, they released their debut album Flesh and Blood,[4] which ranked at number 68 on the Billboard Japan Album Chart.^[citation needed]

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		JPN Oricon	JPN Billboard	JPN Sales
Flesh and Blood	Released: 23 November 2016 Label: Beat Records Formats: CD, digital download	69[5]	68[6]	63[7]
Human	Released: 7 March 2018 Label: Beat Records Formats: CD, digital download, LP	TBA
Loves&Cults	Released: 8 March 2023 Label: LOVE/CULT Formats: CD, digital download, LP	TBA

Extended plays

Title	EP details	Peak chart positions
		JPN Oricon	JPN Billboard
Y	Released: May 2015 [8] Label: Self-released Formats: digital download	—	-
Fool / Midnight Run	Released: 10 February 2016 Label: Hot Buttered Record Formats: 7-inch vinyl + download code	—	-
Once / The Flare	Released: 28 September 2016 Label: Hot Buttered Record Formats: 7-inch vinyl + download code	—	-
Fool / Midnight Run	Released: 10 February 2016 Label: Beat Records Formats: CD	—	-
Iron / Rude	Released: 2 August 2017 Label: Beat Records Formats: 7-inch vinyl + download code	199	-

Singles

As lead artist

Year	Single	Peak chart positions			Album
		JPN Oricon	JPN Hot 100	JPN Radio
2016	"Once"	-	-	-	Flesh and Blood
2017	"Iron"	-	-	-	—

Promotional singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions			Album
		JPN Oricon	JPN Hot 100	JPN Radio
2016	"Alone"	-	-	100	Flesh and Blood

References

1. Woodard, Tiana (2019-03-16). "Q&A: Japanese indie pop band yahyel break stereotypes of country's music scene". The Daily Texan. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
2. "yahyelの1stアルバムが11月発売、今年の『フジ』ルーキーに出演". CINRA.NET (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-03-02.
3. "yahyel 、向井太一、Srv.Vinciーー世界水準の音楽を奏でる新世代ミュージシャンの台頭". Real Sound｜リアルサウンド (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-03-02.
4. Johnston, Lachlan (2016-12-04). "Identity comes in and out of focus on yahyel debut, 'Flesh and Blood' | Special to The Japan Times". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
5. "yahyel | ORICON NEWS". Oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 2017-02-23.
6. "Hot Albums | Charts". Billboard JAPAN. Retrieved 2017-02-23.
7. "Top Albums Sales | Charts". Billboard JAPAN. Retrieved 2017-02-23.
8. "yahyel、初のMV作品は「Y」収録「Midnight Run」 - 音楽ナタリー". Natalie.mu. Retrieved 2017-02-23.