Originally from Japan, XAMIYA are vocalist KAMIYA and producer/artist XANSEI. Drawing inspiration from Japan’s street culture, the duo’s music is an eclectic mix of alternative/indie rock, UK garage, drum & bass, and French house. Phew!
The band say their new single ‘MERMAID’ is an emotional dive into grief, memory, and rebirth, which captures the feeling of being lost in an endless ocean of longing – like a mermaid who’s lost her voice, swimming forward with no shore in sight.
The track starts with a tight, crisp little drum & bass break which is tactile, intimate and bubbly, with a warm arp that tickles the senses. The snappy energy is infectious. A simple sub bass underpins the track and gives it weight.
Things open up, and KAMIYA’s dreamy vocal floats above the track with a poppy, uplifting motif that burrows deep into your head.
The synth sounds, which beep and wobble throughout the track, are great – it’s a fresh, modern sound, and the energy is like an eager puppy that wants to play.
Alternating between a tightly controlled, precise – almost robotic – delivery, and a much looser, dreamy sound (with a spoken section thrown in for good measure!), KAMIYA’s vocal gives the track its personality. There’s a surprising amount of variation in a track that is finished in under 3 minutes.
As KAMIYA’s siren song is brought in and out of focus near the song’s end, we wonder – will we be saved…or drawn closer to the rocks?
Written by Grubby
