Japanese girl group Atarashii Gakko! has spent the last few years traveling around the world. The four-member outfit has emerged as one of the most innovative and fearless acts to come from the J-pop scene, making it no surprise that they’ve become leaders in the genre’s global push.
Their latest album, From Tokyo With Love, is a reflection of how the four women have felt these last two years. It also allows the members of Atarashii Gakko!, commonly referred to as AG, a place to mirror all of the energy they’ve received. “We wanted to spread [that energy] around the world,” Suzuka, 24, tells The Hollywood Reporter on a recent Zoom.
“We’ve experienced a lot of things throughout the years, and I think in a sense, this album helps us reexamine ourselves, reexamine our performances and how we express ourselves,” Mizyu, 27, says.
The album’s lead single, “Oi AG!” is a groovy, nostalgia-inducing track that the group felt made the most sense for this new chapter. The group first performed the song in Los Angeles at Japanese music festival Zipangu in May.
Kanon notes that performing new music for a live crowd can sometimes confuse an audience because they aren’t yet familiar with the vibe of a song. “When we performed this in L.A., fans just went along with the vibe and were able to understand the song right away,” the 24-year-old says.
