Whether it be artists new or old, Japanese alternative culture has always struck a chord. Where the former is concerned, the latest act to capture the imagination is Tokyo’s xiexie.
Comprising of Meari (vocals, guitar), Yamato Koda (guitar/vocals), Teruyuki Hiraki (bass) and Koichi Hida (drums), xiexie formed in 2020. Not wasting time, the four-piece quickly released two EPs, 2021’s self-titled and 2022 33. While both were re-released together last October as a full-length, on the back of the EPs came local success, which saw xiexie play shows in Taiwan and appear at Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival.
The band continues their ascent with their debut long-player, wellwell. An album that provides the kind of intrigue that’s hard to pin down. There’s just something about it that instantly makes you feel at ease.
Starting with Please Me. Surf rock with sunroof sway, and the vibe continues with UMA – dream-pop for sunny days and beer gardens while Nil and Alien II are worthy alternatives for those who have worn their Alvvays records all the way down to the grooves.
Meanwhile City is an ode to the funk and jazz of their native Tokyo. Unintrusive instrumental jams that stay with you for days. Elsewhere, Calm Sea and Kiwi sees xiexie expanding on their songcraft with a brand of glow-wave psych-pop that broadens horizons. Both lead up to closing cut, Green as xiexie channel their inner Slowdive with a song that could have been a Souvlaki B-side in a parallel universe.
Wellwell is an album made by people immersed in alternative culture when alternative culture was just that. Before Urban Outfitters and selfies were a part of a cultural fabric that should have been incinerated from the off. It’s music primarily inspired by fandom, and that’s why wellwell resonates the way it does.
Shortly after the release of wellwell, the members of xiexie took part in our 13 questions feature.
All answers translated by Kento Mizushima.
1. Had you all known each other before forming the band in 2020?
Teruyuki Hiraki: “Yes, I knew them before we started xiexie. Actually, Yamato and Hida played in another band together, and I played in the same line up as them at live music events with my previous band. They were so cool.”
Koichi Hida: “I’ve played with Koda in another band for a long time. I really loved Hiraki’s bass playing since we played live shows at the same event, so I invited him to xiexie. And the first time I met Meari was in a yoga class!”
2. Your debut album wellwell was released earlier this month. What was the main inspiration behind the album?
Yamato Koda: “Our biggest inspiration is SF, and pursuing the development of what xiexie music really is.”
3. It feels like a very accomplished record for a debut album, with a lot of influences thrown into the melting pot. Are each of your influences very different from one another?
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KH: “Yeah, I think we all have different roots, but we have kind similar tastes in what we like. We are a band which is learning from all music that has been released before.”
4. As a current recording artist, are you constantly seeking out new music and artists, or are you more rooted in the influences of the past?
YK: “We want to create music that is new and only we can make with respecting music in the past.”
5. Can you tell us about the indie rock scene in Tokyo?
Meari: “We and our friends usually play gigs in Shimokitazawa. There are tons of venues, and you can listen to some great, fresh music there every day.”
xiexie - wellwell6. Do you think the city has a direct influence on the music the band makes?
M: “Living in Tokyo, we’re bombarded with too much information, and everything around us is changing a lot from second to second. So, we keep our music as simple as possible because our city is too much of everything.”
7. Some fun questions now: do you have any hobbies outside of music?
M: “I like watching anime.”
TH: “My hobby is going to sentos around Tokyo. If I can eat fried rice in a local Japanese Chinese restaurant, that would be the best day!”
8. What is your favorite view?
Meari: “I just moved, and my new house is super comfy. I’m able to chill in my room because of the wind, sunlight, and the birds singing.”
TH: “Around the Ueno Park. There is a park, museums, and zoo so you can spend the whole day there.”
KH: “I like Yokohama city.”
9. Funniest band story?
M: “It’s always funny but Hida got too excited in the studio practice, and he fell off his drum chair, and I couldn’t stop laughing even I felt worried about him!”
TH: “Taiwan tour last year! It was lovely Koda and Hida hung out in a chòu dòufu market.”
KH: “We had an interesting experience when we played a festival in Taiwan. We were playing a headline show the next day and the festival audience sold out that show. After seeing us at the festival, they immediately wanted to watch us perform again.”
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10. Favorite records so far in 2024 so far?
TH: “My favorite is Brainstory’s Sounds Good. This album has a groove with soul and Latin flavors. It’s retro music but it also contains some new flavor, so I won’t get tired of listing it!”
KH: “Oneohtrix Point Never’s Vocals. I can’t stop listening to them since when I watched his show in Tokyo.”
11. Vinyl, CD or streaming?
TH: “Streaming is useful. But when listen to music on vinyl, I can feel it more directly.”
KH: “I’m listening to music vinyl and streaming services.”
12. Last book you read?
M: “Bonjour Tristesse by Sagan Francoise.”
13. Lastly, is the band looking to the U.K. soon?
All: “We’re ready to go! Want to land in the U.K. immediately!”
Wellwell is out now via P-VINE. Purchase from Bandcamp.
