CheChe is an alternative rock group shaking up the Tokyo music scene with their electrifying sound. A unique fusion of 90s rock, funk, dance, and indie music, the group's music is guaranteed to get you on your feet and dancing. Since the release of their 2023 EP Bab, CheChe has dropped three singles, each one more enticing than the last.
"Medium Star" is a standout track of 2024, with its bouncy chorus groove and tongue-in-cheek lyricism. The band's masterful attention to detail on the track, from specific guitar tones to backing vocals in all the right places, makes the song really shine. "Summer Vacation", along with its visualizer, brings the warmth back to the now-chilly fall season. The upbeat, playful energy of the song is truly a ray of sonic sunshine, making listeners smile and hum along.
"Magical Boy" came just in time for spooky season, with a bewitching music video to match. Each instrument sits perfectly in the mix, with a funky bass line, a catchy guitar track, and an all-around stellar vocal performance. Dynamically, the song continues to build, reaching new sections in an unexpected, enrapturing way. The accompanying "Magical Boy" visualizer is equally as spellbinding as the song itself, featuring a decadent set, storyline, and attention-grabbing special effects.
Based on their steadily growing body of work and fan base, it's safe to say that CheChe is Tokyo's next big alternative act. We spoke with CheChe about their new music, influences, and the indie rock scene in Tokyo. We also want to give a special thank you to the multi-talented translator and musician Shoin Yagihara for his assistance with the interview process. Read the full interview below and listen to CheChe's latest single. Let us know what you think.
How did the band form?
All the members went to the same music school after they graduated high school, so they met there. The bassist, Ibuki, wanted to start a funk band, so he asked the Haruhi (vocals) and Dagabazi (rhythm guitar), and a drummer guy to join. Tatsuki (lead guitar) often came by the studio when they rehearsed. After a while he joined the band. (The drummer guy was often late, so they fired him. )
What inspired the name CheChe?
They decided to participate in an on-campus audition, but at that time, the band didn’t have a name. They came up with the name Chechena Cookie Monsters in just five minutes. The name came from Chechena-chan, an original character created by the comedian Cookie, but nobody really liked this name for the band, so they changed it several times with versions like Chechena Petit before settling on the name just "CheChe."
Describe your sound in three words.
Avantgarde, exciting, and danceable.
Who are your biggest musical influences/inspirations?
Tatsuki: I love Blur.
Dagabazi: There are a lot, but the Beatles are a big one.
Ibuki: Japan (the new wave band, not the place)!
Haruhi: The Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of my influences.
What is the indie rock scene like here in Tokyo?
Haruhi: There are actually some elements that sound like black music and punk. You can also find bands with a lot of different instruments.
Tasuki: The bands around us include ones with R&B influences, some with a stylish vibe, and others that have a disco feel.
Haruhi: Overall, there are a lot of bands playing rock.
Dagabazi: There are so many bands that it's hard to say which is the most common, but the most popular one is probably a band called Luv and they're like Suchmos. If I describe what the Tokyo indie music scene is, I'll probably say that bands that play stylish music like city pop could be the most popular.
Tell us about your single “Medium Star”.
This song started with Tatsuki's idea which was an American garage, or Garage Rock. For him, the image of those was sloppy, messy, gritty, unpolished, and imperfect in a positive way compared to the well-organized Japanese style. The word “star” means that, of course, it's about a shining star, through which he tries to express imperfection. It’s not about a high quality star, not about a great star, not a large star, or even a good star. It’s a “medium” star in a good way.
"It’s not about a high quality star, not about a great star, not a large star, or even a good star. It’s a 'medium' star in a good way."
What was the most challenging part of the project?
Haruhi: To me, the most challenging part was writing because I’m not so good at English. I really like music that is sung in English, so I want to sing in English. When I write a song, I look things up on the internet or use DeepL.
Daibazi: We struggled to make the outro part. We changed It many times. The first version we made was like Oasis taste and then we made one like Elvis Costello... it was quite a struggle.
Tatsuki: The most challenging part for me was that during recording I didn’t want my guitar sound to be perfect, but I also didn't want to make it poor. The balance was really hard. I think I finally made it “medium-ly” great.
What is your songwriting and recording process like?
Haruhi: I first write down what I want to say in Japanese and then look up how to express it in English. About the main melody, when I make a demo, I make it by improvising with random English words, and then I choose words and figure out how to sing them without ruining the main melody line I first made.
Tatsuki: Basically, we create songs together. Someone comes up with the idea, and then everyone works together to make a song. Haruhi makes all the vocal melodies. The lyrics are mostly written by Haruhi, but Ibuki sometimes writes the lyrics, too. Dagabazi manages the whole recording process. We handle both the recording and mixing ourselves.
"Someone comes up with the idea, and then everyone works together to make a song."
What is your dream venue for a show?
Haruhi: One of our dream show venues is the Cavern Club in Liverpool, England. It is famously known for being a place where the Beatles performed frequently.
Tatsuki: We also want to perform at major festivals abroad.
Daibazi: Personally, I would love to perform in a studio live session like Tiny Desk or a similar overseas YouTube channels.
Ibuki: I don’t have a specific venue in mind, but I’d love to have the chance to perform on the same stage or at festivals with the artists I usually listen to. I want to see their performances.
Who are three artists you want to see on Enharmonic Magazine next?
The Muddies, Dead by Inches, and Johnnivan.
Is there anything else you want people to know about you?
Haruhi: CheCheCheck out our band, CheChe!
Dagabazi: We’d love to perform at various events, festivals, and gigs, so feel free to reach out to us! When you read this article and enjoy our music, if you could share our band with your friends, we would be happy!
Tatsuki: Many Japanese bands might be associated with city-pop, but we actually play British pop and rock. So, if you are interested in cool Japanese pop music or rock music, please give our music a listen. I want to tell you that I think that this interview is a great opportunity. We’re really hungry to succeed. So, if there are any gigs, festivals, or events at which we could perform, please let us know. We hope this interview will lead to the next great opportunity. It’s been great talking with you. Thank you so much for your time and for this interview.
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