REVIEW

soto wa ame is a solo project by Yuki Yoshida, guitarist and vocalist of the Tokyo-based emo-gaze band Forbear.

The project first surfaced through an Apple Music recommendation, and a casual listen quickly revealed a striking contrast: a heavy, US-style shoegaze sound paired with a refreshingly clear female vocal. The combination feels immediately distinctive, suggesting both weight and transparency rather than the expected murkiness often associated with the genre.

Digging deeper into the project’s background reveals an interesting detail. According to Yoshida’s self-written liner notes, the vocals are performed by RIME, a Vocaloid-based “musical isotope.” While the clarity and expressiveness are undoubtedly the result of careful programming and tuning, it is still impressive to hear how far Vocaloid technology has evolved, especially within a shoegaze context where vocals often dissolve into texture.

A standout moment arrives on track #4 “Träumerei.” Built on a massive, groove-driven riff that collides with spacious, atmospheric passages, the track thrives on contrast. Fans of bands like Narrow Head or Teenage Wrist will likely find its balance of heft and melody particularly appealing. In contrast, #5 “Long Swimming” dials back the distortion, leaning into an ennui-laced vocal line and a melancholic melody that evokes the feeling of wandering through city streets late at night, revealing another side of the project’s emotional range.

Given the overall quality, it is surprising to see the project’s monthly listener count on Spotify still sitting in the single digits. For those who find themselves wishing there were more heavy shoegaze acts emerging from Japan, soto wa ame feels like an easy recommendation.

It is also worth noting that Yoshida appears to be deeply immersed in the genre’s culture. He has authored an article examining the new generation of American shoegaze in the 2020s alongside developments in the Japanese scene. For listeners interested in a concise overview of the current shoegaze landscape, it makes for a worthwhile read alongside the music itself.

Note:The New Generation of American Shoegaze in the 2020s and the Contemporary Japanese Scene (article by Yuki Yoshida)