Photo Provided by Michael Whiteside
Music
Photo Provided by Michael Whiteside
Ando San
A San Fernadno Valley native who has been working on a new genre fusion known as "Prog-Hop" that blends together the timing and chord progression of Progressive Metal and Djent with the production and lyricism of Hip-Hop. Inspired by the greats of both respected genres (such as MF Doom and Tosin Abasi of Animals as Leaders), it leads to a fusion and sound that is unlike anthying out there. He just started rapping in his published work after the death of MF DOOM (RIP), but he has the flow and progression that is sorely needed after the mumble-rap and pop-rap of the last few decades. Definitely someone to look out for.
Otoboke Beaver
Thrash, anger, and pop gang harmony --- there are so many ways to describe the energy and style of Otoboke Beaver. Hailing from Kyoto, they came up on my radar several years back in 2020 when I was looking for more bands liken Shonen Knife to fill that punk itch, and they blew me away with "Don't light my fire" and the incredible explosion of energy throughout the song -- yet still taking time to let the track breathe. There is a through line of societal frustration (primarily personal) present throughout their music that balances between anger and harmony. Shonen Knife is still touring to this day, but Otoboke Beaver is destined to fill their place as on of the best punk groups to come out of Japan.