Promo: Linkoban

|Official Facebook|

Linkoban is a Danish, Chinese, and Vietnamese grime rapper that combines rap and electronic elements together in her music. She has a very experimental and visually unique sound that makes her stand out from a lot rappers, including her colorful style, long limbs, and waist length black hair. It wasn't until "Like This" [possible seizure warning for the video below] from her debut EP, Super Into On It, that she was massively recognized on Danish, Swedish, and BBC radio stations. Pop legend Boy George praised the single and fashion designer Stella McCartney used it for her Paris runway. This lead Linkoban to perform at various festivals around Europe and a brief series of underground concerts in China, since she was banned from performing for her explicit lyrics.


I want to say that I ran into Linkoban on a now defunct blog called The Prophet Blog, but I could be wrong. It has been quite a long time. The first video I saw was either "Like This" or "Super Into On It". She definitely has a very experimental sound that I don't see a lot of people getting into immediately. She's like M.I.A or Bjork, an acquired taste. That's not an insult, just fact. I enjoy all three artists, but their experimental, hard to categorize sound can be off putting to mainstream ears. Of course, this factor makes them stand out from the mainstream and catch people's eyes with the visual promotions. From video to video, Linkoban provided something new, fresh, and exciting. One example is her music video for "One Trick Pony", which took me a couple re-watches to fully appreciate the visuals and musical combination. As I write this, I recently learned that Linkoban unfortunately passed away on February 17, 2016, after a one and a half year battle against cancer. I'm sure this promo doesn't serve her musical career and passion as a grime rapper properly, but I hope it helps spread awareness of her talent and innovation as an artist. Her last music video release was two years ago for "Oh Oh" and her last single was "Hide the Dirt", which are both great progressions in her music that kept her quirky style, odd artistic elements, and charming grime. Rest in Peace, Linkoban.

Promo: 365DaBand

[no particular order] Will, Isaac, S.T, and Jun
|Official Facebook|
Similar to my promotion post for BNR, I ran into a few dead ends finding information about this group. Originally 365daband was a quintet from Vietnam that debuted in December 2012. Each member had a very unique style to them: Isaac - cool man, Jun - Family boy, Tronie - Charming Prince, Will - Rebel, and ST - kiddo. What makes this boyband unique is that their musical style is a mixture of pop, R&B, and hip-hop. Their debut single is Awakening and they are one of Vietnam's most popular boy groups. I was first introduced to them by a friend when he shared the video for "Get On the Floor", which kinda reminded me of something MBLAQ would produce.


This is probably a slightly unusual promotional post for me as I really don't actively keep up with this group very often. I still enjoy the group and, for this post, I have watched more of their videos including their most recent one from December 2014 called "HAI CÔ TIÊN". I probably should look into updating their musical catalogue in my iTunes library, but for now I'll continue to jam to The Love Box [especially "I Let You Down"]. I'm very grateful for my friend introducing me to this group as I don't listen to Vietnamese music at all and they are quite a talented bunch. I hope that they will continue to make awesome music and keep pushing forward after their member lost.

Promo: DISACODE

[from left to right] SHINNOSUKE (bass), AKIRA (vocals), & MA-SHI- (drums)
|Official Site|
DISACODE are a female-fronted visual rock band with electronic, pop, and traditional Japanese influences. They are based in Tokyo, Japan. DISACODE was formed in 2008, by the lead singer and KERA model AKIRA. It took 2 years until band members were found. In April 2010, guitarist DACHI, bassist SHINNOSUKE and drummer MASHI joined AKIRA and thus became DISACODE. (source: last.fm)

Most people know this band through AKIRA and her modeling career with KERA. Last year at Anime Matsuri when AKIRA was a guest, I noticed a lot of fans, mostly girls, were very enthusiastic and excited about her appearance and weren't aware that she is a singer. I was in the reverse position in not knowing she was a model until a couple months before the guest announcement. I found this band almost accidentally. I think I was looking for music for either Discord or Eriscode and the names were similar and there was also a couple YouTube suggestions that caught my interests, so here I am, a fan of their music. Recently, AKIRA has been very active with her modeling and music career. She has become the face for dansou fashion, working on some solo music for anime, such as Kuroshitsuji: Book of Circus, and venturing into theatrical productions like Vampire Knight. AKIRA will be making her second appearance at Texas' Anime Matsuri and DISACODE will be making their American debut there as well. If you're already a fan of the band or you're going to be experiencing them for the first time either after reading this or at Anime Matsuri, keep your eyes peeled for some special DISACODE posts here on Muddy Cult!

Promo: BNR

[from left to right] Heo In Chang and Master Key
Here's a little secret about these promo posts. I have a list of artists and bands that I feel should receive more attention and, obviously, BNR made it on my list after listening to their second mini-album, Irreversible. While trying to gather information about the group for this post, I ran into a few dead ends, which means that there isn't much information on this group. Brand New Radio, or BNR, debuted in October 2010. They released their first mini-album, Purple Sunset, the following year and a promotional video with labelmates Lyn and Verbal Jint. In March 2012, BNR released a single called Gone Crazy After Crying and Laughing and the following year, their second mini-album, Irreversible, was released. Of course, there have been miscellaneous collaborations with labelmates here and there as well.


Unfortunately, I can't really comment on Purple Sunset and "Gone Crazy After Crying and Laughing" due to the fact that I couldn't find it anywhere. Although, watching their first music video was quite lovely and comparing it to the video I first saw from them, "Did not say anything", was a nice step in the right direction in the duo's sound and visuals. Irreversible is an amazing mini-album and I highly highly recommend you guys check it out. I'm assuming their first release was just as good. BNR combines R&B and hip-hop together like their labelmates Verbal Jint and Phantom, but maintain their own unique sound. So, obviously I want you, my lovely followers, to check out BNR and I hope they continue creating more amazing music.

Promo: A*M*E

|Official Site||Official Facebook|
A*M*E began her musical adventure as a teenager when she joined her high school's choir. She started by performing covers from Rihanna and Justin Timberlake and eventually got recognized by producer Andy Gilbert. From there, she released a couple songs and her first single, City Lights. "City Lights" became a viral hit and soon she released two more singles, "Ride or Die" and "Find a Boy". It wasn't until "Play the Game Boy" was released that she received more commercial recognition. By 2013, A*M*E joined Epic Records collaborated with Duke Dumont and made her second commercial hit, "Heartless". As a kpop fan, she also wrote f(x)'s "Beautiful Stranger" and SNSD recorded her track, "Fugitive". Aside from being a singer and songwriter, she also distributes her own fanzine.


I found out about A*M*E on a blog formerly known as The Prophet Blog with the song "Play the Game Boy". I didn't know much about her until I had to make this post, but the little tidbits I picked up made the video for that song make more sense. Her being a fan of kpop fan doesn't really do much for me on the cool meter, but it is kinda cool and interesting. When Chad Future was trying to make his place in the genre, I felt like A*M*E would be better at it without pandering to the fans so obviously and losing her own style. Of course, a Korean American would be better suited to bridge the gap on that. Anyway, it's a little challenging to find her music and she hasn't released any albums yet. From what I've heard, she has a decent range of style and definite talent. I hope she continues on this great path.

Promo: ADAMS

[from left to right] Shota (guitar) & ADAM (vocals)
|Official Site||Official Facebook|
It's been a long time since I've done these, yeah? Borrowing themes of homosexuality from Russian duo t.A.T.u and mixing it with visual kei, ADAM and Shota joined together to form "NEO SEXUAL" rock in ADAMS. ADAMS formed in 2011 and released their first single, Dizzy Love, in August 2012. They still have a small following in Japan, but have taken a leap in touring Europe to visit and entertain the Eves (the fan name). ADAMS' ten year plan is to experiment with various genres and show that homosexual love is just as beautiful and natural as any other type of love.

I found this duo on my Tumblr dash and checked out the two PVs they had out at the time. Initially, I wasn't completely blown away with their talent, but there was something about them that still kept me interested. Fortunately, I did not regret my decision of keeping tabs on them as their music and concepts progressively got stronger and stronger over time. I must admit their music isn't loud, in your face, and possibly not super memorable, but there's definitely something special about them that makes their music charming. The music is admittedly minimalistic and simple, but the lyrics and delivery is what makes it truly enjoyable. They have a strong sense of what they want to do with themselves and their concept, while keeping their bond with each other and their fans. ADAMS has something important that keeps me following groups with potential: chemistry, charisma, and charm. Whether you're watching a music video, a promotional commentary, or samples from their lives, you can feel the drive and love they have for their art and their fans. I truly hope they reach their goal as a duo and continue to improve.

Promo: Mao Denda

|Official Website|

Artist: Mao Denda

Real Name: Denda Mao (傳田真央)
Former stage name: MAO/d
Genre: Jpop, J-Urban
Country: Japan
Years Active: 2000-2013
Status: Active
Notable traits: Clear, confident feminine voice
Recommended Songs: Imasara Aenakute; My Style; Love with Chu; Nakitaku Naru Kedo; Sukitte Iwanai

Mao Denda emerged on the music scene over a decade ago. She released four singles and one album in 2000. Things seemed very promising when 2001 brought two more singles, a remix album, a dvd and a cover album. It seemed that Mao was making a name for herself. Despite all the releases the previous two years had brought, Mao stopped releasing music in 2002 with her only release being one song on a compilation album.

From 2002 until 2006, she only appeared as a featured artist on the work of others and a few live appearances. In late 2006, she reappeared on the music scene with a name change. MAO/d released two singles and a mini album between 2006 and 2007. The following year brought only one release with her appearing on another compilation album.

Mao's next appearance saw her changing her name back to it's original form. She's released eleven singles, one mini album and three albums since reemerging in 2009. Her latest release was the album Semi Double which I'll be reviewing soon here. Her music will appeal to fans of female vocalists like Crystal Kay, Thelma Aoyama, AI and Namie Amuro.

If you like what you read, drop us a comment or an email to let us know your thoughts. You can reach me at mstr.chisato@gmail.com and Miko at zetsu_nightmare2.0.9@hotmail.com. We're both available if you'd like to request a review of music, movies or anime. We're also open to answer any questions you may have!

Promo: DESTROSE

[back row: left to right] Narumi (guitar), Miho (bass), Haruna (drums), Mina (guitar/leader)

[front row] Marina (vocals) 

|Official Website|

Band: DESTROSE
Members: Marina, Mina, Narumi, Miho, Haruna
Genre: Jmetal, jrock
Country: Japan
Years Active: 2005 -
Status: Active
Notable traits: All-girl metal band
Recommended Songs: Nostphilia; Heart's Grave; Romancer; Fenixx;

Formed in 2005 by Mina, DESTROSE went through quite a few lineup changes before finally stablizing. The band has since been going strong with lives and two releases. Their first single with the current lineup, Nostphilia, was released in November 2012. Their self-titled full length album was released in April 2013. The ladies had their American debut, appearing in the United States at Tokyo in Tulsa, in August 2013. They have announced a new single to be released in November 2013. The title has yet to be announced.

Metal isn't what you would expect from looking at DESTROSE. However, looks can be deceiving. These ladies are often compared to X Japan, but I don't agree with it. Their music is more along the lines of SHOW-YA and Galynerus. The comparison to Galynerus isn't far fetched at all. Vocalist Marina was a former student of Galynerus frontman, Masatoshi Ono. His influence is clearly evident in her vocals. Both guitarists, Mina and Narumi, graduated from the Musician's Institute of Japan. Perhaps, a bit of the structure they learned in those classes has helped the band achieve the sound they currently have.

Look no further in your search for a strong female metal band. DESTROSE has everything you're looking for. Give these girls a chance to blow you away. Their music should appeal to fans of SHOW-YA, Galynerus, Aldious and perhaps even exist†trace.

Promo: Magistina Saga

[from left to right] Iori (vocals), Kyo (bass) and Urugi (guitar)

|Official Website|

Band: Magistina Saga
Members: Iori, Kyo, Urugi
Genre: Jrock
Country: Japan
Years Active: 2008 -
Status: Active
Notable traits: Female vocalist
Recommended Songs: Princess False; Persona; 追憶ノ音 (tsuioku no oto); 雪解けの記憶 (yukidoke no kioku); After artifice; End Room; Double Face

Magistina Saga formed in November 2008 under the name Guild. The band held quite a few lives throughout 2009 and released a single [Dark side of the Moon] as a live only release. More lives followed until mid-2010. Their name was changed to Magistina Saga in June of that year. The band continued activities under the new name with more lives. 2011 saw the release of their first mini album [ギルド]. A maxi single called [Each Prayer]followed in January of 2012. Magistina Saga was signed to Starwave Records in August 2012 with their second mini album [The tone of temptation] following in November. 2013 seems full of promise for the band with the release of their 3rd mini album, [Two-facedness of a tale], on August 7th.

It's usually hard for me to find bands with female vocalists that I actually enjoy. Too often in the rock world, those women are trying too hard to sound like their male counterparts. Magistina Saga is a breath of fresh air in that respect. Iori sounds very much like the woman she is. These aren't cutesy vocals or growling attempts to be masculine. Her soft, feminine vocals are complimented by the band's classically inspired gothic sound. It's in this combination that I was drawn to this trio of musicians. I'm looking forward to seeing more from them in the future.

Promo: M.I.B

[from left to right] Cream, Sims, 5Zic, & KangNam


Jungle Entertainment is known for housing iconic hip-hop acts such as Drunken Tiger and Leessang, but, in 2011, they gathered four young men to create a hip-hop group. They were originally called Most Incredible Bastards, but quickly changed their name to Most Incredible Busters or M.I.B. Before releasing their debut album, each member made an individual music video to show off their skills. Later, their first single, G.D.M, was out for the public to hear and watch. It was recorded in the United States and gave a familiar vibe for overseas audiences that resembled Far East Movement. In late 2011, they released their self-titled debut album and later in 2012 the release of their next single, "Celebrate", was unveiled on YouTube.

I must admit "G.D.M" was a little too close to home with the Far East Movement vibe, but when I checked out the individual videos, I was steered a different direction. I recently listened to their debut album and it is nothing like Far East Movement. It fits the Jungle Entertainment sound and it really is hip-hop, unlike Big Bang and Block B claim to be in their beginnings. They have attitude, but they have fun as well. I'm not completely satisfied with their latest video release for "Celebrate", even though it features my favorite female Korean rapper Tasha. Nonetheless, I'm still looking forward to better quality videos and banging music from the boys.

Promo: Lycaon

[from left to right] Satoshi (guitar), Hiyuu (bass), Yuuki (vocals), & Rito (guitar)
|Official Site|


Joining together as a five member band, Lycaon came out with a strong alternative metal sound and equally strong visuals that highlighted each members' distinct personalities. Not too long ago, they released their first full length album, Royal Order, in 2010. Unfortunately, two of the members wasn't happy with the softer direction change and decided to depart. This didn't stop the band from experimenting with their sound and visuals, which has made them grow in the new direction.

I believe a close friend introduced me to the wonders of Lycaon. Their sound, visuals, and concepts are amazing and continue to evolve over the years. They have been a little silent lately, but they're slowly making a return on the scene and I can't help but be stunned by nearly every release. Their latest PV for "Mask" stopped my heart by the natural energy, band chemistry, clever camera work, and overwhelming sex appeal, especially if you watch Hiyuu's interview. With a few j-indies bands I personally enjoy falling prey to the dreaded "d" word, I'm hoping that Lycaon stays strong for years and years.

Promo: SPICA

[from left to right] Kim Boa, Park Narae, Park Joo Hyun, Yang Jiwon, & Kim Bo Hyung

Joining LOEN Entertainment and having some guidance by the iconic Lee Hyori, five talented females were brought together to form SPICA. Some of them were not a stranger to the kpop world. Park Joo Hyun was featured in a song, Kim Boa contributed to rookie group Infinite's vocal growth, Yang Jiwon was a former member of T-ara and Five Girls, and Kim Bo Hyung was a 2NE1 trainee. These experiences helped these girls build a fairly strong foundation for what's to come in the future. They debuted with "Potently" in January with their senior Lee Hyori featured in the music video. They also made a few appearances on radio programs showing off their strong vocal talent.

I first ran into this quintet while skimming EatYourKimchi's kpop chart and saw the music video for "Potently". Eventually after seeing the thumbnail so many times, I caved in and watched it. I do not regret my decision either. Sure, the girls weren't in the video at all, but I thought it was a somewhat good decision to hide their identities. It was a different approach of introducing these polished rookies to the world. You can easily engross yourself with the emotion and depth of the lyrics and delivery without being distracted by learning names or finding a bias, like most viewers would do. Perhaps Hyori benefited from this move as well. When I saw the teaser for "Russian Roulette", I was excited and I normally don't get attached so quickly to kpop groups upon debut. Once the full video was released, I was pleased, despite the predictable storyline. It was nice seeing these beautiful faces behind the equally beautiful voices. They're not your aegyo girl group with sexy dance moves, they simply deliver charming yet humble personalities and vocal talent that more than half of kpop females would kill for.

Promo: ROACH

[from left to right] Daisuke (drums), Katsuya (bass), Taama (vocal), & Kubbochi (guitar)
|Official Site||Official Facebook|

From the land of Okinawa in the year 2003, these four talent individuals joined together to create amazing music. They released their first album, MIND OF THE SUN, in 2007 and their first PV for "Momoiro no Kaze". It was a mixture of hard rock with a hint of traditional Japanese elements, mostly spotted in the vocal arrangements. They became part of the Danger Crue/Maverick family for a few years, until 2010. The band cancelled their contract, released For you, I will and took a short venture in the U.S. On February 8th, they will be releasing a new album called No Reason in the Pit.

I've been following these guys for quite some time. I think it was around the time Girugamesh came into the scene as well. ROACH has a very unique sound that could translate well into America without it blending in too much. Sure, people will have to adjust to the language, but watching the PV for "For you, I will", it didn't seem like people cared. After seeing their latest PV for their upcoming album, I'm really looking forward to seeing an expanded view of their growth. If you're still unsure about these guys, Satoshi (Girugamesh) and Miya (MUCC) have a part in this project. Also, if you enjoy bands like Pay money To my Pain, coldrain, and SiM, then this isn't anything foreign to you.

Promo: Rose Noire

|Official Site|

Louie and Jill studied at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and later joined together to create an entrancing fusion of two different music styles. With a elegant, gothic appearance and a classical, electronic sound, Rose Noire was born and joined Darkest Labyrinth.

I'm not particularly fond of Kiwamu, but lately he has had a great ear for talent. Although, this duo has been placed in the back burner, they have managed to leave a mark in a few places with their first album, Apocalypse. They have also made their first appearance in the U.S. earlier this year at Zenkaikon V. I'm looking forward to seeing Louie and Jill grow stronger and make a lasting impression like their labelmates.

Promo: Daichi Miura

|Official Site|

From a young boy in a group called Folder to becoming "Japan's Smallest Soulman", Daichi Miura has a strong standing in Japanese R&B to the point he's been compared to the late, great Michael Jackson. Recently, he has had a very successful tour and released a new single, Turn Off the Light. Today (or yesterday in Japan time), he released a new album featuring his last single, "Lullaby", and "The Answer".

Despite being part of the major label Avex, I feel that Daichi is an underappreciated talent. Not only does he possesses an amazing vocal range worthy of praise, but he can move effortlessly on the floor. The man writes his own lyrics and constructs his own choreography for Christ's sake! He also has the capability to crossover to the U.S., which has been mentioned countless times here. Never giving his fans anything less than perfection, Daichi continues growing as an artist and perform while staying humble with his accomplishments and positive commentary.



Here's an awesome compilation of his PVs.

Promo: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu

|Official Site|

From the streets of Harajuku and pulled away from KERA fashion magazines, Nakata Yasutaka discovered Kyary and placed her in a studio. With his genius producing skills and guidance, Kyary's debut song immediately became popular around the world and obtained a high standing on the iTune's chart. In 2011, Kyary released her first mini album, Moshi Moshi Harajuku, which included the hit song "PONPONPON", new tracks, and a cover of capsule's "Jelly". She also released a book, Oh! My God!! Harajuku Girl, shortly after.

Even though she's young and merely a model, she has talent and a unique eye for style. With colorful and kooky aesthetics, Kyary has maintained a slow, steady growth to forever penetrate our minds with annoyingly cute and catchy tunes. Although her first TV performance was not the best, this shows this model's human side and I believe if she continues gaining opportunities to perform in front of cameras and live audiences, she will warm up to the stage and kill us with her charisma. Kyary will be releasing a new single on January 11, 2012 called Tsukema tsukeru, be sure to support her!

Promo: Block B

[from left to right] B-BomB, Park Kyung, ZICO, Jae Hyo, P.O, U-Kwon, & Tae Il
|Official Site|

In the beginning of 2011, a well-known rapper by the name of Cho PD was out on a mission to bring seven talented young men together and create wonderful music. By April, the group was revealed as Block B and debuted with their first single, Wanna B. In June, they were part of a mash up show on MTV with rookies B1A4 and soon their first mini album, New Kids on the Block, was released.

At first, I agreed with comments that Block B is like a combination of B2ST and Big Bang, but recently, they're slowly gaining their own image. It's great seeing them wanting to grow as men and performers despite their dislike for doing choreography. They have tons of potential and I hope they continue to grow and become better performers.

Promo: Dev

|Official Youtube|


Discovered by the hot club duo The Cataracs through an Amy Winehouse cover, Dev was brought into the spotlight when the Far East Movement sampled from her song "Booty Bounce". From there she released her first single, "Bass Down Low", which is another great dance track and features The Cataracs as well. According to last.fm, audiences have compared her to Ke$ha, but I call that blasphemy as their style is very different from each other. She has recently done a few collaborations with other artists on her label and contributed to the latest Catarac song, "Top of the World".

With a sexy, alluring singing voice and fierce lyrical skills, Dev joins the ranks with colleagues The Cataracs and Far East Movement with an electro-hop sound. She has a memorable sound and an original flow to her voice and a delivery which blows Ke$ha away with minimal effort. Her latest music video, "In The Dark", keeps true to the feel good, sexy club sound that is trending. It features a slightly different side to Dev by combining her electro-hop with a little retro Latin horns. Not only is the video hot, but it keeps the anticipation high for her upcoming album, The Night the Sun Came Up, which will be released on September 20.

Promo: Aziatix

[from left to right] Nicky Lee, Eddie Shin, & Flowsik
|Official Site|

Aziatix consist of three talented Asian American male artists with various skills and experience in the music scene. Nicky Lee is a popular R&B and soul singer in Taiwan from Los Angeles and contributes a soulful mature edge to Aziatix music. Eddie Shin has self produced his first album in Korea and contributes a strong, unique yet familiar R&B vocal. Lastly, New York underground rapper Flowsik who has done a collaboration with JYJ and adds the hip-hop swag that completes the group. With the help of producer Jae Chong, Aziatix has the potential to make it big in America and possibly give a voice to Asians in the hip-hop industry.

I've explained previously how Korean rap (and even a hint of Asian R&B) music can be popular internationally and Aziatix proves that with a similar formula that OneWay and 2wins display. They have a bit of an upper hand to most Asian acts as they are fluent in English and are American, but even with that it is still difficult for Asians to make a name for themselves in the hip-hop/R&B community.

So far, the trio has a strong fanbase and have released their first mini-album via iTunes. They have also posted a new video on their YouTube channel promoting it. It has their first single, "Go" which gives a familiar emotion, has a genius arrangement, and a memorable chorus. Their second single from the mini is "Cold" which has a slightly different R&B/hip-hop sound than "Go", but is equally enjoyable. I wish Aziatix the best of luck! I believe (with Far East Movement) they can open people's ears to new things.

Promo: Natalia Kills

|Official Site|

Natalia Kills is the new face of innovative dark pop in Cherrytree Records. She started off acting at the age of 7 and moved onto writing music for various soundtracks. She had a couple other aliases before becoming Natalia Kills and signing onto the Cherrytree label. Her most recognized debut was her single, Mirrors. Although, she did have two other promotional videos for "Zombie" and "Activate My Heart" uploaded on her YouTube account.

I believe I was introduced to her through a recommendation on last.fm. Some things played on My Recommended Radio and I checked out her stuff on YouTube. I was easily hooked and sadly was one of those people who felt her sound was a little similar to Lady Gaga. I believe they have a little connection with each other aside from the label, but their sound and style are very much their own. Natalia has the potential to become something in the U.S. as long as dance music is trending and she keeps her face in the music scene. She's doing a pretty decent job by touring with Robyn and Kelis as well as a collaboration song with the rising Asian talent Far East Movement. She also has a short mini film on her account that shows off her acting and directing abilities as well as keep you in suspense of what's going to happen next and the release of future material. She's recently released the single and music video for "Wonderland" to promote her debut album, Perfectionist. It is currently available in the UK and hopefully will be sold in the U.S. soon.



Check out the Director's Cut of "Wonderland"!