In this series, I spotlight artists highly recommended by music fans, experts, and insiders - helping you to discover your next favorite act, on the rise.
When Billyrrom first started, most of its members had never even played in a band before. Many of them had just barely picked up their instruments.
Now, they’ve become one of the country's biggest acts on the rise. Here’s a quick look at their story.
Formed in 2020, Billyrrom is made up of six mutual friends from Machida, Tokyo: Rin (guitar), Mol (vocals/guitar), Shunsuke (drums), Taiseiwatabiki (bass), Yuta Hara (DJ/VJ/MPC), and Leno (keyboard/synth).
The band mixes various genres, including soul, funk, rock, and pop, in what they call “Tokyo Transition Soul.”
Their name blends two inspirations: jazz pianist Bill Evans and “the nomadic spirit of the Roma people.” According to their website, it symbolizes “their commitment to spreading their music across various places.”
Billyrrom began in 2020, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. With campus life on pause and extra time to fill, Rin suggested to Mol that they start a band together. Once Mol agreed, Rin invited two childhood friends, Shunsuke and Taiseiwatabiki, to join them.
Initially, the band began with the four members noted above. As Billyrrom continued, Leno and Yuta came on board, completing the six-member lineup.
“In our case, we just had to practice a lot.”
When Billyrrom started, most of them were complete beginners in their respective instruments. Even Rin, who had formed the group, was just learning how to play guitar.
Yet, the band turned inexperience into their strength. “If we weren’t beginners, I’m sure there would’ve been more moments of frustration,” Rin says in an interview. “But in our case, we just had to practice a lot.”
Billyrrom threw themselves into every part of the process: rehearsing, booking shows without knowing how live houses worked, and figuring out songwriting as a team.
Their hard work, paired with good teamwork, soon paid off. In just a few years, Billyrrom was selling out shows and performing at some of the country’s biggest music festivals - including Fuji Rock, a festival the band had dreamed of playing.
Their online presence grew just as fast, with millions of streams and successes on the viral charts; this year, they were selected for Spotify Japan’s RADAR: Early Noise, a program highlighting the nation’s most promising emerging acts.
Billyrrom’s rise hasn’t been limited to Japan. Their streaming success has drawn attention from audiences abroad, and the band has gained international recognition, appearing on music lists from Fender NEXT and NetEase Cloud Music.
Next year, they will be going on their Jupiter= Asia tour.
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As a big fan myself, Billyrom’s rise and international success have been exciting to see - and personally, I think it’s also a powerful example of just how far a beginner’s mindset and good friends can take you in life.
Check out my article on utatune.com, to learn more about Billyrrom, beyond what’s written here.
There’s detailed info about the band, member profiles, and their interesting Fuji Rock story.1
I also highly recommend this interview by TOKYO MUSIC RADAR with MC mikako (English subtitles are available.)
Be sure to support Billyrrom, via the links below!
Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | X
PIA Sonar Music Friday Interview
McGuffin - Billyrom and Machida YouTube Video
A great story that is…manifestation at its finest…
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