Discover Kroi, Japan’s Next Big Global Band
Kroi is a music star on the rise. Since their major label debut, their groovy hits have helped the group’s popularity soar in Japan. Furthermore, their recent performance in the U.S. marks a key milestone in the group’s global aspirations.
This article aims to address frequently asked questions about the Japanese band Kroi.
Table of Contents
Who is Kroi?
Kroi is a five-member band from Japan. Formed in 2018, the group quickly gained recognition in under a year after coming together, when they were selected from around 3900 groups to perform at one of Japan’s big music festivals, Summer Sonic.
The members of Kroi are deeply involved in their full music creation process, music videos, merchandise, YouTube content, live performances, and more.
The group garnered multiple accolades and great praise in the industry. In 2023, they were included in the Forbes JAPAN 30 UNDER 30 list.
When did Kroi form?
Kroi was formed in February of 2018—thanks to a direct message on Instagram.
Vocalist Leo Uchida and guitarist Yuki Hasebe had previously been in a band together. When their former member left, they began searching for the right bassist and drummer to reform a new group.
Hasebe, who was a fan of bassist Seki’s work on Instagram, reached out about joining their duo.
Five years apart in age, Hasebe and Seki had never once met in person. However, Seki was also familiar with Hasebe’s music through Instagram; he decided to meet them, bringing drummer Hidetomo Masuda along with him. When the four met at a studio in Shibuya, they hit it off in their first music session—and the new group was formed.
The following year, keyboardist Daiki Chiba, a mutual connection of Kroi’s manager, joined the group.
Who are the members of Kroi?
The members of Kroi are Leo Uchida (vocals, guitar), Yuki Hasebe (guitar), Masanori Seki (bass), Daiki Chiba (keyboard), and Hidetomo Masuda (drums).
Further information on each member is available below.
Leo Uchida
Vocalist, Guitarist
Leo Uchida (内田怜央) is the vocalist and guitarist of Kroi. He also writes most of the lyrics for their songs.
He has been praised by many music professionals for his impressive vocal range and rhythmic techniques, particularly his staccato-heavy raps.
A former drummer, Uchida grew up learning the drums in elementary school. He occasionally incorporated various percussion instruments into the group’s live performances.
Yuki Hasebe
Guitarist
Yuki Hasebe (長谷部悠生) is the guitarist for the group. He played a pivotal role in bringing the group together when he reached out to Seki to join the group. He also encouraged the members to perform live, only a month after they first met, which became Kroi’s first live performance.
Hasebe and vocalist Uchida have been making music together since their middle school days.
Masanori Seki
Bassist
Masanori Seki (関将典) is the bassist for Kroi. The oldest member, he also holds a leader-like presence in the group. When he received Hasebe’s DM, he had already graduated college and was working in an office position as a salesman. Seki went to college with drummer Masuda.
Hidetomo Masuda
Drummer
Hidetomo Masuda (益田英知) is the drummer for the group. He is the one who came up with the band’s name.
Prior to pursuing music professionally with Kroi, he had also graduated college and was working as a system engineer.
Daiki Chiba
Keyboard
Daiki Chiba (千葉大樹) is the keyboardist of Kroi. Chiba discovered Kroi through their manager, who was also his roommate. Impressed by the band’s performance, Chiba expressed his interest in joining the group.
He debuted with Kroi in 2019, with the song “Polyester.” Check it out below.
What genre of music is Kroi?
Kroi’s music takes inspiration from a variety of genres, including funk, soul, rock, and hip-hop. This eclectic blend of musical genres is often described in Japanese as a “mixture” style.
In one interview, bassist Seki expressed, “I don’t want to create songs that are biased toward one genre. I want to freely explore various elements in our music.”
Does Kroi create their own songs?
Kroi’s songs are a collaborative effort within the band. Songs are credited to the entire band, with lyrics typically credited to Uchida.
When discussing their song production process, Uchida shared his usual practice of preparing a demo to share with the group. The members then work on expanding and refining the song, focusing on enhancing their parts during their sessions. Most lyrics are written by Uchida, with Seki providing support in the process.
During an interview, they discussed how Uchida’s demos are thoroughly developed, including lyrics and different musical parts. However, Uchida stresses that the song-creation process is always collaborative. He explains, “By allowing everyone to tweak something that I once considered complete, we can create something beyond my imagination.”
How did Kroi get recognized?
A year after they formed, Kroi gained recognition through their appearance at Summer Sonic in 2019.
As one of Japan’s big music festivals, Summer Sonic holds an annual audition process for emerging bands to showcase their talent.
The audition process consists of an application, a performance in front of a panel of judges, and a live house performance. Out of approximately 3900 applicants, only thirty were selected to perform, and Kroi was one of them.
Given its size and scale, Summer Sonic served as a significant stepping stone for Kroi to gain visibility and recognition within the music industry. Following their performance, they received 10 different offers from various record labels. Ultimately, they chose IRORI Records, which provided the most direct support for the band’s growth.
What is Kroi’s debut song?
In 2018, the group debuted with their first single, “Suck a Lemmon.”
In June of 2021, the group had their major record label debut with their first album, LENS.
That year, renowned Japanese music producer Yaffle (often known for his work with Fujii Kaze) included one of the album songs, “Balmy Life,” in his best songs of the year.
Has the group performed outside of Japan?
In March 2024, Kroi performed in the United States for the first time, at the Friends from the East Festival Official Showcase × SXSW. Held in Austin, Texas, the festival has a history of featuring many rising Japanese acts, including King Gnu in 2017.
The group has ambitious goals of achieving international recognition. Seki expressed this sentiment in an interview, sharing, “We’ve spoken before about becoming artists who can thrive overseas. As our activities broaden, that desire grows stronger…”
With their sights set on global success, it’s exciting to anticipate where their musical journey will lead them next.
Why is Kroi popular?
Kroi’s rapid rise in popularity can be attributed to several reasons. Here are a few below:
Lyricism
“I want to deconstruct the Japanese language.”
Leo Uchida
“I want to deconstruct the Japanese language,” is what vocalist Uchida shared in one TV appearance when he was working on song lyrics for the group. Uchida grew up listening to Western music; while he couldn’t understand the meaning behind the English lyrics, he loved the music nonetheless. This perspective has shaped his value of centering the sound of the lyrics, creating Kroi’s catchy and distinct lyricism in every track.
Creativity
When exploring Kroi’s discography, it becomes clear that the band’s creativity is boundless. From their genre-defying music to their innovative use of unconventional percussion instruments, the band continuously pursued self-differentiation and growth in their musical journey. As keyboardist Chiba aptly puts it, “While staying true to the sounds and arrangements of the music we admire, we’re consciously steering clear of imitation, producing something that sounds completely fresh.”
Teamwork
Kroi places great value on their teamwork. Uchida emphasizes the importance of a healthy team dynamic, stating, “By placing a real emphasis on relationships, we strive to create the best possible work.” From their highly collaborative song-making process, it is evident that the band exhibits a strong sense of cooperation.
Another notable aspect of their team-focused approach is in their deliberate choice to not center their frontman. Kroi’s live performances are organized like music sessions, and every individual has many moments to shine on stage. This not only gives a more distinct, “live”-like feel apart from their tracks, but also showcases the high-caliber skills of their exceptional members.
While each member of Kroi is great, their collective talent is even greater.
Where do I follow Kroi?
Follow the band through the links below:
Official website: https://kroi.net/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc9CJVSnJx5WTq8E9T4bIoA
X (Formerly Twitter) Staff Account: https://twitter.com/KroiOfficial
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kroiofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kroi_official/
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