We have mentioned before how 2022 has seen an explosion of new indie and underground idol units with many showing signs of exceptional promise. That trend has continued over the past month, so we have again collected several of the new groups we’ll be watching most closely here.
We also have to commend these new idol units for coming up with much better names this year. It got so bad last year that we felt compelled to create a Questionable Name category for the 2021 year-end awards (won in a landslide by Anal Sex Penis, of course; STAiNY and C.LiTZ really dodged a bullet there). Other than a couple of notable exceptions (I’m looking at you, Makenai Bokura wa, Ame no Furu Sekai de Neko to Odoru.), new unit names have been much improved in 2022. Case in point:
THE DEVIL’S KILLING MERRY-GO-ROUND
Unveiled just this past weekend, the announcement of this new unit surprised us all with a couple of very familiar faces.
👿デビキル👿
THE DEVIL’S KILLING MERRY-GO-ROUND
メンバー2人目
ミシェルノワール@nekozenanokamo
NEXT 05/29 21:00…MV解禁 pic.twitter.com/WlGYuubAFs
— THE DEVIL’S KILLING M-G-R official👿12/12渋谷Veats (@devilskillingM) May 22, 2022
That is Michelle, now going by Michelle Noir, who we know from her tenure with NECROMOMIDOL and work as a V-Tuber. She is joined in this new unit by Ragunaroku (or “Ragnarok”), who you may remember as Roku Rokuroku of LAST IN MY CULT, Rikka Yotsuya of No Plan. or from her presence in the Harajuku fashion scene.
👿デビキル👿
THE DEVIL’S KILLING MERRY-GO-ROUND
メンバー1人目
ラグナロク@6666nekura4444
NEXT 05/22 22:00… pic.twitter.com/An5hZ5zBDh
— THE DEVIL’S KILLING M-G-R official👿12/12渋谷Veats (@devilskillingM) May 22, 2022
Since the unit’s name is a mouthful, they have also, thankfully, announced their official abbreviation: “DEVIKIR”. They officially debut on June 17th. Until then, we have this teaser.
👿デビキル👿
メンバー2人目解禁 pic.twitter.com/WPEofz9YQA
— THE DEVIL’S KILLING M-G-R official👿12/12渋谷Veats (@devilskillingM) May 22, 2022
JILLASTED
Also holding their debut live in June are JILLASTED, an idol unit financed entirely via crowdfunding that will be overseen by an “idol management company made with idol otaku.”
The project is the brainchild of Toda Corone who will also produce and perform as a unit member. She just celebrated her sixth year as an idol and you may remember her as a founding member of BLACKNAZARENE or her tenure in ONE BY ONE or atME.
本日5月20日でアイドルを始めてこの業界に入って6周年になりました🐶㊗️ベテランかよ❗️
今年は自分がプロデュースするグループを持つという夢が叶ってのスタートで今までのアイドル戸田ころねとはまた違う景色が見せられるかな…というか見せます JILLASTEDと共に始まる7年目も宜しくお願い致します💖 pic.twitter.com/YmCO1oFUJX
— 戸田ころね (@todacrn_) May 20, 2022
While awaiting their debut, JILLASTED have filled their fledgling YouTube channel with lots of introductory teasers and member interviews.
IZANAGI
Debuting in early May, IZANAGI call themselves “Outsider Idols” trying to make connections to others through music. They are produced by Ichiho Shirahata who is also known as soloist ichihoPOPgazer and a former member/manager of Gekijouban Gokigen Teikoku∞.
Their debut single was composed by Yuyoyuppa, best known as a vocaloid composer and member of N.I.C.K alongside vocaloid composer Yuyoyuppe who composed many of BABYMETAL’s best songs. They also look very similar and I’m not entirely sure that they aren’t the same person. I would love some clarification on that point.
UPDATE: I have been directed to this confirmation that Yuyoyuppa is the younger brother of Yuyoyuppe.
THE ORGANICS
Quietly debuting back in November, hip hop duo, THE ORGANICS, combine deep house, soul and jazz on their very chill tracks.
Although their debut album and MV may have slipped our notice at the time of release, it’s not too late to remedy that oversight and add the excellent, She side story to your playlist.
【サブスク解禁/デジタルEPリリース】
THE ORGANICS 1st EP "She side story"が本日よりリリース開始!!https://t.co/1u53pAOWIi[She side story 収録曲]
1.Chill The Sunset
2.Bitter&Sweet
3.grayscale
4.Still in love
5.can't go back
6.NewLife
7.alive是非リリックにも注目して聴いて下さい!
— THE ORGANICS Chill&Jazzy HipHop (@info_organics) November 14, 2021
Honda-San’s Living Room
Possibly the most unusual group on this list, Honda-San’s Living Room is a “Family Idol” unit with all members sporting the “Honda” surname including an official child member, Kotori. Their aim is to portray a close family whose members sometimes coexist together happily, but other times engages in arguments to the point of violence.
Abbreviated as “HONLIVI”, they are overseen by former Wa-Suta producer Suzuki Manaka. They caught our attention with their debut music video, “Dead and Painful Night”, that seems to be attempting to give DEEP GIRL’s, “I KILL” a run for the most yami of all yami-kawaii MVs.
AXELIGHT
Debuting in Osaka on Friday, AXELIGHT is a sister unit to fellow we-B agency-mate PassCode.
While they have only just completed a single live, they have already dropped their first full album. Check it out on your streaming service of choice.
【🧬2022-05.11-00:00🧬】
Axelight 1st Album「futurist」配信開始
M1,M2,M6 : かめりあ @cametek
M3 : Mameyudoufu @mameyudoufu
M4 : rejection @rejection_dj
M5,M7 : kamiya @ka38_3
Jacket designed by
オクソラ ケイタ @okusora
🔌 : https://t.co/UFkR64n50n pic.twitter.com/KDVPL1xuLt— Axelight (@axlt_official) May 10, 2022
JIEMEI
Debuting back in April, Nagoya’s JIEMEI is the alt-rock sister unit of DARE MO SHIRANAI who we featured in last month’s New and New To Us round-up. We don’t know much more about them, but we love DARESHINAI so we expect good things.
MAD MEDiCiNE
Likewise, we don’t know much about MAD MEDiCiNE beyond that they debuted about a month ago and just dropped this thoroughly delightful MV for their first single, “Perfect Crime ※420”. We do think that they need to host a taiban with MAD JAMIE, MADMAO and MAD VIOLET with special guests MAD CAPSULE MARKETS.
Girls Crying in Bathroom
Unveiled just days ago, this new unit describe themselves as a high-concept dance/vocal group of bright girls who have a delicate inner side full of conflict. Their tagline is, “They will wear your tears and surely turn them into power”.
Shion🍒 https://t.co/p7f54Q4Zuz (Instagramのみ)
Kaho🍊 @gcib_kaho
Rui🐰 @Rui_official09
Nanaka👼🏻 @nanaka_20000215
Minami👑 @minami_s126
是非フォロー宜しくお願い致します🛁
(DMのお返事はできません🙇🏻♀️✉️)#GCiB #ガルバス pic.twitter.com/vXybMqhzBI— Girls Crying in Bathroom (@gcib_official) May 21, 2022
While their description and moody teasers evoke an image of a next generation Maison book girl, their first MV channels more of a hip hop/soul vibe.
So, those are the new units that have caught our attention over the past month or so. Feel free to let us know about any of your recent discoveries here, on Twitter, or over on the Homicidols Discord server.
Wow… how do you Guys keep up 🙂
On a different subject the Situasion vid/song below is new to me. Up to the usual standard and slick dance routine……