Following the global resurgence of 80s City Pop, a new generation of Japanese artists has emerged, consciously blending the genre’s defining characteristics—sophisticated grooves, smooth vocals, and jazzy harmonies—with contemporary elements like R&B, Hip Hop, and Indie Rock. This new wave is often termed “Neo-City Pop” or “City Pop Revival.”
🎸 Bands and Groups
| Artist | Style & City Pop Connection | Notable Tracks / Success |
| Suchmos | The Mid-2010s Pioneers. They spearheaded the Neo-City Pop movement, fusing Acid Jazz, Funk, and AOR (Adult-Oriented Rock) into a stylish, urban sound that captured the post-millennial zeitgeist. Their smooth, laid-back grooves are heavily influenced by 80s Japanese and Western funk. | “STAY TUNE,” “Pacific” |
| Nulbarich | Cool, International AOR. Led by JQ, Nulbarich crafts music rooted in R&B, Soul, and Funk. Their sound is highly polished, multilingual, and distinctly cosmopolitan, carrying on the global-minded sensibility that defined original City Pop. | “NEW ERA,” “VOICE” |
| Awesome City Club | Retro-Modern Pop. Their music draws heavily from 70s/80s New Music and City Pop, evident in their melodic structure, vocal harmonies, and general atmospheric mood. They successfully blend retro aesthetics with modern production techniques. | “Wasurena” (which achieved massive mainstream success) |
| LUCKY TAPES | Light & Comfortable Groove. They create music that is cheerful and breezy, incorporating elements of Funk, Soul, and Bossa Nova. Their use of vibrant horn sections evokes the colorful, luxurious soundscapes of classic City Pop. | “T.U.B.E.,” “Boogie Nights” |
| Rikon Densetsu (離婚伝説) | Romantic Retro-Rock. A band gaining rapid attention in the 2020s, they faithfully reproduce the romantic, funky atmosphere of 70s New Soul and 80s City Pop, delivering it through a modern power trio format. | “Ai Nante (愛なんて),” “Saraba Seishun (さらば青春)” |
| YONA YONA WEEKENDERS | The Weekend Soundtrack. They self-proclaim their music as “Good Music for Snacking (つまみになるグッドミュージック).” Their sound is pure, mellow groove, based on Funk and Soul, establishing them as a key voice in the modern “light mellow” City Pop scene. | “Nights Before Nights,” “Naisu na Kokoro (ないすなこころ)” |
🎤 Solo Singers and Artists
| Artist | Style & City Pop Connection | Notable Tracks / Success |
| Vaundy | Pop with Genre-Bending Sophistication. While highly versatile, Vaundy frequently utilizes sophisticated synth arrangements and rhythmic grooves reminiscent of City Pop, blending them with contemporary pop and rock to achieve mass appeal. | “Kaiju no Hana Uta (怪獣の花唄),” “Odoriko (踊り子)” |
| Fujii Kaze | Soulful, Global R&B. His music is fundamentally rooted in R&B, Soul, and Jazz, sharing the same goal as classic City Pop artists like Tatsuro Yamashita: creating sophisticated, Western-influenced pop music with high production value. His international appeal is significant. | “Kirari (きらり),” “Shinunoga E-wa (死ぬのがいいわ)” |
| kiki vivi lily | Urban and Ethereal. Her style is a blend of R&B, Jazz, and Hip Hop beats. Her cool, floating vocal style and urban soundscapes capture the essence of City Pop’s refined, metropolitan mood. | “A-m-a-i,” “C.h.r.o.m.e.” |
| Anna Takeuchi | Soulful and Pop-Forward. Born in Los Angeles, her music naturally integrates American R&B and soulful grooves, resulting in catchy, contemporary tracks that owe a debt to the laid-back, groovy side of City Pop. | “Strikin’ Out,” “Free! Free! Free!” |
These artists demonstrate that the City Pop sound is not just a relic of the past, but a vibrant and evolving influence that continues to shape the future of Japanese popular music on a global scale.
