Japanese musician Haru Nemuri blends pop, rap, EDM and so much more

"titles often in English. "The English language has much stronger rhythmic contrasts compared to Japanese, so it's easier to work with English from a rhythmic perspective," Haru explains in an email. But the use of synths and English are about the only things Nemuri has in common with more mainstream J-pop performers. Unlike nearly all of them, she writes her own material, and it's bracingly eclectic. In addition to synth-pop, Nemuri incorporates elements of rap, rock, electronic dance music, hardcore punk and Western choral music."

"oppression of women and, on the new song "Symposium," Japan's refusal to acknowledge its imperial past. "This country sucks," she announces during a quick pause of the crashing electro-beats. The Tokyo-based musician was born 30 years ago in nearby Yokohama, and given the name Haruna Kimishima. She adopted her stage name, which means "spring sleeping," nine years ago. "There's a famous old Chinese poem that begins, 'In spring, one sleeps right through the dawn.' I took my name from that line," Haru writes."

Haru Nemuri employs synth-generated backing tracks and sings mainly in Japanese while often using English refrains and titles for rhythmic contrast. She writes her own material and fuses synth-pop with rap, rock, electronic dance music, hardcore punk and Western choral music. Her lyrics frequently engage political themes, including the oppression of women and Japan's refusal to acknowledge its imperial past. The stage name Haru Nemuri, meaning "spring sleeping," was adopted nine years ago and has become the performer's primary identity. The new third full-length album, Ekkolaptómenos, draws inspiration from Walter Benjamin and references Angelus Novus.

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