Why confine yourself to one style? Why become what the world expects of you when you can be something utterly new? Lively J-Pop septet PSYCHIC FEVER from EXILE TRIBE are here to prove they can’t be placed in one single box. Aliens to all that’s plain and conventional, the boys have previously established themselves as multi-talents, capable of undertaking any vibe. Whether that’s the cheerful uptempo of “BAKU BAKU” or the entrancing noise of “TALK TO ME NICE”, both are done with absolute natural capability by the boys.
In case you’re not aware, PSYCHIC FEVER are elegantly international. Black members of Asian pop groups as scarce, for an industry that delves so much into hip-hop and afrobeats: genres fundamentally from Black culture. Disappointing still is the presence of appropriation that is rampant in the scene. Whenever a group debuts that manages to break the barriers, there’s a greater chance of fresh art to bloom: where minds are open and influences collaborate in a respectful way. Within a group that is hailed for being wholeheartedly multicultural, Nigerian-Japanese rapper, dancer and fashionisto Jimmy is a pillar, alongside other international member Weesa, who is Moroccan-Korean.
The third instalment of their PSYCHIC FILE album series opens with “Reflection”, a calm introduction to an EP that will only ramp up the energy later on. Its R&B elements give way for the boys to show off just how suave they can be on a track: ‘Yo, baby tell me what’s your vibe?’ Simple and euphoric, “Gelato” is the perfect little Summer jig for those in need of happy chemicals. The synthed-up dance-pop track dropped ahead of the EP with its own music video: a tasty canapé to prepare for the vibes to come. Ren, who hops between rapping and singing in the group, has a big vocal part on Gelato, whose sweetness suits the track’s needs. Singers Kokoro and Weesa infuse their own flair too, delivered with sincerity such as in the latter’s opening verse: ‘I love it when the sun is kissin’ / Over my body till it’s tinglin’ / When there was somethin’ that I’m missin’ / Just saw your face got me smitten’.
“EVOLVE” picks up where “Reflection” left off: R&B fused with soft verses and confident bars to prove without a doubt that these boys have got synergy. Jimmy’s rap spotlight in particular couldn’t have been a better chorus; his deep pitch and refined timbre emulates the greats of rap. He, like the other members of PSYCHIC FEVER, shine in their own right, but when they come together in a group it becomes a fabulous performance of chemistry.
The members are evident hip-hop lovers from their previous releases, but their ability to play with many genres and make it sound like their own impresses all. Throwing dance music and uptempo Japanese pop into a blender with R&B and hip-hop and pulling it off is no easy feat. “PROMISE” provides the feel-good dance-house to wrap up the EP with a last hurrah. The all-English lyrics are a sweet pledge to the listener: ‘Catch my hand if you need me / And I promise, I’ll be here forever’. And if they’ll keep on releasing music this good, we certainly hope those words are true.
PSYCHIC FEVER are on Instagram. You can listen to PSYCHIC FILE III here. Tickets to their fanmeeting tour in Europe can be purchased here.