[Roundup] Non-Idol Picks of Q2 2020

by Garry

HALLCA – Twisted Rainbow ⁄ Pink Medicine

I think at this point it’s pretty clear that City Pop has easily passed its peak, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t still plenty of artists releasing quality material in the genre. One such example of this being former Especia member Tominaga Haruka, now a soloist under her HALLCA moniker, who I’ve featured in these articles a couple of times in the past. Her single “Twister Rainbow / Pink Medicine” is the follow-up to her fantastic “VILLA” album from last year and provides us with two more tracks in that addictive 70s throwback style of Pop that has seen itself really become something of a timeless sound in recent years. The release is a great example of the different things you can do with the genre, with the lead track opting for bright vocal melodies and even brighter instrumentation while “Pink Medicine” takes on that richer, smoother, positively ear melting tone that is a distinct and much loved hallmark of the City Pop style. I wouldn’t say that anything here really seeks to reinvent the wheel or anything like that but if you’re a fan of this stuff like I am and can’t get enough of that 70s Pop sound then there’s plenty of it here for us all to enjoy.


Stream It Here