Tatsuya Ueda, from the renowned JPOP group KATーTUN, has recently unveiled his exceptional debut solo Digital EP “GRST!” It is now streaming worldwide on major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, and more!
▼Link to streaming platforms▼
https://stormlabels.lnk.to/GirisutoWe
“GRST!” is the title track of Tatsuya’s first solo EP and was created for his solo concert “MOUSE PEACE 2024~Garyu Tensei~.” The song was written at Tatsuya’s request in collaboration with ARASHI’s Sho Sakurai, whom he calls “Aniki1,”
The bond and friendship between Tatsuya and Sho, who worked together on the song, is palpable in the intriguing melody and flowing lyrics. The song serves as a reminder of the special connection they share and how their collaboration has not only resulted in a piece of art but also strengthened their bond as friends and creative partners.
Comment from Sho Sakurai
Around the fall of last year, Ueda-kun contacted me directly and asked if I would be interested in writing a song together. While I was somewhat hesitant, he spoke passionately about his “feelings for the fans.“
Isn’t collaboration that transcends group boundaries something that only we can do? Such things are something that our fans would be happy to see. That’s the kind of entertainment we want to deliver now. As I was touched by this passionate desire, this project began to move forward.
It was very fresh and enjoyable to spend time coming up with the lyrics, considering that he would be the one holding the mic and rapping and not me. At his request, we also created a dialogue with the audience, making it an “audience-participating” song, a call-and-response.
I would be happy if you could listen to the song as if you were “participating” in the live performance.
Thank you very much for your cooperation.
About the Tracks
The EP bursts into life with the electrifying title track “GRST!” and “Hikari Sasu Hou He,” two rock-infused anthems that showcase Tatsuya’s astounding vocal range. A delightful surprise for fans, both tracks were crafted in collaboration with Sho Sakurai of ARASHI, adding an extra layer of excitement to this musical journey.
The 6-track EP reaches its climax with the sweeping and uplifting pop piece “Cantabile,” delves into Tatsuya’s sensual side with the seductive and sultry pop-rock track “Lollipop,” which piques curiosity with the silly and energetic fan favorite “Yankee Kataomoi Chu,” and entrances with heartfelt Latin-sampling sounds in “Hana No Mau Machi.“
“Hikari Sasu Hou He” is the second track on the EP, a catchy tune infused with a rock foundation. The Official Lyric Video features a bold and intense tempo that will have you itching to rock out.
Sho’s influence on the lyrics of this song is unmistakable, much like with “GRST!” The flow of words and choice of vocabulary bears the distinct “Sho Sakurai” signature. Yet, they harmonize seamlessly with Tatsuya’s personal style, resulting in a perfect blend of their individual approaches. It’s remarkable how Sho has developed a unique style that remains identifiable regardless of the interpreter while still allowing room for the other person’s style to shine through. This dynamic underscores the strong bond between the two of them and transcends the confines of their respective groups, showcasing a truly collaborative and synergistic relationship.
Comment from Tatsuya Ueda
First of all, I am very happy to be able to distribute my solo songs and make them available to the public.
The album includes “Yankee Kataomoi Chu,” one of my best-known solo songs, “Hana no Mau Machi,” for which Tekken-san drew a Parapara manga, and many other solo songs that have never been made into sound recordings.
As for the title track “GRST!“: I have always wanted to work on a song with Sho Sakurai.
And if that were to happen, I’m sure the fans would be very happy… I’ll be happy too… The fans would be happy too…
Win-win, isn’t it? I thought to myself, “What a win-win…” lol
With that in mind, I asked Sho-kun directly to do it, and he graciously accepted. As you can hear, this song has a lot of meanings. One of them is the relationship between Sho-kun and me.
In addition to that, each of us put our feelings into the song like a microphone relay, so it is like a unit song…. It is the kind of song that makes you imagine such a thing. There are a lot of great phrases in this song, so please listen to it!
I hope you will listen to it!
▼Follow Tatsuya Ueda on Instagram!▼
https://www.instagram.com/tatsuya.ueda_kt/
▼More from Storm Labels!▼
・EP official Twitter (Japanese)
・Official Website
- “Aniki” is a more informal term for brother, and is used when talking to someone who is older than you or someone who you respect. ↩︎