Music

MadeInTYO Is A Cyberpunk Hero In His Anime-Inspired ‘To The Moon/Throw It Back’ Video

TYO’s album ‘Never Forgotten’ is out now on Private Club. …

MadeInTYO’s latest video from his new album Never Forgotten gets super literal with its concept, dropping him on Luna’s surface to perform half the video while borrowing influences from Japanese pop culture in the other. The video’s first half is an Akira-inspired cyberpunk fantasy with TYO speeding through a futuristic cityscape on a sleek motorcycle and rapping while surrounded by iconic images like Takashi Murakami’s smiling flowers. The second half puts TYO on the moon, where he raps with Earth in the background.

MadeInTYO made his return to the spotlight earlier this year after a two-year hiatus in the wake of his 2018 album Sincerely, Tokyo. While he made appearances in 2019 with ASAP Ferg on “Wam” and Chance The Rapper and DaBaby on “Hot Shower,” in 2020, he got back to work in earnest. First he appeared with Ferg once again on “Move Ya Hips” featuring Nicki Minaj, then he reunited with Chance on “BET Uncut,” which also featured Smino. His efforts culminated in the release of his second album, Never Forgotten, which released on October 30 and featured appearances from Cam’ron, Chynna, J Balvin, Toro Y Moi, Wiz Khalifa, and Young Nudy.

Album Review

Paul Terry, Aptøsrs & Cellarscape unite on bold new album “Alternative Piano Club”

Combining his three artistic alter egos, Paul Terry presents an awe-inspiring new 12-track album, “Alternative Piano Club,” written in collaboration with Aptøsrs and Cellarscape. This is an album-length voyage of music that blends acoustic, rock, and piano-driven cinematic sounds.

Torn between this complex emotional spectrum, all the while the piano remains at its core throughout. Paul Terry opens his “Memento Mori (Chromogenic Phase)” contemplatively, creating a solemn, reflective mood. Cellarscape’s “Three Years Of Roses“ is warmer, whereas Aptøsrs’ “Questionnaires“ is much more textured as a large, sculptural post-rock.

“Dave’s Theme,” written by Paul Terry, musically expands the narrative with a touch of cinematic elevation that aligns well. “We Shape The Clouds” by Cellarscape is fluffy and heart-warming, “Writers Behind The Curtain” is somber, more narrative. We are all together in “A Place We Made,” an honest, intimate, emotionally grounded space.

The project contains vocal warmth and cultural depth in the song “This Is My Home“ by Silas Miami & Lana Crowster. Proceeding in a totally different direction is the stronger emotional clarity of Paul Terry’s acoustic storytelling on “Any Time You Want To Fly” and “No Sleep Has Come.” Cellarscape presents a wide, spacious atmospheric moment in “Cygnus,” while Aptøsrs ends with “Rust Mountain (Monochrome Piano Version),” a simple gem that brings the project full circle.

The mixing of Sam Okell and Adam Noble, the mastering of Alex Wharton and Robin Schmidt have, in many ways, brought their polish to it while still making it feel human. “Alternative Piano Club” is a work entity, where three musical personalities met and talk mind in the same emotional language.

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Artist Spotlight

LAST ALEX! balances precision and pulse on the electrifying track “Plus 1”

LAST ALEX!, a Chicago-based artist and producer, comes out with “Plus 1,” a high-energy release that combines technical prowess with an undeniable melodic instinct.

LAST ALEX! puts both craftsmanship and creativity on display here. The song’s strength lies in its balance, in detailed execution without sacrificing feeling, and in complexity without losing momentum.

LAST ALEX! doesn’t fully lean into the cold technique or loose emotion, but finds the sweet spot where skill and soul meet. This yields a polished, vibrant, and musically confident track.

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