"I still got something to do with my life": Fujii Kaze opens up about career, new album, Prema, and more

Fujii Kaze admits there was a moment when he thought he had said all he could in Japanese. After two full-length albums, the singer-songwriter questioned whether there was a next step for him in music at all. But that doubt eventually led him somewhere unexpected: to Prema, his third record and his first written fully in English.

In his exclusive interview with NME, the Japanese alt-pop artist shared that his sudden rise to popularity took him outside his original plans.

“It was so unexpected. I didn’t care much about TikTok or short-form content before, but I realised how big it can be – that platform can be and for the music business as well. It felt very unexpected. It’s like certain blessings from God or something.”

The viral reach of Shinunoga E-Wa in 2022 expanded his audience overnight, but it also brought unease. Fujii Kaze reflected:

“I’d already released two full-length albums and I felt like I could say everything I wanted to say at that time, especially in Japanese. I [was] totally lost [about] what is the next step, next chapter for me as an artist. I didn’t know.”

Then, a turning point reached him when he was asked to contribute music to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

“Thankfully, I got an opportunity to make a new song for the [tournament]. That helped me a lot because it was like life told me, ‘There’s still something you can do.’”

"Something positive, something uplifting": Fujii Kaze brings LA vibes and '80s energy on Prema

That FIBA commission gave Fujii Kaze the motivation to leave Japan temporarily and write abroad. He told the outlet about his time in Los Angeles, sharing:

“The weather. The sunshine. The vibes inspired me a lot, somehow. The atmosphere, the temperature and everything made me want to make something positive, something uplifting, something more energetic.”

The singer said that the LA mood carries into Prema, an album rich with ’80s influences, adding:

“I love the passion that era had. Look at Michael Jackson‘s or Madonna’s music videos. They were so creative and full of passion for the art and creativity. I’d love to bring that feeling back to this era.”

Prema also marks his first time building a song entirely from scratch with other writers, including the track Hachikō.

“It was quite challenging and [such a] different experience for me. Now I’m feeling like I have to do that more often because it gave me some very unexpected ideas and totally different kind of inspiration.”

For Fujii Kaze, performing those songs live has been its own learning process. Following his Amy Winehouse’s “Love Is A Losing Game” cover in London, the alt-pop singer grinned:

“I think I am so brave to even do that.”

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And in his own words, there is still more on the horizon:

“I still got something to do with my life.”

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