On March 11, some of Japan’s fastest rising independent musicians will take to Austin, TX for a dual-stage showcase at Mohawk (912 Red River St.) presented by The Orchard Japan, LD&K, FRIENDSHIP., Spincoaster, and Tune Core Japan: on the outdoor stage is Tokyo Calling and inside will be Inspired By Tokyo. Now in its third year, the CEIPA-supported event aims to create a platform for alternative Japanese artists to showcase their talents overseas. More info on timing and lineups below, and find more info on each performer here + RSVP here.

The Japanese alternative music scene is as rich as ever, whether it’s goth-inflected rock, genre-bending hip-hop, infectious garage pop, or meditative indie. Having curated a vast range of performers — from the four piece alternative rock and roll band Enfants, to VivaOla’s critically acclaimed modern R&B sensibilities — the array of sounds on both stages will be unmissable.

Of the showcase, FRIENDSHIP.’s Kazuto Yamazaki says: “These artists have already attracted significant attention in Japan and are now ready to make their mark on the international stage. We are thrilled to introduce them to industry professionals and audiences at SXSW 2025.”

Takafumi Sugahara of LD&K says: “Tokyo Calling is one of Japan’s largest live house circuit festivals, held in Tokyo since 2016. Over the course of three days, 400 artists perform across 40 venues, attracting an audience of 12,000 people. We hope to serve as a bridge to introduce Japan’s incredible live bands to the world.”

TOKYO CALLING

GOKUMON (Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai)
[9:30 – 10:10pm]
GOKUMON (Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai) was formed in 2004 by guitarist/vocalist Atsushi Osawa, drummer/vocalist Asuka Kawamoto, and bassist/vocalist Junko. With the rare combination of a male vocalist and a female rhythm section, they have created a unique style that pairs a powerful sound driven by a 7-string guitar and 5-string bass with quirky, life-inspired lyrics. Celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2024, they launched a variety of projects under the theme “20!+39!=59!” (“Twenty! Thank You! Fifty-Nine!”) and culminated the year with their largest-ever solo performance at LaLa Arena TOKYO-BAY in Chiba Prefecture. The event was a resounding success.

Chiaki Mayumura
[10:30 – 11:10pm]
Chiaki Mayumura is a singer-songwriter who attracts fans with her outstanding singing ability, over-unique performances, and genius songwriting. Since 2019, she has released seven albums and more than 130 songs. Her songs are often used in Japanese-animation and movie theme songs and TV-CM songs.

Enfants
[11:30 – 12:10am]
Enfants is a four-piece alternative rock band. Q, their first EP released in 2023, caught organic attention from prominent musicians and radio programs alike across Japan, pushing them in to the top of national viral charts. Ever since, Enfants have been performing tirelessly across Japan’s live house circuit, even appearing at Summer Sonic 2024, one of Japan’s biggest music festivals. Frontman Dai Matsumoto’s Japanese lyrics intertwine with the music to express the struggles and anger of living with a sharp cynicism. Balancing a fine line between the loneliness and empathy inherent in rock, Matsumoto’s expressive vocals bring a trembling beauty to the band’s sound.

TOKYO SYOKI SYODO
[12:30 – 1:10am]
TOKYO SYOKI SYODO is a Japanese girl band that combines punk elements with rock and pop. The band consists of Sheena (vocals, guitar), Mare (guitar), Asaka (bass), and Nao (drums). In 2019, they launched their own label Cherry Virgin Records, and made their debut album. Their sensational music and live performances attract a lot of attention: they performed at SXSW in 2024 for the first time, as well as FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL ’24, one of Japan’s leading music festivals.

INSPIRED BY TOKYO

Fuki Kitamura
[9:10 – 9:50pm]
Last year, Fuki Kitamura expanded her musical horizons with her first EP, 500mm, focusing on dance music while also incorporating R&B, solo piano, strings, choral arrangements, folk, and ambient elements. Her unique one-woman performance style started gaining traction among early adopters in the music scene. Now, Kitamura continues to evolve her sound as she works on her first full-length album. As she prepares for SXSW 2025, she remains an artist in constant transformation, pushing the boundaries of her music with an unrelenting creative ambition.

VivaOla
[10:10 – 10:50pm]
VivaOla is an R&B singer based in Tokyo. With a one-of-a-kind beautiful voice, his sophisticated sound blends R&B with elements of hip-hop, soul, and other genres. His lyrics, skillfully switching between English, Japanese, and sometimes Korean, captivate a wide range of listeners. Having been selected as one of Japan’s top 25 artists in Rolling Stone Japan’s “Future of Music” list, he’s also contributed to the solo work of Ryūji Imaichi from J SOUL BROTHERS Ⅲ.

luvis
[11:10 – 11:50pm]
Singer-songwriter, trackmaker, and guitarist luvis seeks to connect primal emotions — those that precede words — passed down through generations to people living today and to those of future eras. Drawing influence from jazz, soul music, alternative rock, folk, and the natural world, his organic sound and distinctive voice captivate listeners, while luvis’ lifelong theme of exploring what love truly means surges through his creative endeavors. The title track of his latest EP, Blue Inside You, gained international attention through WXPN’s World Cafe, being featured in the 2025 broadcast of EIGHT-JAM’s “Best 10 Songs of the Year Chosen by Professionals” segment, and reached #8 on Spotify’s Viral Chart.

XAMIYA
[12:10 – 12:50pm]
XAMIYA — the Tokyo-based duo blending alternative, electronic, rock, pop, punk — was formed after their first collaboration on the song “DE JA VU.” Since then, the group has continued to create, collaborate, and refine their global sound, taking inspiration from artists such as The Strokes, Lily Allen, Mura Masa, Kenya Grace, and Pink Pantheress.  As Japanese street culture leaders, Xansei and Kamiya have a unique mindset,  leading to a world of bursting creativity and hopes of delivering a project unlike any heard before.