The Japanese House is back today (March 20) with a new single — listen to “BOYHOOD” below.
The singer-songwriter, real name Amber Bain, initially teased her comeback last month by posting a photo of herself on Instagram with the caption “News coming soon” and inviting fans to subscribe to her mailing list.
The last time The Japanese House released new music was in 2020 in the form of the EP “Chewing Cotton Wool”. Her only studio album, Good At Falling, was released the year before.
The new single “BOYHOOD” is an ode to the complexities of gender and sexuality, with gentle electronic beats and guitar parts creating a backdrop for Bain’s soft and harmonious vocals.
In the accompanying video, Bain watches his projection from the bed in the image of one of the couples riding horses through lush green fields.
Speaking about visual effects, she said: “When Katie and I were young and in love, we dreamed of riding away on her horse Bam Bam, away from all the problems that arose due to the fact that we were gay and were in love at that time.
“This song is about how sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you can’t help but be a product of what happened to you or held you back earlier in life. But also, and more importantly, it is about the hope of overcoming these problems. Look at us now: they are not going away, but towards… something.
She continued, “This horse was very sweet to us, but I think deep down, Bam Bam was the horse we rode all this time, and wherever I rode in my life, Katie would ride bareback behind me like crazy, arms around me like we were always planned. Rip Bam Bam xxx”
The Japanese house is due to appear on July 2 at The 1975, the largest show in the history of the UK, in London’s Finsbury Park, accommodating more than 40,000 people. Cigarettes after sex, bleachers and American football will also be played with “much more” yet to be announced. Find the remaining tickets here.
