6 days ago
E-Junkies: J-pop group Psychic Fever talk global goals and new EP , Entertainment News
It's been over a year since Psychic Fever from Exile Tribe dropped their hit song Just Like Dat, and AsiaOne recently caught up with the Japanese boy band to find out how their journey has been since.
The Just Like Dat music video, which premiered in January 2024, has amassed over 20 million views on YouTube and youngest member Weesa, 21, said they didn't expect the virality.
"It made us happy to see it create buzz on social media platforms like TikTok. When we went overseas, we were really happy fans could sing along to our song," he added.
The song was well-received internationally and on TikTok, netizens covered the song under the hashtag #JustLikeDatChallenge.
@psyfe_official #JustLikeDatChallenge #JustLikeDat 🙌 #PSYCHICFEVER #99_9_Psychic_Radio #99_9MHz ♬ Just Like Dat feat. JP THE WAVY - PSYCHIC FEVER from EXILE TRIBE
Formed in 2019, the seven-member group - consisting of Tsurugi, Ryoga Nakanishi, Ren Watanabe, Jimmy, Kokoro Kohatsu, Ryushin Handa and Weesa - had a few pre-debut releases before their official debut in July 2022 with the album P.C.F.
Ryoga, 27, recalled how they spent six months training in Thailand right after their debut.
"We faced many challenges there but it was a valuable experience for us. We learned a lot of things which helped us go global," he said.
J-pop has been having a resurgence of sorts in recent years, and when asked how they felt being part of this new wave, Kokoro, who turns 25 in November, added how they debuted with the main goal of going global.
Now that they have - the group has toured Asia, Europe and the US the past year - he said they hope to become a leading music group while preserving their individual styles. Their new EP
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The group recently released their EP Psychic File III, and while the title track Gelato is a catchy summer tune, it's only a peek at what Psychic Fever has to offer.
"In this EP we have four songs and each one is in a different genre, so I think it can be enjoyed by people of all ages," said Ryushin, who turns 24 in Deccember.
The song he recommends? Reflection.
"It has our usual style but also a different way of expression. Please pay attention to the lyrics and choreography as well," he added.
Meanwhile, Tsurugi's pick is Evolve.
"When you listen to this track, you can really feel the energy we bring to our live shows. More than anything, it excites me everytime I hear it, so it's definitely one of my favourite songs," said the 28-year-old. Psychic Fever behind the cameras
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Having spent so much time touring the past year, we wanted to know what they've learnt about each other.
The question though, was met with seven loading buttons.
At one point, Ren, 25, seemed to be thinking up an answer and after a few minutes of the members waiting for his thoughts, he gave up and facepalmed.
Ever-so-motherly Ryoga stepped up with a response: "We spent a lot of time together during our US tour and I got to see who wakes up the earliest and how a member eats their breakfast.
"Through spending more time together, I was able to see how they motivate themselves for the live shows."
When there's a mix of introverts and extroverts in the group, one person would usually take the lead and initiative. For Psychic Fever, that's 25-year-old Jimmy.
"He's usually the one who does research about the places we want to go to," shared Ryoga.
Who likes trying everyone else's food, and who cried watching anime? Check out our E-Junkies interview for more.
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