With their explosive debut single – 《A》BEGINNING – Ae! group (Aぇǃ group), the first unit to spark forth from the newly rebranded STARTO ENTERTAINMENT, ignited a firestorm that has engulfed the genre and  turned them into one of the most recognizable Japanese pop groups in the United States. Now, with their scorching second single – Gotta Be – Ae! group is fueling fanning those flames, proving they’re not just a flash in the pan, but rather a raging wildfire that’s about to incinerate all expectations of what it means to be a boy band, leaving a trail of smoldering embers in their wake while redefining the boundaries of JPOP as a whole. 

The lead track Gotta Be is fast, hard, and it’s everything you’d want from an adrenaline-fueled rock anthem. Wildly catchy it showcases the group’s incredible vocal range while Never End is on the complete opposite end of the spectrum as sound. A mid-tempo power(ish) ballad it’s a gentle respite before leaping into アエテオドル (eng: AETEODORU). Another banger, it’s the type of song I imagine as the theme to an action anime. 

Party-Aholic is dripping with the same kind of 90s boy-band vibes that helped groups like Backstreet Boys and Nysnc melt their way into the soft hearts and dirty dreams of every teenage girl (and non-straight guy) on the planet. But the sexiness doesn’t stop there, REDZONE builds off the 90s sound, adding a bit of millennium techno while giving their own unique brand of Ae! group’s white-hot sexappeal. Say Aぇ! (Say Ae!) is a party song designed for crowd interaction. Pure and simple. It’s just fun.  The experience comes to an end with ネオンライト (NEON LIGHT) which infuses a bit of that signature Kansai sound that keeps Ae! group grounded to the roots they sprouted from in Western Japan. 

It may sound like I am biased, and maybe I am, but even in comparison to some of the other STARTO units Ae! group has got that extra special spark that really sets them apart. They are a brand-new fire that’s going to fuel the future of the Japanese pop-rock music scene. 

There will be more Ae! group soon so… 

Stay Tuned!