Domi & JD Beck - Who Asked? - Japan SHM-CD

The Future of Pop Music, Once Again Sent from Outer Space The most talked-about Gen Z duo, taking the world by storm with their catchy visuals and mind-blowing technical skill. Euphoria, exhilaration, astonishing ensemble work, and overwhelming pop appeal— A must-listen new album for all of humanity, their first in four years, that encompasses everything about music. Domi & JD Beck—the duo who debuted in 2022 on a co-release from Anderson .Paak’s label APESHIT and Blue Note—caused a sensation with their catchy looks, virtuosic skills, and musicality that masterfully blends complex rhythms and harmonies into pop. They continue to generate significant buzz in Japan, with all of their previous concerts in the country selling out. This album marks their long-awaited second release, coming four years after their debut. While their previous album, Not Tight, focused primarily on instrumental tracks, this new release fully features vocals by Domi and JD Beck on nearly every song. From the glitzy, glitch-infused “Exit” to “Growing Older,” which weaves their personal growth and the changing seasons into a laid-back melody and complex rhythm, and “Climbing High,” which has a J-POP-esque vibe and an overwhelming sense of euphoria—this album allows listeners to fully savor the songwriting skills they’ve showcased in collaborations with Silk Sonic. It’s a work in a league of its own, fusing the virtuosic technique that has become their trademark with catchy melodies that resonate with mainstream audiences. After the release of their previous album, Domi and JD Beck toured around the world, generating a frenzy as ambassadors for Gen Z, only to suddenly vanish from the public eye. While their social media accounts remained inactive and their whereabouts were unknown, they reportedly continued to maintain a disciplined routine of “8 hours of sleep, 8 hours of music, and 8 hours of leisure” at their home studio in Dallas, Texas. The production period spanned over two years, and the duo—who say they “made this album entirely for ourselves, quite selfishly”—comment on the work: “This time, the direction of the album was quite clear to us even before we started production. We wanted to create something like an orchestral piece. We wanted to write out every single note before performing it. Our intent in terms of songwriting was stronger, but in terms of performance and harmony, we wanted it to be just as crazy. We wanted every note to have meaning, and we wanted to leave absolutely nothing to chance.” Regarding the vocals, which were reportedly added 18 months after production began, they remarked, “The human voice is arguably the oldest instrument and the most direct means of communication.” For a duo that had been focused on pop songwriting, singing may have been a natural progression. Here lies the future of pop music, brought to us once again by these two elusive and mysterious figures who appear and disappear as if they were visitors from outer space.