The Sweetest Tune: Get To Know J-pop Boy Group Travis Japan

In order for any artist to grow and expand their reach, they need to connect with their audience. Twelve years since their initial formation and two years since their well-received international debut, rising stars Travis Japan know the importance of this extremely well, and it is something they cherish deeply.

Earlier this year, the seven-member Japanese boy group delighted countless of their international fans by announcing their first ever world tour, and guess what — it sold out within minutes. This incredible feat was more than just a concrete sign of their growing success and recognition overseas. All the more, it meant giving members Chaka, Umi, Shime, Noel, Shizu, Genta, and Machu the opportunity to properly connect with many of their patiently waiting fans outside of Japan — something that has long been overdue.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting new faces, and I’ve already started reading up on the culture, greetings, and fun places to see [that are] unique to every stop,” Shime tells Billboard Philippines. “I want to go and experience them for myself, to feel connected to the people and places supporting our international dreams as much as our fans in Japan have always done.”

From actively training and performing in competition shows in the US back in 2022 to releasing many of their songs in English, Travis Japan have consistently made the rigorous effort to collectively build essential bridges between them and a wider, untapped international audience. Backed by the group’s sheer commitment to their goals and dedication to their craft, all of these — and more — have deservingly culminated in people from all over the world wanting to have a piece of this fast-rising group from Tokyo.

In the spirit of getting know more about these Japanese hitmakers, Billboard Philippines caught up with Travis Japan to talk about the group’s latest single “Sweetest Tune,” their fruitful experience in the United States, their personal favorite songs from their discography, and more.

Billboard Philippines: You made your worldwide major debut last October 2022 with the release of your single “JUST DANCE!” Since then you’ve released a couple of other singles, your EP Moving Pieces, as well as your album Road to A. For each member of Travis Japan, if you were to recommend to our readers one song you released since your debut, which song would it be and why?

Machu: Our fourth single “T.G.I. Friday Night!” I like all our songs so it’s hard to choose just one, but “T.G.I. Friday Night” is one of the most upbeat and exciting songs we’ve released since our debut, and particularly fun to dance and sing along to. Also, there’s a solo rap part [of] my own in the track, which I spent a lot of time practicing in the lead-up to recording. It has an extremely fast lyrical tempo, but I figured out how to pronounce it well in my own way, and because of [that], [it] has become a song that holds a lot of artistic developmental memories for me.”

Umi: For me, it would be “LEVEL UP.” It is one of the lead songs [from] our very first album, and the most difficult we have ever made because it involves a lot of hardcore choreography. But despite the inherent challenges, it’s a great song to dance to, and is a great first experience with our style for new fans. We also have a version that was remixed by the amazing Sam Feldt, so I hope people give that a listen as well!

Noel: My recommendation is “Swing My Way.” To me, it’s a good counterpart to our very first Junior (trainee)-era original song “My Dreamy Hollywood.” While “My Dreamy Hollywood” is a very glamorous, front stage, on-Broadway kind of song, “Swing My Way” has a more underground, off-Broadway feel to it. It’s not exactly the musical style of current trends per se, but it has a unique, enduring, and classic sound that I think listeners will appreciate and enjoy. 

Chaka: “Moving Pieces.” It’s a great song overseen by the American producer Poo Bear, and one that didn’t stick too closely to Travis Japan’s standard colors or anything that was typical of what we’d been known for up to that point. Because of that, it was great as a second single, allowing us to try a brand-new identity as we continued to get a feel for how we wanted to proceed as a debuted group, while also being simply a really cool song that anyone can get on board with. Please check it out if you haven’t heard it yet!

Shizu: One of my personal favorites is “So Sunday.” Sunday is a good day of the week for everyone to have a day off, and this song really gets into that chill vibe to raise your spirits in preparation for a new week ahead. It’s the perfect track to cheer you up after a long week or busy weekend.

Shime: I love “Candy Kiss.” Not only because it’s a great song in and of itself, but the choreography is catchy and simple enough for our fans to dance along with from their seats and regardless of their own individual skill level. I also love the impact of the repeated phrase “Candy Kiss” in the chorus. It’s all-around just a really fun song!

Genta: The song I’d recommend is “Sweetest Tune,” which was used [as] the insert song for the drama Tokyo Tower I was in. It’s a sweet song with a silly music video we had a lot of fun shooting, but at the same time is a pretty mature and sexy love song that is a neat addition to everything we’ve done so far.

Speaking of “Sweetest Tune,” it is your most recent single and it hit No. 2 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 following its release. Tell us more about the song. What is it about? What are your favorite parts about performing it live?

Machu: This song was part of the official soundtrack to Genta’s TV drama Tokyo Tower, and just as the title suggests it’s a really sweet and innocent tune that contrasts nicely with the pretty sensual choreography. Together the song produces an interesting chemical reaction, but from a more personal perspective I love the rap part from our live performances — the part where I stand in the middle of the stage and the other six members get in my face saying “I know! You know? You know?” It allows for a lot of ad lib fun for all of us.

Over the years, alongside performing at concerts and other live events in Japan, Travis Japan have also had the chance to perform in America by participating in the dance contest World of Dance Championships and the competition show America’s Got Talent. What were some of the most important lessons you’ve learned from your experience performing on these shows that have helped you grow as artists and as performers?

Chaka: That’s a good question. Not only those two experiences specifically, but our overall time in the United States was a formative period for us. When we first left for Los Angeles, we were still Juniors, with no certainty of what would come of the experience. It was a big step for us into a lot of unknown territory, but through it all we gained a newfound sense of self-confidence, made many unforgettable memories, and laid the foundation for ideas we’ve brought back with us. 

For example, in both World of Dance and America’s Got Talent, we had to learn a brand-new approach toward[s] performing. The only thing that matters — as far as how those competition-style events go — is what the judges think, and these were judge panels made up almost exclusively of high-level individuals who had never heard of us before; making for a very different kind of pressure compared to our typical concerts. Such being the case, while it’s very important to work hard and do your best, at some point you just have to let go and have fun. The more fun you have, the more fun it will hopefully be for those watching, and that is the ultimate point of entertainment.

During your time competing in World of Dance Championships, the group was living in Los Angeles from March to October 2022 in order for you to train and become better dancers and singers. Alongside this, you were there to study English as well. A lot of the songs you have released often contain a mix of Japanese and English lyrics, while some of your other songs have English versions as well. As a Japanese group, what do you believe is the importance for Travis Japan to be able to communicate in languages other than Japanese, especially in your songs? What advice would you give your fellow Japanese artists who are also studying English?

Noel: As a group, we’re still in the process of learning English, and when we sing a song with English lyrics, we try our best to master not only the pronunciation but the meaning of the songs so there’s no hindrance between our thoughts and the ears of our audience.

I think that language is like an access ticket. English is very convenient, and if you speak English, it provides you with opportunities to communicate with people all over the world. But it’s important also to be aware of the deeper intent behind communication beyond just vocabulary and grammar. If you visit another place and speak the local language, even just a little bit, it gives you the chance for a deeper connection and travel experience. I’m always happy when I see foreign artists speaking Japanese when they come perform in Japan, as it makes me feel special that they took a little extra time to do something unique to where they are, and I want our overseas fans to feel the same way. 

In May, you announced your first world tour ‘Travis Japan World Tour 2024 Road to A’ and the tickets sold out within minutes! Congratulations! How does this make the group feel? What are members most excited about for the world tour? What can your fans expect?

Shime: This will be our first time on a world tour, and a chance to meet a lot of fans for the very first time. I’m really looking forward to meeting new faces, and I’ve already started reading up on the culture, greetings, and fun places to see [that is] unique to every stop. I want to go and experience them for myself to feel connected to the people and places supporting our international dreams as much as our fans in Japan have always done.

Umi: We were very happy to see the tickets go so quickly, especially in Los Angeles where we spent all that time dreaming of this moment and so much more. Each and every place we’ve been to on this journey has held such special memories for us, so I’m excited to see new places I’ve never been to like Seattle and New York and take lots of photos!

As for what fans can expect, I’m looking forward to the chance to share what makes a Travis Japan show so special. A lot of fans, especially those living abroad, maybe have only seen us on YouTube, or have listened to our music, which is great but there’s nothing like the energy of a concert to make it all come to life!

Speaking of fans, you have a number of them here in the Philippines who also want to see you perform here someday. What message do you have for them?

Shizu: We want to go everywhere, so it’s really special to us to hear we have fans in so many different places who are equally excited for us to come visit. A lot of our senpai (seniors) have been to the Philippines recently and I’d love to visit as well, either as a group or just by myself!

Of course, there are a lot of difficult considerations for any show overseas, but we will continue to work hard and appeal ourselves to you all for the chance at an even bigger world tour next year. In the meantime, please keep supporting [us] on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and more and we hope to see you in person at one of our shows someday!

Finally, along with your first world tour, what other plans do Travis Japan have for the rest of 2024? 

Genta: We hope to continue to sing, dance, and perform in a way that will continue to excite and delight all our fans both in Japan and overseas. Everyone who has supported us, whether it be since we were little kids or only just recently through our debut, is very important to each one of us and we will never stop trying to be bigger and better for you. Personally, I really want to see even more of the world, so I hope this tour will be a success and that we can go even more places next year and beyond!

Get to know Travis Japan even better by listening to the ‘Global Edition’ of their album Road To A below: