Japanese alt-rock trio Hitsujibungaku have a storied history dating back to their formation 14 years ago, with four full-length albums, multiple songs featured prominently in popular anime shows (including Secrets of the Silent Witch, Jujutsu Kaisen, Oshi no Ko ), and over 1.5 million monthly Spotify listeners. Yet it wasn't until this past April that the band embarked on their first US tour, playing dates in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, and San Diego.
During their visit to LA, the band spent an afternoon in Santa Monica, where singer/guitarist Moeka Shiotsuka performed stripped-down versions of their recent single "Koe" and their smash "more than words" on the beach near the Santa Monica Pier.
"It was a very busy beach, but the spot where we shot the video was a quiet place without many people," Shiotsuka told us. "I liked that it was a little foggy and misty. In Los Angeles, we went shopping around Melrose and ate Voodoo Doughnut. The LA show was also a lot of fun.”
Watch her "Neighborhoods" session below, and keep your eyes peeled for a cameo from bassist Yurika Kasai.