Japanese rock band Aooo recently released their second studio album, “Rooom.” It is characterized by the formation of a dream team consisting of 4 people with a solid background: Riko Ishino (Vo.), a former Akai Park vocalist and solo artist, Hikaru Yamamoto (B.), known for supporting vocaloid P singer-songwriters THREEE (Gt.), YOASOBI, etc., and Tsumiki (Dr.), who has worked on songs such as “Phony”, MAISON des “Tokyo Chandy Run De Vous”, and Hoshimachi. While working as the guitarist and drummer of NOMELON NOLEMON, he performed Suisei’s “BIBBIDIBA”.
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This album is packed with everything the band has built and nurtured since their formation in 2023, and is full of ambition for the future. Billboard Japan interviewed all four members to find out the story behind the album, the band’s current headspace, and the blueprint they’re drawing together.
After the live tour “BAKUBAKU” in the fall of 2025, a special live 2025 “Bazooka” was held at Tokyo Garden Theater in December, and the song “Star Sign” from “Rooom” was performed for the first time. The track is a natural expression of the band’s unity and feels like something of a milestone for Aooo.
Riko Ishino: Towards the end of the BAKUBAKU tour, we were all having dinner and talked about how the energy of releasing three consecutive albums was really sharp, and that we wanted to show something in a different direction. So I thought, “Since it’s been two years since we formed, why don’t we write some lyrics and music together while reflecting on our relationship and everything that’s happened with Aooo?” Naturally, all four of us thought, “Yes, let’s give it a try,” one after another, and this song was born.
Hikaru Yamamoto: Aooo has always created music collaboratively, even though we have divided roles, so I wanted to condense each of the four perspectives of the band into one song. The Garden Theater show was a milestone for us to perform our entire catalog, so we wanted to close with a new song that the four of us wrote together that captures the view from where we’re standing and our desire to keep going.
Tsuki: The chorus that Ishino-san wrote felt like a letter to the members. I was drawn to that and wrote the pre-chorus section from there. There are so many moments that resonate when we’re making music and building shows together that I wanted to write about the miracles and coincidences that exist within what feels like the inevitable.
Yamamoto: Mr. Ishino wrote the lyrics “Because I found a place to belong,” which meant a lot to me. Just as we were working on that song, we all went into the rehearsal studio together and THREEE made a completely stupid mistake that we would never make. [Laughs] It was a complete fluke and we all lost it laughing. At that moment, I suddenly thought, “Maybe at the end, we’ll all be able to look back and laugh at the stupid things.”
It’s basically the first verse, word for word.
Yamamoto: Until then, I had vaguely thought that the last thing I would remember at the end of my life would be finally being able to stand on the stage I had been chasing, or performing in front of a large audience with bright lights in the background. But that moment when we all laughed together changed everything. At the same time, everything suddenly made sense. Maybe that’s what Aooo means to me.
THREEE: I wrote my section following what Hikaru wrote in the first verse. A constellation only takes shape when each star is connected, right? Everyone in Aooo is doing solo activities, so each member is shining, so I hope they continue to shine. So I was thinking that if the four of us got together, it would be called Aooo.
Ishino: I’ve been a member of Aooo for two years, and I feel like I’ve found a place where I feel very comfortable and calm. All members are deeply specialized in their respective fields, and each has solid solo careers, so they are independent and truly dependable. My ideal for a band has always been a relationship built on mutual trust, and the fact that it happens naturally here without anyone even realizing it is part of why Aooo feels like a safe place for me.
Bands formed by experienced artists have existed for a long time, but in the case of Aooo, thanks in part to the lineup, I got the impression that they had both the sharpness of a seasoned professional and the energy of rivals pushing each other forward, like in a boy’s manga.
Ishino: If you feel that way, I think the reason is largely due to THREEE and Tsumiki. [Laughs]
Tsumiki: [Laughs] THREEE and I debuted as Vocaloid creators around the same time. We were exchanging number one spots on the charts, so asking him to start a band with me was one of the biggest things that happened in my life. Also, Ishino-san and Hikaru-san are both artists that I have admired for a long time, so they definitely stimulate my creative desire.
THREEE: When Tsumiki reached out to me and brought me to Aooo, I had just branched out from producing Vocaloid to being a singer-songwriter. I’ve always worked alone, so the ideas, values, words, and creative works that come from each person’s path were very stimulating. So I’m always thinking about how to write something that gives everyone the same spark and inspires them to create. There’s always the question, “So, what do you think?” The atmosphere when I dropped the demo. [Laughs]
Tsuki: Based on what Mr. Ishino said, being able to rely on the members is a big thing. On stage, Mr. Ishino is the face of Aooo, so just being the drummer makes us feel at ease. I’m a little embarrassed to say this, but I think it’s really difficult to stand in front of these members with your back to them. The appeal of Aooo is that you can feel Ishino stepping up with the conviction and sense of responsibility of a true vocalist. The sense of security that she feels carrying the band on her back is immeasurable.
Ishino: This may be the first time I’ve been praised. [Laughs]
Yamamoto: Everyone always thinks about it, but they just don’t say it out loud! [Laughs]
THREEE: The band has grown bigger now, but it all started when Hatsumiki said, “Would you like to come jam in the studio?” And without thinking, I said, “Sounds like fun, I’ll join.” My motivation at Aooo has been the same since day one – it’s fun. The inspiration I receive from the other members, and the way I respond to what they create with their guitars…it’s all fun. I feel like that experience has fed back into my solo activities.
The live tour “RINGRING” includes performances in Taipei and Seoul, but I think Aooo will focus more on overseas performances in the future. Did you all already have a desire to perform overseas?
Tsumiki: Ever since I started making music, I wanted it to be heard by as many people as possible, regardless of nationality or age. We want you to be free to enjoy Aooo’s music and everything we create. I love seeing listeners’ reactions. For example, in South Korea, the parts the audience sings back aren’t always what you expect. I think the boundaries determined by each country are different. It’s an interesting moment to see a reaction that catches you off guard.
Yamamoto: In my case, I wanted as many people as possible to hear my performances, so I started posting videos of my performances on YouTube. Even back then, I received comments in foreign languages as well as Japanese, and I really felt that people overseas were also watching. It’s very meaningful when people who follow my videos leave comments saying, “You’ve finally come to our country,” and I love the moments when I can say “Nice to meet you,” under various circumstances.
THREEE: I’m happy to have more opportunities to actually meet overseas fans in person at shows. At the same time, it’s something I struggle with in terms of how I approach writing. My lyrics are a little difficult to understand even for Japanese people, so I find myself thinking, “How will these words reach people overseas? What should I do from now on?” I hope that uncertainty will ultimately push my work in a better direction.
Ishino: We’re headliners in both Taipei and Seoul, so it’s great that we get to spend a lot of time there. The seven performances in Japan, and indeed the opportunity to properly deliver everything we have built over the almost three years since our formation, are invaluable and we are grateful. We want everyone to leave feeling glad they came and that the experience stays in their hearts.
What vision do you have for the band’s future?
Tsuki: J-POP is originally a complex genre, containing various genres such as rock and pop. Aooo is already doing that, so I think they can create music that can represent Japan. I want to continue aiming for that, and I want Aooo to become a band that can represent Japanese music on a global scale.
Yamamoto: As I started doing what I like with people who were really excited about it, more and more people found my music interesting, and I was able to transcend genres. So, I hope we can continue to have fun together, including various opinions. This is not a business project and comes from a completely authentic place. I’m looking forward to being able to say with confidence, “This is Aooo!” I hope it continues to spread. I hope so.
THREEE: I agree with the vision that Tsumiki-san and Hikaru-san mentioned, but what excites me the most is the idea of everyone bringing what they have absorbed into Aooo and causing a chemical reaction to create something new. We want our work to remain rooted in what we want to do. As a band, we want to enjoy what comes out of what we all bring together.
—This interview with Sayako Oki was first published on Billboard Japan
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