Japanese boy group PSYCHIC FEVER from EXILE TRIBE is ready to go wild in Europe this summer, with fan meetings in Berlin (July 11) and London (July 13). Known for their fierce ambition to take Japanese music global, the seven-member group has been making waves, and now, they’re about to charm fans face-to-face in Europe.

Backed by LDH and now signed to Warner Music Group/10K Projects, PSYCHIC FEVER is one of the most exciting J-pop groups, with breakout hits like Just Like Dat feat. JP THE WAVY and appearances at major festivals across Asia and the U.S. – including SXSW, Summer Sonic Bangkok, and Music Matters Live Singapore – they’ve proven themselves as international contenders with style.

Their latest release, Psychic File III, contains new tracks that mix R&B, pop, and club-ready energy. Title track Reflection brings those sweet, smooth vibes and mature growth. At the same time, Gelato depicts the carefree sweetness of summer romance – maybe even making its way into the setlist for London and Berlin (but shh, WEESA says it’s top secret!).

In an exclusive interview, the group spoke about how each song reflects a different shade of their evolution. From TSURUGI’s cowboy hat fantasies to KOKORO’s romance-loving heart, their personalities shine through just as brightly as their vocals. When asked what fans can expect from the European stops, KOKORO said, “We’re so excited – it’s our first time meeting fans in Europe. We’ve prepared a lot, and we just want to hang out and thank them for all their support.”

From their beginnings in training journeys across Japan’s 47 prefectures, to their debut in Thailand under the guidance of producer F.HERO, and now to headlining fan meets across continents, PSYCHIC FEVER is living up to their name.

Without a doubt, PSYCHIC FEVER has a way of turning casual listeners into fans in minutes. Whether you’ve been waving the ForEVER flag from the start or just now joined the ride, buckle up, as this group is wildly entertaining. And if you’re in Berlin or London this July, don’t even think about missing their fan meetings. Your future self will thank you.

I think that most of us really enjoy R&B as a genre, and there are a lot of R&B artists we look up to as well. In a way, it did impact how we tried to get ready in the recording booth and find our voice while singing! – JIMMY

View of the Arts: You’ve just released Psychic File III, which features four new tracks. I’d love to jump right into Reflection – I really enjoyed its smooth R&B vibe. Since the track was written and produced by other creatives, what were your first impressions of the song and melody? And how was the line distribution decided – did the producers have a vision from the start, or was it more collaborative? 

RYOGA: We loved the song upon first listening to it. Not only did it fit well into our group’s overall sound, but it also brought new, more mature vibes into our discography. That’s why we decided to make it our title track for PSYCHIC FILE III. For line distribution, we usually go by who suits the part the best and adds more texture to the song. We also consider feedback and input from ourselves and our producers. We like to be involved in the creative and collaborative process! 

VOA: Since Reflection leans into that smooth R&B style, I’m curious, which of you is the biggest R&B fan in the group? Did that influence how you approached the song vocally or emotionally in the studio? 

JIMMY: It’s KOKORO! I think that most of us really enjoy R&B as a genre, and there are a lot of R&B artists we look up to as well. In a way, it did impact how we tried to get ready in the recording booth and find our voice while singing! 

VOA: Gelato feels like a track made for the stage. Do you already have ideas for how you’d like to perform it live during your fan meetings in London and Berlin? 

WEESA: The setlist is under wraps for now, but Gelato might just be on it… (Let’s keep that between us!) 

VOA: From the lyrics to the production, Gelato gravitates into that carefree, romantic energy of summer. Which member connects most with that mood or concept, and why? 

REN: It would have to be KOKORO! Not only is he an avid romance lover, but his name has the same pronunciation as the word “heart” in Japanese. He knows how to charm and capture someone’s heart, so the song and concept fit him perfectly! 

VOA: And then there’s EVOLVE, another musically rich track, with great arrangements and that unmistakable R&B vibe, especially with the old-school synth textures. What was the recording process like for this one? And when it comes to line distribution, have you ever thought about switching parts with other members just to see how the song might feel differently? 

TSURUGI: Recording this song was super fun! Everyone has a part made specially for them, and their unique voices blend together on the song and create that R&B vibe. We have thought about doing each other’s parts on the songs for fun, but since our voices are so different, it may not always sound as good as the original. 

VOA: PROMISE closes the EP with an energetic, club-ready vibe that lifts the mood. When working with your team, how do you usually decide the track order? Was PROMISE always intended to wrap up the project? And could you share a bit about the creative process behind that particular track? 

RYUSHIN: This was a very experimental album with some new risks that we took for each song. For the track order, we really wanted it to reflect how diverse we are as a group and the emotional highs we went through while making these songs. 

VOA: Being part of a group like PSYCHIC FEVER means constantly balancing individual identity with a collective vision. How do you each maintain your personal artistic voice while contributing to a shared sound and image? 

RYOGA: It’s always a bit hard to let our personal personalities shine one by one, but it works in our favour because we mesh really well. Once in a while, we do clash, but even then, we welcome it because it just makes our bond stronger. 

It’s our first time ever performing and meeting our overseas fans in Europe, so we’re very excited to show them everything we’ve prepared. We’re really thankful for everything that they’ve done and can’t wait to hang out with them at the fan meet! – KOKORO

QUESTION FOR FUN: If PSYCHIC FEVER were stranded in Hyde Park with no phone and no money, which member would survive the longest, and which one would give up first? 

REN: TSURUGI would probably survive the longest – if he’s suddenly stranded, he will likely take action, like asking others for help, to get himself out of the situation right away. He’s got a “go-getter attitude!” 

JIMMY: WEESA would probably give up first. He’s got the most “carefree” attitude and goes with the flow a lot, but he would hate being stranded in an inconvenient situation. 

QUESTION FOR FUN: You’re all superheroes for a day, but your powers are totally useless. What ridiculous special abilities would each of you have? 

REN: I would eat as much food as possible and not get full.

RYUSHIN: I would be able to communicate with animals.

WEESA: I would want to be able to turn invisible whenever I want. 

TSURUGI: I want to have unlimited cowboy hats in any color or design 

JIMMY: Control over my hearing, so I could turn my hearing on and off. 

KOKORO: I want to be able to play any instrument without having to learn it.

RYOGA: I want to have an infinite amount of ad and commercial skips. 

VOA: What’s one thing you’re all really excited – or nervous – about when it comes to meeting fans in London and Berlin? 

KOKORO: It’s our first time ever performing and meeting our overseas fans in Europe, so we’re very excited to show them everything we’ve prepared. We’re really thankful for everything that they’ve done and can’t wait to hang out with them at the fan meet!

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

Featured image courtesy of LDH JAPAN / 10K Projects

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. With rich content already available to our readers, we aim to expand our reach and grow alongside our audience by delving deeper into emerging platforms such as K-pop and Asian music more broadly. At the same time, we remain committed to exploring the vibrant and ever-evolving global landscape of film, music, and the arts, celebrating the immense talent and creativity that define these industries worldwide.}