There comes a point in every group’s career where they stop trying to prove themselves and simply start making the music they want to make. For PSYCHIC FEVER from EXILE TRIBE, that moment comes with DIFFERENT. Their second studio album doesn’t stick to one genre or one formula, and that’s exactly the point. Moving between Y2K R&B, UK garage, Afrobeats, trap and pop, it’s an album that reflects seven members with different influences, different personalities and, increasingly, a bigger role in making their own music.

PSYCHIC FEVER have come a long way over the past few years. As their audience has grown around the world, so has their confidence as artists. Rather than looking back at the success of Just Like Dat, DIFFERENT shows a group focused on exploring new sounds and telling their own story.

We caught up with the boy group to talk about the making of DIFFERENT, stepping into the songwriting process, balancing seven different creative voices, and why they believe their differences have become their biggest strength. They also shared their thoughts on life after Just Like Dat and their growing connection with international fans.

READ MORE: Meet PSYCHIC FEVER: Japan’s Stars with Big Vibes and Bigger Dreams

View of the Arts: DIFFERENT is your second studio album. Four years after your debut, what does the word “different” mean to each of you today, compared with what it might have meant when you first started as a group?

TSURUGI: Back when we had just debuted, we were focused on becoming one as a group and doing everything together. But as we grew, we came to recognize that what matters most is to embrace our differences and let more people see how we live and who we are. We still share the same dream, but now we truly respect each other’s Individuality and encourage one another to be ourselves.

VOA: Some members contributed to the songwriting on this album for the first time. Did opening that creative door change the way you understand one another, either as musicians or simply as seven people who have spent years growing together?

RYOGA: For this album, JIMMY and WEESA contributed to writing lyrics and I feel that it reflects our thoughts, personalities, and individuality in the music more than before. JIMMY and I have often been involved in arranging music for our live performances. For example, “Clip that!!” which we performed during our Japan Tour this year, was written by JIMMY and composed by me.

So rather than this album being the first time when we’ve been involved in creativity, it feels like we’re gradually getting more opportunities to create our own music. Going forward, we would like to share more songs that come directly from the members themselves and individuality through our music. We also want to continue pursuing the kind of music that only PSYCHIC FEVER can create.

VOA: One of the things that is very exciting about DIFFERENT is how you combined various genres, including RnB, Afrobeats, pop and dance music. Was there ever a concern that experimenting with so many genres might make the album feel fragmented, or was that diversity exactly what you wanted listeners to experience?

JIMMY: Actually, this diversity is exactly what we wanted to deliver to our listeners. Throughout the previous EPs and the PSYCHIC FILE series, we’ve experimented with a wide variety of genres. But we’ve never felt any concerns, because we felt that once all seven of our voices came together, every song would naturally become part of the PSYCHIC FEVER sound.

That’s because each member of PSYCHIC FEVER has a unique musical background and has their own roots. I think that’s what allowed us to explore so many different genres while still bringing the album together naturally as one complete and cohesive work.

VOA: If You’re Mine opens the album, and I found that choice really interesting. Looking at DIFFERENT as a whole, why did you feel this was the right song to introduce the album? The track is also accompanied by a great music video. While filming it, was there a particular moment when you realised, “We’ve reached a new stage as a group”? 

KOKORO: Just Like Dat feat. JP THE WAVY has become a defining song for us, and it introduced PSYCHIC FEVER to many new listeners. Because If You’re Mine carries a similar sense of familiarity through its modern take on early 2000s Southern U.S. R&B, mixed with Miami bass and 2-step elements, we felt it was the ideal track to open the album and welcome listeners into the world of DIFFERENT.

As for moving on to a new stage as a group, I really felt that through our growth as artists. Seeing members become more involved in the songwriting process and recognising how much we’ve improved our individual skills made me realise that PSYCHIC FEVER has entered a new chapter.

VOA; Your music has found audiences far beyond Japan over the past two years. Has performing overseas changed the way you approach making music, or do you make a conscious effort to stay true to yourselves regardless of where your listeners are?

RYUSHIN: We make a conscious effort to stay true to ourselves. Because I’d be really happy if the music we make eventually becomes recognized as its own style, something people naturally describe as “the PSYCHIC FEVER sound.” As we continue making music, it would mean a lot to us if people listened to our songs and felt, “This is so PSYCHIC FEVER.”

VOA: Dream Flight is one of the softer songs on the album, and it quickly became one of my favourites as a big R&B fan. Written and composed by Carlos Okabe and Kenya Fujita. When you first received the lyrics, how did you interpret them to make sure listeners could truly feel the story behind the song?

REN: When I first heard this song, the first people who came to mind were our fans. Although it may sound like a love song, I believe it also carries a meaningful message for our fans. When recording it, I was especially conscious of singing with a soft, whisper-like tone and creating a warm, gentle atmosphere so that the emotions would reach everyone naturally.

VOA: Success often brings pressure to repeat what has already worked. After the global response to Just Like Dat, did you ever feel tempted to chase another viral hit, or was it more important to create an album that honestly represented where PSYCHIC FEVER are today?

WEESA: We wanted to create an album that honestly represents where we are today. We always want to create music that reflects what we are feeling or thinking at the moment. Rather than just chasing to produce hit songs, our priority is to create music that goes above the expectations of the people who love and support PSYCHIC FEVER.

VOA: Your performances are always very well executed, but what people don’t always see is everything that happens before you step on stage. Has there been a moment during the making of DIFFERENT that reminded you why you chose this career in the first place?

JIMMY: Reaching the release of this album was definitely a very rewarding experience. While the production process was a lot of fun, there were also times when it was challenging and exhausting. However, after spending so much time creating works, seeing the positive reactions from our listeners makes us incredibly happy.

VOA: If you could describe DIFFERENT in just one sentence to someone who has never heard PSYCHIC FEVER before, what would you say?

TSURUGI: It’s definitely “Individuality”! DIFFERENT carries the message that embracing your own feelings and staying true to yourself is the most important thing. That is one of the key meanings behind the album.

RYOGA: I would say that this album is a calling card for the current PSYCHIC FEVER. This album covers a wide variety of genres and moods, and rather than defining PSYCHIC FEVER in one way, we hope listeners can enjoy our different sides of who we are. We hope that everyone who listens to this album will discover their own favorite side of PSYCHIC FEVER.

REN: I would describe it as difference and growth. Each song has its own style, message, and unique charm, showing many different sides of PSYCHIC FEVER. We also wanted this album to reflect everything we’ve learned and how we’ve grown over the past four years. That’s why we named it DIFFERENT.

JIMMY: It’s the album that you are sure to find your favorite. This album is packed with a variety of genres and each member’s individuality. Because of that diversity, we believe anyone can find something they’ll enjoy and connect with.

KOKORO: It’s an album that reflects all of the experiences we’ve had and the unique identity of PSYCHIC FEVER. All the tracks are easy to enjoy and feel good to listen to, so I hope everyone will have fun discovering each member’s individuality and find their own favorite song on the album.

RYUSHIN: It provides you with at least one favorite song! All ten tracks have their own unique style, rather than sticking to a single genre. That diversity is one of the album’s biggest strengths, and I’m confident that everyone who listens will find something they love.

WEESA: This album truly reflects who PSYCHIC FEVER are right now. We spent a lot of time creating it and challenged ourselves in many different ways throughout the process. We hope listeners will enjoy the album!

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

Feature image © LDH Japan

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to film, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. As we continue to grow, we aim to deepen our coverage of Asian music while remaining committed to exploring and celebrating creativity across the global arts landscape.}