Final verdict: 9/10 ★★★★⋆˙⟡
2025 has been a much promising year for music. I admit I am not one to routinely seek out new releases, but it appears to me that the popstar archetype is back in full force (see: Lady Gaga and her brilliant new album “Mayhem,” Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan, both of which just had a massive year, and Doja Cat who somehow remains a prominent figure in spite of her relentlessly controversial behavior), indie darlings are still hard at work on unique material, and several legacy acts resurfaced after decades of obscurity. The stars have aligned, and the music scene is once again diverse and balanced – I reckon this outlook of mine might be rather naïve, but I prefer to keep it like so for the sake of my mental well-being. It has not all been without any turbulence, though; reference Taylor Swift and her attempted arson of everybody’s business affairs, the rise of godforsaken AI music in the mainstream, political turmoil and the resulting cultural nuclear bombs we’ve seen in recent times. But this is not the point – the point is, music is alive and (for the most part) well, and in such a musically eventful year, I have discerned a certain hidden gem, my favorite release to come out of an already packed 2025; and I believe it is my sworn duty to share it with you.
I am a huge fan of J-pop band Every Little Thing; I have been so for years. Since the 1990s, ELT vocalist Kaori Mochida (thus nicknamed “Motchi”) has been the platonic ideal of a pop-rock singer; although she’s not the most vocally capable of the bunch, to say that she’s one hell of a frontwoman would be an understatement. Her boyish antics and her confident, flamboyant on-stage persona have captured the hearts of countless J-pop fans, me included, and it is all for good reason – the girl has talent, she’s got charisma! When she went solo in January 2009, she went a slightly milder route – not totally unprecedented, if one is to consider ELT’s occasional balladry and her soft voice that perfectly fits the bill for the folk-pop idiom. She had thoroughly exercised her songwriting muscle as a member of ELT (acting as the main lyricist and occasional composer of the band), so when the time came for her to stand on her own, she was prepped and primed to release quality albums of mostly self-composed songs. And so it went for a couple of years.
Cue the early 2020s – the trail largely went cold as Motchi had recently become a mother and rightfully shifted her focus to that aspect of her life. A major leap in her private life, this also signaled a definitive jump in her entertainment career. Starting in about 2023, she rebranded herself as an artist with a new visual image and an overarching aura of elegant maturity. This move wouldn’t be half as significant if it weren’t accompanied by S-tier music – but nay, it is.
In September 2024, Motchi debuted “{siesta}/Reincarnation,” a double A-side single that marked her first music release in over 3 years. I still remember where I was when I first listened to that single, the sweet, dripping-with-honey opening notes of “{siesta}” – I was on an early morning walk through a chunk of mountainous terrain in central Greece, and upon returning home, I proceeded to spend the rest of my day looping these two songs ad infinitum. Motchi’s new musical identity was most welcome, and I dearly loved the two songs to have come out of it, especially the greater-than-life “Reincarnation” – but more on that later.
When it was announced that Motchi would be releasing a five-song EP entitled “qq” in May 2025, I gleamed with joy. It’s rare that an artist I take such an intense liking to releases something new in the big 2025, much less a fully-fledged project that goes beyond the single format. I did what any sane fangirl would do; I stayed up until midnight to see “qq” released, though I pledged not to listen to it until the following morning – for I wanted to be well-rested and clear-headed for such a monumental event. The sheer excitement of adding “qq” to my Spotify library was more than enough to tide me over though, and so I went to bed looking forward to the grand day that was before me.
Well… the grand day that was before me was, unfortunately, before exam season itself – the Devil materialized. I did listen to the album during my morning coffee ritual, and profoundly enjoy it I did, but then came the time to forcefully indulge in linguistic brainrot – for you see, being an English major is not for the weak. Once again, I did what any sane fanboy would do, and listened to the album on an endless loop while cruising through word formation theory. As weird a circumstance as it was, I think this gave me an appreciation for the record I wouldn’t have otherwise had; through using it as a means of making my never-ending studying more tolerable, I got to become acquainted with the main commodity this album has to offer – comfort, which if you ask me, is priceless. There’s nothing riches can offer that “qq” can’t; and it makes sense, for Motchi’s a grown woman now – one bearing a child – so she’s making peaceful, mind-easing tunes, potent to warm anyone’s cold and dreary soul. She’s got it all figured out, I fear…
Opener “台北” is a great overture to this nifty little record – hey, good song, good vibes, and Taipei, the global capital of good times! However, “qq” doesn’t truly make its thesis known until track 2, “猫転” – you have to listen to this mellow bedroom-pop ballad, oh my heavens. Ballads are tricky territory, since it’s oh-so-easy and tempting to pump out a boring, sappy one, and so a good, rigid-yet-flowy ballad is immensely appreciated, due to just how difficult it is to come across. I am stating this track as the EP’s “thesis” because it perfectly encapsulates the essence of the record; it is far from the best song on “qq” – read further to find out what that is! – but it is the one that most effectively captures the blissful, comfortable energy this project has to offer. Invaluable, and definitely indispensable.
Line break because I need to catch my breath, seeing as I’m about to tackle the real beasts. Remember “{siesta}/Reincarnation,” which I mentioned earlier? Yeah… they might just be the best songs of all time…
Well, not really, but you get what I’m saying. They’re really good. “{siesta}” sounds exactly like what its title promises; a little drowsy jazz-pop lullaby. Lush strings, soft vocals, the works. And it is great! But if you are to ask me, its companion, its dear compatriot, “Reincarnation,” is somehow even better. Uh, yeah! The flamenco guitar is downright bonkers and – between you and me – the delightful accordion riffing in this song is what caused me to pull the trigger and buy an accordion after wanting one for years. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the magnificence of “Reincarnation”! Song so good, I had to drop $500 on an accordion. If you’re wondering; the accordion’s fun. A little bit of a workout to maneuver, but a damn good time. Anyway, “Reincarnation.” As I mentioned earlier, this is the highlight of the album. It brings with it an impossible feeling of grandeur, and it feels almost life-affirming in a way. I also love the English singing on it – the lyrics make no sense, but maybe that is the entire point, after all. I dig it – nay, I adore it.
In skipping to “Reincarnation,” I neglected mentioning track 4, that is, “ZA ZA Dancing.” It’s a good tune, a little dance-y, as one would imagine. I was not expecting such a sound out of this EP, but sure, I ain’t complaining. It is a cute addition to an already ultra-cute, ultra-adorbs record.
The overarching vibe, I would say, is “early morning,” “mint tea,” “cat lady.” Without being pretentious, “qq” manages to fill a very specific niche, and I… love it for that. So, long live Motchi! I can’t wait to see what she’s got in store for us in the future, as “qq” is far and away my favorite musical release of 2025, and her magnum opus so far. It’s novel and fresh, yet it seamlessly blends into the fabric that is Mochida’s catalog, and the J-pop scene at large. This is the record we didn’t know we needed to put our souls to rest in 2025. 9/10, God bless.
Silia 
Leave a comment