ANORAK! - FINGERS CROSSED

FINGERS CROSSED is an album that traces ANORAK!’s journey over the six years since the Tokyo emo band formed. It draws on the hometowns of each member, the Tokyo emo, alternative, and hardcore punk bands that are part of their roots, the many bands from overseas they’ve met along the way, and on dance music. “We didn’t hold back from putting the inspiration that comes out of our own experiences and emotions straight into the songs. This record was made with respect for the emo/punk scene that raised us here in Tokyo, and with the aim of pushing it into a new dimension”, writes guitarist/vocalist Tomoho Maeda.

Inspired by the bands that emerged from Japan’s 2010s emo revival scene, ANORAK! was formed in Tokyo in 2019. Their first album, strongly reflecting those influences, was warmly received by emo fans, and won a Special Prize at the 2023 APPLE VINEGAR Music Awards, the awards founded by Masafumi Gotoh of ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION. Blending intricate guitar work with lyrics that move between English and Japanese, and fusing their rock band sound with programmed elements and Auto-Tuned vocals, they continue to pursue a style unconstrained by genre boundaries. Since 2023 they have supported numerous Japan tours by international bands, and in 2025 they made their second US visit, which included the COUNTER INTUITIVE 10 YEAR TOUR. Their Spotify monthly listeners exceed 100,000, with over 1,000,000 total streams.