J-Pop Superstars Travis Japan Discuss Their Journey So Far and 2nd Album, VIIsual

We've been closely following every move of iconic J-pop Travis Japan since 2022 when they won the nation's hearts on America's Got Talent, and with the release of their sophomore album, VIIsual, it's clear just how far they've all come.

Thanks to the time difference, the eagerly anticipated Dec. 4 project is out now, featuring 13 incredible tracks that, along with their music videos, demonstrate its seven members' diverse and versatile talents as both vocalists and physical performers. Their songs are catchy and their choreography is unbeatable, and with hits including "Crazy Crazy," "Fly Higher" and "Sweetest Tune," the group effortlessly moves between genres to show us precisely what they're capable of. With VIIsual, their music is just as colorful and moving as ever while revealing a whole new side to the group,  and ahead of today's release, we got the chance to catch up with the guys to learn all things VIIsual.

(Photo credit: STARTO ENTERTAINMENT, used with permission)

Sweety High: What does the album title VIIsual mean to you all? Why did that title feel like the perfect summation of this group of songs?

Umi: First, I think VIIsual represents the part of our personality that can be seen from the outside. We have been fortunate enough to be recognized for our singing and dancing, and I chose this title because I wanted people to focus more on these kinds of skills that we've been working hard to develop over the past year. Of course, the VIIsual nature of things isn't the only aspect of our character, and the aura that comes from within and the personality that a person possesses is also quite visual in a way, so this album sums both up well. Furthermore, I think that the brilliance of the seven of us in synch is what makes us particularly visual as a group, which is also why I chose to use the roman numeral for "7" hidden in the spelling of the title.

 

 

SH: What do you feel are the overarching themes of the album? What kind of feel do you hope fans take away from it?

Genta: The overarching theme that Umi has created for this album is the VIIsual brilliance of the seven of us as a single unit. I think this album will show Travis Japan in a new light, as well as make listeners feel the force we bring with us when we come together as the sum of our individual strengths. This album is one that expresses the seven of us strongly through music that has tangibly evolved from the previous album, Road to A.

 

Also read about: Travis Japan Shares Their America's Got Talent Journey and So Much More

 

SH: How would you describe the album's sound? Production-wise, how did you go about bringing these tracks to life?

Chaka: It's never easy to make a song, but then again we don't want to make something that is easy. For this album we wanted to take time to really bring everything together from scratch and organically in line with the overall theme that everyone can enjoy and share. We have two lead songs with music videos this time for us to express ourselves visually, but to us, the tracks really come to life in the hands of our fans and listeners. What they think of them is the true breath of life for any song and crafting them in a way that will bring delight and joy so as to earn that final step was the primary goal of everything we did on the production side.

 

SH: How do you feel that these songs represent where you all are in life right now?

Shizu: The songs themselves are very genre-less, or rather, they have many genres, and there is a lot going on, which I think is well representative of us as a group. Each of us are involved in so many things that we try to bring back with us to add to the fabric of Travis Japan in as much as we represent Travis Japan in our solo pursuits. We want the VIIsual first impression of Travis Japan to be greater than the sum of its parts, and we want the tracks we produced individually this time to be a good way to better understand each of our personalities as a part of the group as a whole.

 

Also read about: Everything You Wanted to Know About J-Pop Sensations Travis Japan

 

SH: What are each of your favorite songs on the album?

Umi: I like "Golden Girl" because I think it is a song that shows our Travis Japan style. I like this song because I feel happy when I listen to it, and I think it will make my fans happy too.

Chaka: My favorite of the new songs is "Underdogs." It has a nice "yay yay wow wow" groove to it, and I want to share those vibes with my fans when they listen to it.

Machu: My favorite track is "Fireflies." It's the song Chaka produced for our special individual contributions, and you can tell it's his choice through the little bit of hip-hop mixed with middle of the road grooves his fans will probably recognize. On the other hand, it really challenges our rap skills so I'm not quite sure how it will sound in a live concert, but at the very least it's one that captures our emotional beats well. I also want people to hear how good it makes us feel when singing it.

Genta:  I like "Staying with me." Partly because it's the insert song for Umi's movie "Yano-kun no Futsu no Hibi," but also because these types of ballads have never really been a part of TJ's musical presentation, so it feels especially fresh. I am looking forward to singing it at the concert and I hope all the fans will feel good after listening to it!

Shime: I'm going to choose "Whiskey and Tonic" because it's beautiful and I like the tune. Also, I usually play this genre of music at home.

Shizu:  Actually, I was going to say the same as Shime, but in the interest of variety I'll say "HBD" I produced that song, and it is a very happy song. I think it will be especially good on the Global Edition, but it's also very easy to sing for our Japanese fans and for people who like to sing Japanese karaoke because it has more Japanese lyrics. Also, when I heard the voices of all the members together for the first time on the interim recording, I could imagine them singing with smiles on their faces, so I want everyone to feel and absorb the same happy aura.

 

SH: How do you think you've evolved as artists since Road to A?

Machu: I think that this year we were able to experience many different things. Our first world tour, of course, but we also were part of our fans' everyday lives through variety shows, TV dramas and many other individual projects, which have helped us to refine our skills for the bigger items. Most vividly, VIIsual was created by brushing up what we have experienced and absorbed up until now and what we want to reflect on from our first album, Road to A, and by utilizing these different angles and thinking about what kind of work best suits Travis Japan.

 

Also read about: J-Pop Sensations Travis Japan Talk Sophomore Single 'Moving Pieces' and Growing as Artists

 

SH: How does it feel to come this far on the journey you've all been on?

Genta:  It always makes me happy to release music as Travis Japan after solo work, as it gives me the chance to bring everything I've experienced on my own back to the group and contribute as someone who's grown as a result. As idols, there are many different paths we take as entertainers, but it always ties back to the group and the power we can achieve as a cohesive unit. There have been many moments in this year when I've felt this, and I am grateful to each member and to all the fans who work just as hard for our success.

 

SH: Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Shime: Our second album, VIIsual will be released on Dec. 4, and we are sincerely looking forward to hearing everyone's reactions! We also have a Global Edition coming where all the songs will be recorded in English, which is very important to us as we continue to work on improving our language skills. We hope everyone reading this will give them both a listen and share with your friends. We've put this album together in the hopes that the music will bring joy to everyone, so please enjoy it together with us!

 

For even more from the group, click HERE to read our interview with Travis Japan from this summer on the release of "Sweetest Tune" and their world tour.