“’PUNK’ for us, of course, is not the genre of music” say the band. “‘PUNK’ to us is to overturn the worn-out values associated with ‘kawaii’ or ‘cute’ created up until this point. ‘PUNK’ is a word that expresses a strong sense of self. To be yourself more, to become the person you truly want to be, to believe in yourself in every instance!”
It’s revolution, CHAI explain, but also evolution – their rebellious streak was always there in the dazzling technicolour of PINK searing spots in your eyes and their expectation-defying live shows. Bassist Yuuki explains: “‘PUNK’ was what we had been doing all along – not caring about what people think and instead showing everyone who we are and what our music is. That’s ‘PUNK’. This whole time our concept of your ‘complexes being art’ and ‘changing the norm’ was ‘PUNK’ all along.”
This realisation fuses CHAI’s new work with a desire to take life by the reigns and take control of their own destinies.
This inner strength comes out in the music. If PINK was a plastic, hyper-bright introduction then PUNK is a deeper, less blinding but more impactful graduation. It’s the movement from vivid orange to slow-burning red.
Yuuki crafted the irrepressible album sleeve, with a laughing girl bursting through a shell. The message, they say, is clear: “Hello, New Me!” You under-estimate CHAI at your peril.