For YOASOBI, Fashion Is an Extension of Their Aesthetic Explosion

“It’s our first solo show in New York ever and at that historic, very iconic venue, so it’s an honor and so exciting,” vocalist Ikura says in Japanese, her words translated by an on-site interpreter. She can hardly contain her enthusiasm. In fact, Ayase recalls a recent dinner across the street from Radio City, where Ikura excitedly told the waiter about their upcoming performance and played YouTube videos for him at the table. “She had the server follow her Instagram,” he says.

It’s only been a year since the band first performed in the U.S. at the Head in the Clouds Festival in Los Angeles — a realization that still surprises Ayase. “It doesn’t feel that recent at all,” he says. Maybe that’s because YOASOBI has accomplished more in this past year than most do in an entire career. The band’s hit single “Idol,” which serves as opening theme of anime series Oshi no Ko, topped Billboard Japan’s year-end chart after breaking the record for most weeks at No. 1. They also dropped The Book 3 EP and its English-language version, E-Side 3, made their Coachella debut (“It’s something we’ll never forget,” Ikura says of the festival crowd), and became the first J-pop act to attend a state dinner at the White House.

For producer Ayase, these accomplishments are more than just a series of fortunate events — they’re a testament to the universal appeal of their art, which transcends cultural and language barriers and even sound.

YOASOBI’s creations aren’t just meant to be heard; they’re meant to be seen and felt. The duo mixes electronic sound with colorful visuals and engaging stories that captivate the senses and draw audiences into a world beyond the music. It’s why they designed their 2024 Pop Out Zepp Tour to be an immersive experience, with Ayase and Ikura acting as game masters, navigating concertgoers through a vibrant, multi-sensory journey. At one point in the show, fans are instructed to put on a pair of 3D glasses while graphics “pop out” of the screen behind them, like the large-winged avian that takes flight during “ツバメ (Tsubame),” the pixelated video game that comes alive during “Biri Biri,” and the starry skies that twinkle while Ikura sings “Yasashii Suisei (Comet).” The duo describes it as a theme park. “There’s so many different types of stimulation and feelings,” Ikura says. “It’s all packed into one stage.”

These dynamic effects echo the duo’s distinct visual aesthetic, carefully curated to compliment their music’s frenetic energy and vivid imagery. For their North American shows, Ayase and Ikura wanted to illustrate the duality and depth integral to their sound through their on-stage fashion. Working with their stylist, Shota Funahashi, they identified three concepts to guide their looks: Luxury, grunge, and isekai. The last of these roughly translates to “another world,” and it’s also a popular fantasy genre in manga and anime where protagonists are transported to an alternate reality where anything is possible. The name is fitting because that’s how they want their fans to feel when listening to their music.