James Webster

(Empty Chair by Taeko Ohnuki) Taeko Ohnuki is probably my fave Japanese vocalist from this era. Her voice in this song is so gentle but deeply expressive. And that clean guitar tone!! It's the smoothest ever.

(Pharo by Freedom Call) When I was in my 20s, my band kind of had a power metal awakening. We loved everything massive and legendary sounding, even if cheesy as hell. This song, it's like you can imagine seeing a giant god strolling over the mountains, head in the clouds...

(Prologue/Twilight by Electric Light Orchestra) Despite growing up with the Traveling Wilburys, I didn't figure out who ELO and Jeff Lynn were until I was 25. Time especially fucked me up, now I have an ELO tattoo on my leg to remind me you're never too old to discover something life altering.

(Tweeter And The Monkey Man by Traveling Wilbury's) More dad influence. One of my first favorite songs, back when I was like 7 years old. Fucked up when you listen to the lyrics but I didn't know what was goin on lol

(Natural Woman by Ryusenkei) Speaking of loungey city pop, a modern favorite are the café friendly Ryusenkei. They have worked with some amazing vocalists in the past (including Hitomitoi!). This track features Atsuko Hiyajo and is just one of those songs I have looped 1000 times.

(Binasu by Kate NV) Sparkling indie synth pop from a lost era of Orange Milk. My Kate NV introduction, I was completely obsessed with this song - I would ride my bike around Philly singing along with the "NA NANA NANA!"s at the end, tearing up, heart racing.

(Message From Nightopia by Tomoko Sasaki) I didn't have a Playstation growing up, I was a Sega Saturn kid. Nights was everything to me - especially the music, which I tried to compositionally emulate for my Winter Sleep project.

(The Star You Left Behind by Quasi) Speaking of Elliott Smith, his Heatmiser bandmate Sam Coomes and Sleater Kinney drummer Janet Weiss make the duo Quasi: hands down "my band" when I was in high school. If you like my sense of chord progression, Quasi shares it. We are kindred.

(Being a Good Girl Hurts by Yena) Ex-IZ*ONE Yena has been crushing it the last few years. I picked this up blind at a kpop store and was surprised to find a jpop/anime/kpop hybrid bubblegum bop with an extremely complex arrangement

(Non-self by Jaeho Hwang) Korean hardcore industrial. I was lucky to be on the bill with him at FORESTLIMIT Tokyo, where his relentless assault of massive violent beats broken up with samples of traditional Korean instruments and Buddhist chants became a transcendent spiritual experience.

(a stairway to the stars by The Caretaker) For a period in my life all I did was play FFXI and loop The Caretaker discography. It's still insane to me that one of my all time favorite niche electronic artists became a viral sensation. Sometimes feels like finding a bunch of strangers in your house.

(forsurebelieve by ventla) Ventla is a true genius. this little nugget of joy is a perfect example of his ability to pull together a bunch of haunting lofi elements over an off the grid stumbling beat and somehow create a whole new reality that exists for only 2 minutes

(Jam Jam by IU) It's crazy how this era is so long past now. This is still my IU jam, I can't resist a song that holds back going all out until the final chorus.

(Lost Message by Air) A group that has bizarrely touched my life and inspired my music almost subconsciously. Especially with the Nigel Godrich drip, everything you are hearing is a pristine recording of a real instrument that really makes a solid case for "real" studio art.

(San Tropez by Pink Floyd) Another middle school obsession. I made my piano teacher at the time work this out for me to learn. Similar to Paul McCartney's "granny shit," which was kind of an ironic artistic statement in the 60-70's, I just have a soft spot for these kinds of songs.

(Poetry of August by Lamp) My favorite modern rock band, I saw them in Anaheim last year and was stunned when it was a packed sell out! Guess they went viral, awesome for them! Their songs are usually more labyrinthine, this is just a perfect song with a Radiohead riff and powerful chorus.

(September Song by Willie Nelson) Honestly I would put any song from this album on here, but this poignant love song almost reads as slowcore. The sound of a wrenching heart.

(ASAP by NewJeans) Sadly ephemeral, in 2023 there was a moment when kpop shifted towards these almost bizarre, super minimal singles with experimental-leaning production and arrangements. ASAP was just the absolute height, so infuriating HYBE destroyed these girls' careers

(Heart of the Sunrise by Yes) I remember getting into Yes in middle school, feeling that this song specifically seemed to have aged so much better than the majority of their prog peers and I still feel that way. This shit could be comfortably dropped today and yet it is fucking 55 years old.

(Born in a Prison - Yoko Ono) People hate on this album but this is hands down my fave Yoko song. "We dream in a prison like fools..."

(Soul of Mist by Shunsuke Kida) The first ever souls track, the disembodied fog-thronged dreamscape you made your character to. Aspirational music for me.

(Rio - Michael Nesmith) My dad jammed this when I was a little kid and I think it was a part of the torrent of Beatles-esque harmonic sensibility that continues to churn at my core. Also RIP Michael Nesmith, noted vaporwave enjoyer

(A Sweet Reward by Chirinuruwowaka) End credits music for Atelier Escha & Logy perfectly captures the doomed sincere emo vibe of the game, especially as all those faded smiling anime faces drift past as this song plays