Island Girl

Old Men at Midnight will release a double single, "Island Girl / the September Issue."

Old Men at Midnight is a solo project by Kazunari Yokoo, which began as a response to the unresolved emotions he felt during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based in a small studio in Sagamihara, the project has continued to evolve with the support of many collaborators.

This release features two tracks that were first conceived around 2019 and completed over the course of approximately seven years.
Lyrics, composition, recording, and mixing were handled by Kazunari Yokoo, with recording taking place at velvet room studio in Kanagawa, Japan.
The project features Yukio Iwahara (vocals), Naoki Tamura (guitar), Katsuyuki Toyofuku (bass), and maoto and Kyohei Haseyama (drums).
Mastering was completed by Masato Morisaki (Artisans Mastering), with illustration by Hys and artwork design by Maika Anno.

The track "Island Girl" was written as a tribute to women from island communities close to the artist-particularly his wife, who moved to Tokyo immediately after graduating high school and began working at a young age.
The song reflects a gentle yet resilient perspective on independence and self-determination.
Sonically, it draws from indie pop and 60s pop influences that shaped the artist at the time.
With the use of instruments such as a 12-string guitar, violin bass, and a compact drum kit, the sound was carefully constructed in collaboration with trusted musicians, resulting in a rich, performance-driven arrangement.
The artwork features visuals by Hys, whose style closely aligns with the atmosphere of the track.

In contrast, "the September Issue" takes inspiration from a documentary about former VOGUE editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.
The track focuses on the emotional dynamics of those surrounding a figure of overwhelming presence-people who are drawn to that brilliance while gradually becoming exhausted by it-capturing the contrast between light and shadow within the fashion industry.
It also marks the first time Old Men at Midnight has incorporated distortion into its sound.
The guitar tones were developed through detailed discussions with Naoki Tamura, resulting in a striking contrast in dynamics between the chorus and the rest of the arrangement.
Guest vocalist Yasui contributes high-register harmonies layered over the main vocal, adding clarity and depth.
The outro refrain, also his idea, introduces a memorable element influenced by emo and post-rock aesthetics.

This release, arriving approximately two years after the previous work, further defines Kazunari Yokoo's artistic identity by presenting his musical roots-spanning both the 1960s and the 2000s-from different perspectives.
Amid ever-changing times and environments, these two songs embody the time, relationships, and shared creative spirit built through continued collaboration with trusted musicians.