C2 (Scared to Name It Me)

Modern Jazz War to Release New Single "C2 (scared to name it me)" on September 17

Tokyo-based post-punk/no wave band Modern Jazz War (MJW) will release their new single "C2 (scared to name it me)" on Tuesday, September 17, across all digital platforms. Alongside the release, the band will unveil their first-ever official music video.

Following their debut single "Bleeding for Nothing", the track serves as the second single leading up to their first EP Holes in Modernity. "C2 (scared to name it me)" takes as its motif the feeling of "drifting through life without ever becoming anything," portraying the uncertainty and instability of the self with quiet intensity and tension.

As with their previous work, the track was recorded live in one take without a click track. Built on a mid-tempo foundation, it abruptly shifts tempo multiple times throughout, weaving together fragility and raw edge in an unpredictable and volatile structure. The result is a song that lingers with its uneasy balance of immediacy and subtlety.

The single's artwork was designed by Max Bloom (Yuck), who also works as a designer. Featuring a monochrome collage of gardenia flowers punctuated by a red dot, the design reflects the solitude and irony embodied in the song.

The music video was directed by vocalist/guitarist Michi Nakano and produced in a DIY style, marking MJW's first foray into visual storytelling.

C2 (scared to name it me) was recorded and mixed by Kensei Ogata, and mastered by Katie Lau (Japanese Breakfast, Blondshell). The track will be available for streaming and download worldwide from August 30.

Looking ahead, MJW will release their debut EP Holes in Modernity in September, along with a companion noise/ambient EP. A release party is also scheduled to mark the occasion.