The Japanese House, a moniker for Amber Bain’s solo project, has carved out a distinctive space in the indie music scenes, drawing listeners in with her unique blend of dream-pop, electronica, and indie rock, creating an emotionally resonant dream world. The project gained attention for its atmospheric and introspective qualities, exploring themes of identity, relationships, and selfdiscovery. Each song feels like the emotional effects of coming out of a dream and longing for the world you left behind in it. Toronto packed The Danforth Music Hall to experience the same dream together.
Second on the setlist was the lead single of the recent album, “Touching Yourself,” which is a sensual anthem to intimacy (and lack thereof) within long-distance queer relationships. Exploring themes of the digital age and its integration into relationships, Amber perfectly encapsulates the sense longing for physicality with devastating lyrics and an ethereal soundscape.
The singer held small grins at the crowd behind a humble quietness in personality. But the lack of crowd work did not stop the dedicated audience from bonding with the artist. There’s a sense of intimacy within the crowd and their love for Bain. The crowd erupted at her breakout song, “I Saw You In A Dream”, as she expected with a quick, “you know the words to this one.”
Before introducing her song, ”Boyhood,” from the new album, In The End It Always Does, Amber gave a cheeky, “this one is for the gays.” The song explores the ideal of finding escapism within gender and queer identities. The dichotomy of growing up in girlhood while having the desire to grow up in the world of boyhood is an important distinction to the artist. The song is an ode to self-acceptance in coming of age to find the middle ground of exploring the different worlds of the gender spectrum.
Previously opening for acts like The 1975 (her first tour, mind you), The Japanese House first headline tour solidifies her inevitable journey to dominating the indie music scene. Don’t miss the last few dates of The Japanese House tour if you want to leave a concert floating with a wave of cartoon hearts following behind you.
