The Japanese House artist Amber Mary Bain born on 13 July 1995 in Buckinghamshire, is an English indie pop musician. Bain began her music career in her teenage days and now contributes vocals and plays guitar, synthesizer, and keyboard for her music.
In 2012, after being introduced to Matty Healy, she started writing music under the moniker “The Japanese House”, and produced her music under the label Dirty Hit. Her first single, “Still”, premiered on BBC Radio 1, making her a renowned musician.
Bain released her debut EP, Pools to Bathe In, and the follow-up EP Clean in 2015. These first two EPs were more towards the indie pop and synth-pop genres, with an excellent exploration of genres like dream pop, folktronica, and electropop. She went on a tour with her Dirty Hit labelmates in 1975 and Wolf Alice in 2015 and 2016. She then started her own tours.
Swim Against the Tide, released in 2016, Her third EP was influenced by 80s synth-pop. Fourth, Saw You in a Dream, released in 2017, saw her continued experimentation and exploration with different genres of electronica and rock. Bain released and coproduced her first full-length album, Good at Falling (2019), with George Daniel and American record producer BJ Burton.
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Embracing Queerness and Personal Growth
Amber Bain has been on a journey of self-discovery and growth, which is evident in her vibrant second album, ‘At The End It Always Does.’ The album delves into the cyclical nature of life, capturing the beginnings and endings with a hopeful outlook. Bain’s music has always been popular for honesty and vulnerability, and her new album is no exception, but it also offers a shift in her openness about her identity as a queer artist.
In the early days of her career, The Japanese House was an enigmatic figure shrouded in mystery with distorted androgynous harmonies and inconspicuous cover art. However, her 2019 debut album, ‘Good At Falling,’ marked a turning point as she became more visible in her album visuals and through the press cycle. ‘Chewing Cotton Wool’ featured a topless self-portrait, and she began to explore her gender and identity openly.
From Enigma to Openness: The Japanese House’s Evolution as an Artist
Over the past four years, Bain has experienced various life events that inspired her new material. She went through a significant move, a throuple relationship, and the eventual ending of those relationships. She penned down lyrics in real-time, sharing her intimate reflections with her partner during this time. The resulting album, ‘In The End It Always Does,’ embraces lighter, crisper indie-pop, allowing Bain’s raw emotion to shine through.
A notable theme on the album is identity, with the lead single, ‘Boyhood,’ exploring the shaping of a person’s identity, including Bain’s own journey of acceptance when it came to her gender. She admitted that she does not feel like a girl and identifies herself as genderqueer. Being more vocal about her gender has been a “coming out” of sorts, and she acknowledges the fluidity of her identity, leaving room for further self-discovery.
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Coming Out Journey: The Fluidity of Identity for The Japanese House
In the making of ‘In The End It Always Does,’ Bain worked with an inclusive team, including queer creatives like MUNA’s Katie Gavin and producer/engineer Chloe Kraemer.
This collaboration led to a raw, open emotion space, resulting in their most authentic work. The experience of working with queer women like Chloe was life-changing for Bain, as it provided a level of understanding and comfort that she had not experienced before in a male-dominated industry.
Embracing her queerness and finding support from her creative collaborators, Bain hopes her music and shows become safe spaces for the queer community. She no longer fears making queerness a part of her identity, understanding the need for representation, and embracing the fluidity of her self-expression.
As ‘In The End, It Always Does’ hits the airwaves, Bain is excited for listeners to experience the songs she crafted with her band. The album showcases her growth as an artist, and the flexibility in her sound allows her to explore new areas while staying true to her unique style.
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