The Japanese House Announced Second Album 'In The End It Always Does'

Written by Jenna Love, Photography by Jay Seba

The Japanese House, an English indie pop artist known for her popular release "I Saw You In A Dream", announced her second album titled, In The End It Always Does. The upcoming 12-track album recently released on June 30th through Dirty Hit. The new album collaborates with producer Chloe Kraemer as well as familiar names like The 1975’s Matty Healy and George Daniel, MUNA’s Katie Galvin, as well as Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon. In The End It Always Does is her third project after her 2019 debut album Good At Falling and her 2020 EP Chewing Cotton Wool. 

The Japanese House released four singles early off of the album. The first single “Sad to Breathe”  reveals a vulnerable and fragile state of Bain, layered over an upbeat indie-pop track. The track is drenched in inspiration pulled from The 1975’s vintage pop synths over melodic pianos and synths. The second single, “Boyhood,”plays  soft vocals layered over the brushed, upbeat drums that compliment the percussive guitar and harmonious synths. This is a song that captures being young and hopeful. The 1975 members Matty Healy and George Daniel came into play on “Sunshine Baby.” The soft, dream-pop ballad taps into a nostalgia from 2014 indie pop that remains fresh. Even when The Japanese House makes multiple different tracks, tapping into contrasting genres, the music maintains a feeling of self from the young artist. Matty Healy’s backing vocals in the shouted chorus pair indescribably perfect with Bain’s gentile vocals. The  closing track, titled ‘One for sorrow, two for Joni Jones,’ emulates a classic yet understated ballad with simple piano and mono vocals that emphasize the weight of the emotional lyrics. It has the pain and depth of a Phoebe Bridgers song, but it still sounds special to The Japanese House with her heartbreaking voice. 

The inspiration for the new record was captured during 2021 COVID with Bain’s new experience of a throuple. “These two people were together for six years, and I met them, and then we all fell in love at the same time - and then one of them left. It was a ridiculously exciting start to a relationship. It was this high, and then suddenly I’m in this really domestic thing, and it’s not like there was other stuff going on - it was lockdown.” (NME 2023). The excitement she captured in this relationship is translated to her new project. The weight of getting older and growing up deepens The Japanese House’s new music. This new record will sound more mature, developed, heartbreaking, and blossomed. If you are a fan of the 1975 mixed with the vocals of Men I Trust, Snail Mail with the vocals of Phoebe Bridgers, check this album titled ‘In The End It Always Does’ by The Japanese House.