Japanese boys group WOLF HOWL HARMONY release music video for ‘BAKUON’, lead track from debut album ‘WOLF’! Epic scale video shows resolve to go bigger than major!
Meet four-piece Japanese boys group WOLF HOWL HARMONY. A year and a half since their debut, this EXILE TRIBE group continue to be hot news in the music scene, hosting a regular radio show on J-WAVE and a regular column in the beauty publication VOCE.
The group released their first full-length album ‘WOLF’ on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, along with a music video for ‘BAKUON’, the lead song from the album.
WOLF HOWL HARMONY / ‘BAKUON’ music video
https://youtu.be/KouPKw7Q59A
The music video is a collaboration with LIFULL ALT-RHYTHM dance group, who are active in Japan’s dance league D.LEAGUE. WOLF HOWL HARMONY aim to be future leaders of their generation, and LIFULL ALT-RHYTHM are their greatest advocates, helping to spread their message. The abandoned spaces featured in the video act as their base of operations, and despite the location’s dystopian vibe, the video expresses how the two groups’ alliance continues to grow ever stronger.
This is WOLF HOWL HARMONY’s most difficult dance performance to date, creating incredible visual impact through its choreography and expressive power. The choreography was devised by LIFULL ALT-RHYTHM Director Naoya Nagai.
The video was directed by YERD, a Japanese creative who has become renowned as a filmmaker and music video director whose works boast stunning visual beauty and unique storytelling. With direction skills that bring out each artist’s unique personality to the fullest and visual sense that pays close attention to detail, YERD has worked on many hit productions.
The video for ‘BAKUON’ was filmed in a manmade yet familiar abandoned structure, in a remote location devoid of visitors. Based on the concept that cultural evolution and the emergence of new movements also begin in unknown places, the video was shot using a variety of angles, large-scale aerial photography using drones, distinctive setups within the space and dizzying editing techniques, with the aim of creating a video that would serve as a statement of WHH’s resolve to shape the times to come.
■ Comment from WOLF HOWL HARMONY
“Collaborating on this video with LIFULL ALT-RHYTHM allowed for a chain reaction of creativity, making this the proudest work in our history as WOLF HOWL HARMONY so far! We hope this video will kickstart a new movement, so be sure to check it out!”
■ Comment from producer Chaki Zulu
“We tried and tested many approaches to create a song that would aid WOLF HOWL HARMONY’s mission to take over the world. I think it’s an addictive song that adds a spark to the group’s singing and dancing performance.”
■ Comment from LIFULL ALT-RHYTHM Director Naoya Nagai
“We created choreography that breaks free from genres, based on the sense of speed that defines today’s world and an epic foot-stomp that screams power. This high-tempo choreography features hand signs that are typical of WHH and iconic elements from their songs, and once you start dancing, you’ll be obsessed. The vibe from this collaboration got me thinking deeply about what expression really means, and the true essence of dance. I hope this fresh wave that WHH bring will wash over you all, and that you will dance together and feel the excitement.”
■ Comment from LIFULL ALT-RHYTHM member calin
“This song was a whole new challenge for both WOLF HOWL HARMONY and LIFULL ALT-RHYTHM. Rather than matching particular shapes or silhouettes, it’s like their bodies were being controlled by or influenced by something greater – and this was the image I tried to convey when working on the choreography. It must have been pretty hard for them. The energy of the song brings out a whole new side to each member’s expression and dance performance. It feels new, but true to the group’s original charm. I hope you enjoy it.”
■ Director’s notes from YERD
“The setting for this video was an abandoned space that exists within everyday life, but a place where other people do not venture. This is the secret base of WOLF HOWL HARMONY, and is testament to how the evolution of culture and the emergence of new movements begin in unknown places.
“In this era where the cutting edge changes dramatically every day, who will be the next artist to lead their generation? Thinking of this question, and with the hope that WOLF HOWL HARMONY will continue to grow into artists that lead the zeitgeist, I made a video that expresses the power of demonstrating your existence and your place with likeminded cohorts in this wide world through a creative lens.
“The symbolic, powerful dance at the center of this video is also its main theme. LIFULL ALT-RHYTHM have a unique presence within D.LEAGUE and are comrades of the pioneering force that is WOLF HOWL HARMONY, making them welcome collaborators. The members of LIFULL ALT-RHYTHM have helped spread the ideas of WOLF HOWL HARMONY, contributing to the group’s unique approach with their distinctive choreography full of awesome contemporary rhythm.
The physical expression of dance that could only be communicated by members of the same tribe represents the creation of a new common language and culture, showing us how WOLF HOWL HARMONY – who were previously solitary lone wolves – evolve when they work with their friends.”
‘BAKUON’
Lyrics: Kenya Fujita, Chaki Zulu, T.Kura
Music: Chaki Zulu, T.Kura, Kenya Fujita
Produced by: Chaki Zulu, DJ DARUMA
Recording & Mixing Engineer: Takeshi Saito
Recording & Mixing Studio: prime sound studio form, Giant Swing Studio
Dance Director: Naoya Nagai (LIFULL ALT-RHYTHM Director), Jun Morii (LIFULL ALT-RHYTHM Sub Director)
‘BAKUON’ is a truly startling song, characterized by the complex sound and intense tempo changes created by producer Chaki Zulu. The song is a powerful statement of intent for how WOLF HOWL HARMONY plan to devour the music scene go even bigger than major.
From their music to their visual image, WOLF HOWL HARMONY are an unstoppable force – so watch closely as they reach new heights.
■ RELEASE INFORMATION
Released Wednesday, March 12, 2025
WOLF HOWL HARMONY from EXILE TRIBE
1st album ‘WOLF’
Download and streaming links: https://wolfhowlharmony.lnk.to/WOLF_dlstr
#WHH
■ Download and streaming campaign
★ Click the link below for details of the ‘BAKUON’ download and streaming campaign
wolfhowlharmony.jp/news/detail.php?id=1123379
■ WOLF HOWL HARMONY profile
WOLF HOWL HARMONY are a four-member vocal and rap boys group featuring GHEE and HIROTO, who were both finalists of iCON Z ~Dreams For Children~, the largest audition in LDH history with 48,000 participants; and RYOJI and SUZUKI, who joined iCON from its second chapter and are also part of the choral group DEEP SQUAD. WHH’s debut song ‘Sweet Rain’ was released on August 23, reaching No.3 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart and No.1 on Spotify’s ‘Viral 50 Japan’ playlist.
As the buzz around the group grew, WHH won the Rising Star Award Presented by YOKOHAMA special prize at the MTV VMAJ 2023 awards, and their debut song ‘Sweet Rain’ ranked 9th on Spotify’s Most Shared Tracks of 2023 Japan chart, a ranking of the songs most shared on social media that year. Their second single ‘Frozen Butterfly’ also made waves, charting at No.9 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and No.8 on the Spotify Viral 50 Japan ranking for March 2, gracing Spotify’s ‘Tokyo Super Hits!’ playlist for three consecutive weeks.
Members:
- RYOJI (28)
- SUZUKI (29)
- GHEE (27)
- HIROTO (23)
Links:
Official website: https://wolfhowlharmony.jp/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wolfhowlharmony (@wolfhowlharmony)
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/WOLFHOWLHARMONY (＠WOLFHOWLHARMONY)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolf_howl_harmony/ (@wolf_howl_harmony)
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wolf_howl_harmony (@wolf_howl_harmony)
■ Regular radio show/media appearances
J-WAVE (81.3FM) TOKYO M.A.A.D SPIN ‘WOLF HOWL HARMONY’s MIDNIGHT WOLF’
First Saturday night/Sunday morning each month at 2:30-3:00 Japan Standard Time
https://www.j-wave.co.jp/original/maadspin/
VOCE regular column ‘WOLF no Biyou-dou’
https://i-voce.jp/featured-series/wolf_beauty/
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