POOLS

POOLS creates a sound that feels like a digital memory of a summer evening. Based in the Kansai region of Japan, they take the skeletal structure of indie rock and wrap it in layers of shimmering reverb and modern electronic textures. It is music that exists in the space between genres, where the organic warmth of a guitar meets the sharp, cold precision of hyperpop-influenced production.

What truly sets them apart is their ability to make high-tech production feel deeply human. There is a persistent sense of yearning in the vocals, often buried slightly in the mix to create a feeling of distance or submerged emotion. The rhythmic elements often borrow from hip-hop and glitch, providing a restless, modern pulse to songs that might otherwise feel like traditional dream pop.

Start with the album FROND to experience their most cohesive vision of this 'digital shoegaze' sound. It is the perfect entry point for anyone who loves the melodicism of J-pop but wants something with more grit, atmosphere, and experimental edge.