Recommended Tracks: “Hachikō,” “You,” “Okay, Goodbye”
Artists You Might Like: Bruno Mars, Charlie Puth, Michael Bublé,
In 2025, it can be a challenge to create something that sounds new. There is so much music out there, with countless combinations of melodies and rhythms and beats that everyone has heard before. How do you create something fresh? How do you create something original? It seems nearly impossible, but Fujii Kaze is one of so many artists out there achieving the impossible, delivering unique and highly memorable songs. He sounds timeless yet modern, mature but youthful, and classic yet fresh, with music that spans generations and genres. His third album, Prema, is a compelling example of this, full of music that jumps from funk to jazz to R&B, from the 80s to the 90s… This is also Fujii’s first English-speaking album, making it one of his boldest projects to date.
One of the themes on Prema is optimism, and it comes through in surprising ways. There’s “Casket Girl,” which doesn’t paint the most enticing picture based on the title, but its sound suggests otherwise. There is an Elton John flair to it, due to its mix of jazz and rock elements, which are tied together by Fujii’s soulful vocals. Meanwhile, he sings about overcoming gloomy vibes in lines like, “There’s gotta be a way to make it better / Try a little love and grow together.” Even on songs about loss, like “I Need U Back” and “It Ain’t Over,” Fujii turns the negative into a positive. On the former, he realizes that he messed up. He tries to win somebody back by admitting, “I wasn’t right,” and that he “learned a lot, baby,” hoping that his new outlook will be enough. It’s very “90s boy band,” made all the more complete by the impassioned vocals and rhythmic delivery of the lines. On the latter, Fujii is almost in denial over someone who has “gone so far away,” but he’s not upset. Instead, he shares, “Deep down, I know / No one will ever be gone,” finding comfort in these words.
Another theme that we hear on Prema is love, and being the sensitive and caring artist that he is, Fujii is able to convey the power of love in all its glory. On the tender “Love Like This,” Fujii opens his heart. He intimately sings, “I’ve been suffering in this tiring, crazy world like I’m drowning / There is no way to escape, I thought, but finally here I am / I’ll never find another love like this, it’s true.” It reads like a diary entry, but it’s dreamy, affectionate, and an honest look at how love can make someone feel. There’s also the title track, which is more of an open declaration of love. Over the hip-hop beats and bright piano, Fujii sings, “Follow my tender heart and I win / No matter what pain I am in,” and asks, “Prema, don’t you know that you are love itself?” This celebratory vibe is also found on “Okay, Goodbye,” which finds Fujii valuing love for himself over love for someone else. It is a happy spin on a breakup song, as he takes the high-road. To the sound of hand claps and chipper piano lines, he sings, “I just wanna wish you the best / We were so good and we tried our best,” before sharing, “I’m thankful for the way you blessed my life.” In the end, he is fine with taking “a ride with me” and being his own company.
When it comes down to it, Fujii is all about togetherness and bringing out the best in people. We feel this on “Hachikō,” which touches on loyalty. Here, he incorporates Japanese phrases into the track and anchors them to the English lyrics with bright synth and electronic tones. All the while, he sings, “You’ve been patiently waiting for me” and “There’s so many ways to please you / You can pick whatever you like to do,” encouraging a good time. The encouragement continues on the uplifting ballad “You.” After listening to this track, you’ll know that you have a friend in Fujii. He knows just what to say, giving us lyrics like, “I can see the good in you / How beautiful it is / Baby, if you just believe / You can change your whole reality.” It’s important to remember the good and who you are, which Fujii reminds us about on the closing track, “Forever Young.” Throughout the lush yet perky track, Fujii gets lost in the memories of his youth. He feels these memories the most when he is with a special someone, singing, “As long as we’re here / We’re forever young.”
Overall, Prema is a very feel-good album that expands upon themes of optimism, love, and togetherness. The tracks are lively in nature, with upbeat grooves, compelling rhythms, and enlightening melodies—all of which bring a golden aura for the record. We also have relatable and thoughtful lyrics, so no matter the issues or situations that listeners are facing, Fujii understands. In the end, Prema is bound to make someone’s day a little brighter through its messages, its timeless style, Fujii’s exceptional vocals, and of course, its music.
You can listen to Prema here.
Purchase copies of Prema here.
Check out our latest interview with Fujii here.
Keep up with Fujii Kaze: Instagram // Facebook // X // YouTube // TikTok // Website
