Shunkan unveils first album in over 5 years, 'Kamikaze Girl'

SHUNKAN UNVEILS FIRST STUDIO ALBUM IN OVER FIVE YEARS KAMIKAZE GIRL VIA RITE FIELD RECORDS TEN SONGS UNPACK THE CHAOS  OF FINDING YOURSELF WITH EMOTIVE GUITARS  AND ANTHEMIC MELODIES

Photo credit: Rae Mystic “Indie-pop with sweetness but also with nerve and muscle.” - STEREOGUM “Fully-formed, confident and glorious.” - DIY “Straight up hi-fi rock.” - VICE “Shifts between sadcore balladry and uplifting indie rock, all covered in a layer of fuzz.” - BROOKLYN VEGAN “A punchy rock-out reminiscent of the grunge heyday.” - UNDER THE RADAR (NZ) Shunkan, the LA-based rock project of Marina Sakimoto, is excited to share her new album Kamikaze Girl, out now via Houston’s Rite Field Records. Marking her long-awaited return, today’s release is a record filled with introspective moments, soaring guitars, and gut-punching lyricism. The ten-track album brings its listener through the fire and out again, with Sakimoto’s powerful vocals leading the way. Shunkan’s first record in over five years, it feels as though they have finally arrived with Kamikaze Girl. LISTEN TO KAMIKAZE GIRL Recorded last year in Joshua Tree, CA and produced by Alex Newport (Death Cab for Cutie, Melvins, The Mountain Goats), Kamikaze Girl examines how to put things back together after falling apart. Heralding the announcement was “Hellbound,” a hazy, melancholic track that expects the worst and wants the best. Grounded by Sakimoto’s honeyed vocals, brightly toned guitar riffs reverberate like late-night memories and desire-driven mistakes. Following “Hellbound” came the single “Usual Suspects,” a high-energy, punchy track reminiscent of early 2000s emo. Sakimoto’s powerful voice and heavy guitar riffs center around lyrics that navigate life amid chaos. Final single, “Prettier” is packed with meaning, featuring heartfelt lyrics that grapple with self-identity while navigating the complexity of relationships. The song moves from melancholy to anger, communicated by initial slow-pulsing beats that transform into gritty, emotional guitar.  LISTEN TO “PRETTIER” LISTEN TO “USUAL SUSPECTS” LISTEN TO “HELLBOUND” Shunkan signed to Rite Field Records last fall and quickly mapped out her first full-length offering since 2019’s Cumberland Falls. Sakimoto first debuted the project in 2014 with her first EP, Honey, Milk and Blood, which earned praise from the likes of DIY, Brooklyn Vegan and Far Out Magazine. Shunkan’s critically acclaimed first LP The Pink Noise, arrived in 2014 with fan favorite tracks, “Garden” and “S.A.D.”

SHUNKAN KAMIKAZE GIRL RITE FIELD RECORDS

TRACKLIST 1. Hellbound 2. Sidekick 3. Usual Suspects 4. INALYNAF 5. Frogtown 6. I Did My Part Today 7. Arm’s Length 8. Talk Is Cheap 9. Prettier 10. Gilligan’s Island

ABOUT SHUNKAN: Born on the Gemini-Taurus cusp and raised in a bicultural household, Marina Sakimoto has always felt the pull of duality — a sense of being both split and whole. This theme is the heartbeat of Shunkan, the Los Angeles-based rock project she leads with raw emotion and unflinching honesty. In 2024, Shunkan signed to Rite Field Records and collaborated with GRAMMY®-nominated producer Alex Newport (Death Cab for Cutie, At the Drive-In, Bloc Party) to craft a record that captures a pivotal moment in Sakimoto’s life. Written during one of her most challenging years, the album reflects on fleeting friendships that echoed her adolescence, coming to terms with an unwinding love, and wandering through the streets of LA in search of herself. Shunkan’s sound melds angular, emotive guitar work with anthemic melodies, channeling the raw intensity of second-wave emo and the vibrant hooks of early-2000s alternative rock. It’s a dynamic style that has earned critical acclaim for her EP Honey, Milk and Blood and debut album The Pink Noise, praised by outlets such as The Guardian, NME, and Spin. In 2019, The Pink Noise was archived by the National Library of New Zealand for its cultural significance. The upcoming album pays homage to the music that first inspired Sakimoto, exploring themes of connection, nostalgia, and transformation. With a foot in the past and an eye on the future, Shunkan continues to explore the beauty of being caught in a moment. ABOUT RITE FIELD RECORDS: Rite Field Records is a musician-led independent record label, music consultancy and merchandise distributor based in Houston, Texas.

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