ENFANTS
TMN EXCLUSIVE
Japanese Alt-Rock: Raw Sound, Relentless Drive
Watch the full Interview with Enfants. Interview by Dylan Gutierrez and Pablo Herrera. Translator: Lauriane Bedin (Hip Land Music). Mohawk, Austin, TX. SXSW 2025.
At this year’s SXSW, TMN had the chance to meet with one of Japan’s most promising alternative rock bands: Enfants. The four-member group—whose name is French for "children"—delivered an electric U.S. debut performance, followed by a candid conversation with TMN about their journey, influences, and the emotional pulse behind their sound.
Their rise has been fast but grounded in authenticity. With roots in Tokyo and a shared desire to make "cool music" that means something, Enfants began performing in 2022. Their 2023 debut EP Q, featuring the breakout track “Play,” gained traction after endorsements from Japanese music icons. Since then, they’ve moved from Japan’s live houses to Taiwan and now Austin, where their music continues to resonate.
In the interview, frontman Dai Matsumoto reflects on the contrast between American and Japanese audiences. “Here, the crowd really makes you feel good,” he says—an experience that’s inspired the band to bring that same energy back home. It’s not just about stage presence, either. The band is already channeling the trip’s emotions into new music, recording later this week.
The members also opened up about their origins—some met as kids, others in Tokyo—and how their friendship fuels their creative process. They draw inspiration from legends like Nirvana and Radiohead, but it’s their own emotional clarity that defines their sound. Whether joy, frustration, or raw vulnerability, Enfants captures it all in their performances.
“In the United States, the crowd really makes you feel good.”
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When asked about staying young and curious, their advice for TMN creators and youth everywhere was simple: “Courage, action velocity. Keep your curiosity.”
Their SXSW appearance is more than a milestone—it’s a bridge to what comes next. And if this conversation is any indication, Enfants is just getting started.
Enfants - Play (Official Video).
Interview by Pablo Herrera and Dylan Gutierrez. Translator: Lauriane Bedin (Hip Land Music). TMN Austin, TX.
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