You can’t be blamed for having no idea who or what SOPHIA is and yet I’m sure you’d recognize vocalist Matsuoka Mitsuru’s turtle mug if you saw it. The band has always been a kind-of-sort-of-not-really VK meets Jpop act on the outskirts. Truth be told, they have a good number of top 20 hits in Japan, some of which, still rank among my favorite Jpop songs to this day (“Shinkaron,” “Kuroi Boots ~ Oh my friend,” “HARD WORKER.”) Most of you will probably greet the news of their new single, Baby Smile, with disinterest but this is for the 1% of you who know and care about the Jrock also-rans. Scheduled for a May 6th release, SOPHIA’s new single is a “light and breezy pop tune.” Also included on the disc will be a self cover of their beloved classic “Machi” in celebration of their fifteenth anniversary.

If you have a chance check out some of their older tunes, you may find them a hidden gem.