Sequence 01
| Sequence 01 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | May 5, 2025 |
| Recorded | 2022–2025 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 25:23 |
| Label | |
| Producer | |
| Singles from Sequence 01 | |
| |
Sequence 01 (stylized in all caps) is the debut studio album by Japanese girl group F5ve, released on May 5, 2025, through LDH Records. Under executive production from BloodPop, the album features additional work by A.G. Cook and Hudson Mohawke, and a guest appearance from American singer Kesha.
It is preceded by the singles "Firetruck", "Lettuce", "Underground", "UFO" and "Magic Clock".
Background and recording
[edit]F5ve, composed of the members Sayaka, Kaede, Miyuu, Ruri and Rui, originally made their debut in 2022 under the name SG5 ("Sailor Guardians 5"), taking direct inspiration from the manga franchise Sailor Moon.[1] Their formation was a collaboration between LDH Japan and the globally-based Three Six Zero, with BloodPop brought on as executive producer. Their first and only single as this iteration, "Firetruck", was released in February 2023 and emphasized a "girl crush" concept; it was met with lukewarm reception.[2]
By 2024, the group underwent a change in creative direction and re-emerged as F5ve, with subsequent releases taking on a hyperpop influence and ceasing their association to the manga.[2][3] The group saw wide exposure after the singles "Lettuce" and "Underground" went viral on social media. In October 2024, the group revealed to Gay Times that their debut album was in production.[4]
Sequence 01 was developed over nearly two years. Initial sessions took place in December 2023, with a team of American producers traveling to Japan to work with F5ve over two weeks.[5] Kaede found the recording process with Bloodpop to be a "fresh" experience, "different from how Japanese people create music".[6] Their creative team took heavy note of the group's music preferences, with the members sharing playlists for song ideas and giving their input on arrangements.[7]
The album marked the first time that Sayaka, Kaede, and Miyuu recorded vocals for a project, who previously held dancer-only roles in their former group, Happiness. Rui shared that it was the first time that they were able to decide their own singing parts.
Composition
[edit]Sequence 01 is conceptualized as a "sequence of dreams" and explores a range of genres as a result—dance, rock, funk and hyperpop among them.[8][9] Member Ruri characterizes the album as straddling a "classic J-pop influence" that meets Western electronic pop, with a "futuristic edge to the production that keeps it cohesive".[10]
The members sing in both Japanese and English. F5ve made it a point to deliver a distinct Japanese identity through their music, with Kaede adding: "I think [following trends] ends up diluting [that] aspect. [We are] transmitting Japanese culture as it is [and] I think it has hit audiences that have always been interested in Japanese culture and music."[11] Japanese singer-songwriter Emyli, known for her work with M-Flo and Namie Amuro, is credited on all but three of the album's tracks.[12] Anime, a common interest between the group and Bloodpop, was also a source of musical inspiration.[6]
Songs
[edit]Following the brief introduction of "Initiate Sequence 01", the album opens with "Underground", which Rolling Stone Japan writer Minori singled out for its nod to Heisei era sensibilities in blending Eurobeat and hyperpop.[7] "Magic Clock" is described as a melancholic, bright pop song mixed with "glitchy synths" that is centered around fleeting memories.[13][14][15] Member Ruri called it "quintessentially J-pop", while Kaede noted comments on social media that likened it to "early 2000s K-pop".[15]
Release and artwork
[edit]Sequence 01 was announced on February 26, 2025, through the group's social media accounts.[16] The cover photograph was taken by Charlotte Rutherford, who also directed several music videos for the group during the Sequence 01 album cycle.[17] F5ve is seen examining office filing boxes while scattering documents. The creative direction was handled by Crystalline Structures, while the F5ve logo was designed by Timothy Luke.[18]
Critical reception
[edit]Clash writer Maria Letícia L. Gomes gave the album an eight out of ten, calling it "chaotic, camp, and completely irresistible".[13]
Commercial performance
[edit]The album reached a debut position of 39 on the Japanese Oricon Albums Chart, selling 855 physical copies in its first week.
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Initiate Sequence 01" | Count Baldor | Count Baldor | 0:37 |
| 2. | "Underground" (アンダーグラウンド) |
|
| 2:21 |
| 3. | "Magic Clock" |
|
| 2:13 |
| 4. | "UFO" |
|
| 2:39 |
| 5. | "Firetruck" |
|
| 2:23 |
| 6. | "Lettuce" (レタス) |
|
| 2:08 |
| 7. | "Sugar Free Venom" (with Kesha) |
|
| 2:48 |
| 8. | "Television" |
|
| 2:17 |
| 9. | "Bow Chika Wow Wow" |
|
| 2:24 |
| 10. | "Jump" |
|
| 3:24 |
| 11. | "Real Girl" (リア女) |
|
| 2:09 |
| Total length: | 25:23 | |||
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japanese Albums (Oricon)[19] | 39 |
References
[edit]- ^ Chan, Tim (June 28, 2022). "Moon Prism Power Turn Up: Meet the IRL Japanese Girl Group Based Off 'Sailor Moon'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ^ a b Yoo, Young-jae (April 14, 2025). "신인 걸그룹, 故 구하라 사진으로 마케팅…논란 확산". TV Reporter (in Korean). Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ St. Michel, Patrick (May 6, 2024). "Make Believe Melodies For May 6, 2024". Make Believe Mailer. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ Robledo, Jordan (2024-10-01). "'We want to be iconic': Introducing the dynamic J-pop group f5ve". Gay Times. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ^ "f5ve 1stアルバム『SEQUENCE 01』インタビュー | awesome" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ a b Assis, Tássia (March 6, 2025). "F5ve, the charismatic quintet shaking up J-pop". Dazed. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
- ^ a b "f5veが語る、東京発の異次元サウンドを支える姿勢「ありのままでいることの素晴らしさ」". Rolling Stone Japan (in Japanese). October 30, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
- ^ "BloodPop®「日本の音楽にはポテンシャルがある」 東京発グループ、f5veのプロデュースに情熱を注ぐ理由". Real Sound｜リアルサウンド (in Japanese). 2024-08-24. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (March 5, 2025). "Japanese Girl Group F5ve Sets Debut Album 'Sequence 01' for May Release". Variety. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ Letonja, Jana. "F5VE ARE RELEASING THEIR DEBUT ALBUM 'SEQUENCE 01'". Numéro Netherlands. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
- ^ Yeo, Gladys (October 17, 2024). "f5ve talk new single 'UFO' and showcasing Japanese subcultures: "It's going to spark a revolution"". NME. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
- ^ "Emyli | Official Website - About -". Emyli (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ a b Gomes, Maria Letícia L. (May 5, 2025). "f5ve - SEQUENCE 01". Clash. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
- ^ "➂【先行掲載・WEBオリジナル記事】＜f5ve＞予測不能、斬新、異次元のポップサウンド、話題のグローバル・ガールズグループf5ve（ファイビー）。ファーストアルバムを語り尽くす、総1万 9,000字 ロング・インタビュー 、先行エディット、ショートバージョンを公開！ – OUT of MUSIC WEB" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ a b "f5ve、1stアルバムは"なんでもアリ"のジャンルレスな作品に 直球の日本語表現で「ポジティブなエネルギーを届けたい」". Real Sound｜リアルサウンド (in Japanese). 2025-05-09. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ @f5ve_official (February 26, 2025). "initiate SEQUENCE 01 05.05.2025 💿 http://f5veofficial.com" (Tweet). Retrieved May 1, 2025 – via Twitter.
- ^ Rutherford, Charlotte [@charlie__chops] (March 16, 2025). "@f5ve_official 💘 @is_rui_official @im_sayaka_official @kaede_ @immiyuu_official @ruri_kawamoto_official" – via Instagram.
- ^ "f5ve logo metal keychain". F5VE official store. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2025-05-19/p/4" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 14, 2025.