Helmed by Rio Suyama, the Saitama-born singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist behind Re:O, โReverieโ marks the projectโs tenth single and a striking step into a colder, more reflective chapter. Known for fusing J-pop and dark pop with Western alt-metal and rock textures, Re:O has always thrived in the space between worlds. This time, though, the emotional temperature drops. Fully written in Japanese for the first time in years, โReverieโ leans into memory, distance, and the fragile beauty of human connection, like snow settling on your palm only to vanish a second later.
Right from the jump, grungy, gritty distorted guitars grind against thumping drums, setting a heavy foundation that feels almost industrial. But then, in a twist, gentle bell-like tones shimmer through the mix, flickering like falling snow. The push and pull between raw guitar riffs and cool, spacious synths creates an atmosphere thatโs both powerful and strangely comforting.
Rioโs voice is the anchor. She sings in Japanese with a mesmerizing tenderness. With softness in her delivery, she makes the lyrics feel intimate. And when the chorus lifts, she soars effortlessly over the grinding instrumentation, cutting through the distortion without ever losing that fragile edge.
The interplay between guitars and synths is where โReverieโ really earns its stripes. Itโs about coexistence. The expansive production, shaped by Rio alongside Simon Jackson, with contributions from Alex Carli, James Wright, and James โJโ Stevens, gives every element room to breathe while maintaining a dense emotional core.
Ultimately, โReverieโ is about holding on to memories, to warmth in the cold, to the hope that the ones who drifted away are still out there, safe and thriving.
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Review by: Naomi Joan