Setting the tone with cerebral, pitched vocals and a dimensional synthscape with intricate percussion, HS opens Hero in the Mirror with intrigue and a sense of subversion, as he delivers evocative prose with reference to the artist’s hero journey.
The opus expands into a unique, hyperpop adjacent energy which is all created and produced by the Tokyo-based artist himself. Speaking on his creative process for the composition, HS confesses, “The vocals and guitar sounds for all songs were recorded in my room and I use Cubase to mix, master and complete the song.”
We appreciate the intention that HS creates with, as he tells us that Japan, is currently being hit by an unprecedented recession. He elaborates that due to financial restrictions, he has to live apart from his children and support them. “I’ve lost sight of the meaning of life. Making music is a way of life for me”, he recounts, passionately.
With reference to his influences, HS says, “I create music with the aim of creating popular music that anyone in the world will love. The background is that I was influenced by Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber, [and] Justin Timberlake.”
Whilst we can feel these references come through in the meaning and title of the song, not dissimilar to Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson, and the beat, which could be perceived as a Justin Bieber, or Justin Timberlake track, there is no doubt that the vocals are unique to themselves, perhaps holding more shared ground with Daft Punk in production style.
We have added Hero in the Mirror to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we explore HS’s wider discography including Baby Love and Happy Life.