【RELEASE INFO】Marevrew's 1st Album "Motto Ite, Hissoi Ne." is revived with new mixing and mastering. This masterpiece, which conveys traditional Ainu songs to the present day, is being released on vinyl for the first time, with updated artwork.
MAREWREW began in earnest in 2010 with the release of their debut work "MAREWREW." In recent years, they have garnered significant international attention, with a best-of album and a remix album released by the German label "Pingipung." Now, their first album, "Motto Ite, Hisosori ne.," released in 2012, is being pressed on vinyl. It features 17 tracks, including 8 newly mixed songs, selected from the original 20-track CD. The album cover features an Ainu embroidery crafted by Mayunkiki's grandmother, with the title and artist name newly embroidered by Rekpo, symbolizing the connection with their ancestors. The inner sleeve features illustrations by Utowa, the daughter of OKI and Rekpo, who joined MAREWREW in 2025, making this album a remarkable piece of art.
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Four voices connect the past, present, and future of the Ainu. MAREWREW (butterflies) sing across time and space.
MAREWREW is a female vocal group that carries on the traditional Ainu song "Upopo" into the modern era. Since the Ainu did not use musical notation and primarily passed down their songs orally, the songs they perform are based on those heard from elders or old archived recordings unearthed by the members themselves at museums. While holding reverence for the Upopo of their ancestors, they do not merely imitate them but instead pursue "songs that only we can sing now"—a contemporary Upopo. Their theme is that by building upon this, they will naturally draw closer to the songs of their ancestors. Producer OKI also states, "What's important in Ainu culture is 'individual style.' It's crucial to revitalize tradition by incorporating MAREWREW's style while referencing tradition, causing it to transform." Their approach of singing together with the audience in "ukouk" (rounds) during live performances, saying, "It's more fun to sing together," and joyfully sharing, "Our roots music is so wonderful!" also makes their openness to tradition a significant appeal.
The album "Motto Ite, Hisosori ne.," released in 2012 and now being pressed on vinyl, is a fresh work filled with MAREWREW's initial impulse. Member Rekpo looks back at her own singing on this album, recorded 14 years ago, saying, "Even for the same song, the melodic phrasing is completely different now." In Ainu Upopo, personal melodic phrasing is important. Old songs, current songs, future songs. There is meaning in continuously preserving the songs of each moment through recordings and enjoying the changes. This work is a valuable piece where one can appreciate the groove of the four voices that could only have been born at that time, especially since it was recorded before Rim Rim left the group in 2020.
The desire was to create a work that would remain in history for hundreds of years. With this in mind, OKI newly mixed and remastered 8 tracks for this release. Compared to the CD version, the depth and presence are enhanced, and particularly in the spiral, interlocking "ukouk" parts, the three-dimensional vortex of voices is eerily captivating. Although I thought I had listened to the CD version countless times since its release, listening to it again now, I am astonished by the rich musicality of the original Ainu traditional songs, with their unique rhythms and puzzle-like song structures. The arrangements, where OKI's playful spirit shines, are also impressive, such as "KAPIW UPOPO" with its edgy bass phrases and flowing tonkori, and "KANE REN REN," a dance tune that builds excitement with programmed beats and catchy melodies, as OKI himself says, "My role is to mess around with unnecessary things." I want to celebrate this music that has not faded but rather gained more brilliance after 14 years.
MAREWREW's form of tradition resonates with the songs of their ancestors and carves out the future with their own style. The profound sound unique to analog records will surely highlight its essence and reveal an even more profound world of Upopo.
Text by Norie Okabe
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Artist：MAREWREW
Title：Motto Ite, Hisosori ne.
Label：Chikar Studio / TUFF BEATS
Format：LP
CatNo.：TBV-0107
Barcode：4580187181717
Price：4,800 yen + tax
Release Date：March 4, 2026 (Wed)
■Pre-orders available
https://store.tuff-beats.com/products/tbv-0107
■Tracklist：
Side A
1. HONKAYA CIPO
2. HEREKAN HO
3. ASIPET UN CASI
4. KAPIW UPOPO
5. UEKAP
6. CIPE RIKIP PAR YAN
7. EMUS KANE
8. RERA SUY
Side B
1. UMAOI
2. HUMPE YAN NA
3. PON HEKACI HECIRI
4. KANE REN REN
5. YAYKATEKARA
6. TACURO
7. SARANPE
8. CIPO SANKE UPOPO
9. HUMPE PAWA