Zutto Mayonaka de ii Noni. (Japanese: ずっと真夜中でいいのに。, lit.'I wish it was midnight all the time.'), shortened and stylized as ZUTOMAYO, is a Japanese rock group that debuted in 2018. Secretive by nature, the group has never released a full member list, crediting different people for arrangements and music video production each time. The only member reoccurring in all of the group's output is the vocalist and songwriter, an unidentified woman named "ACA-Ne" (ACAね, Akane[1]).[2]

ZUTOMAYO
OriginJapan
Genres
Years active2018 (2018)–present
LabelsEMI
MembersACA-Ne
Websitezutomayo.net

Despite the little information released, the group is commercially successful. Zutomayo's three EP's have reached 8th, 1st, and 2nd on the Oricon Albums Chart, respectively. The group was also invited to perform at the 2019 Fuji Rock Festival a year after their debut.[3]

Style

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Aside from ACA-Ne, the vocalist, it is unclear how many people are in the band. ACA-Ne has never revealed her face, and the band have performed behind a translucent screen during concerts, including at the 2019 Fuji Rock Festival. Many have pointed to Zutomayo's secrecy regarding its members contributing towards its popularity.[4][5] In more recent performances however, other members of the band have been less secretive, choosing to show their faces.

Zutomayo typically produces rock music, often featuring intricate, funk-inspired basslines. ACA-Ne's voice has been described as "energetic", "expressive", and "delicate".[5][6]

History

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The group debuted with the release of their first song, "Byōshin wo Kamu" (秒針を噛む), via YouTube on June 4, 2018. The song became an immediate hit, garnering 200,000 views within the first week.[2][7] Additionally, after being released on streaming platforms on August 30, the song became the most streamed song in Japan that week.[8] Following the song's release, Zutomayo held their first concert at Daikanyama Loop in Tokyo. Attendees were handed opaque glasses and reported that the entire venue was dark for the concert's duration.[7] The group would continue to conceal their identities in future concerts.

Zutomayo released two more singles digitally before releasing their first EP, Tadashii Itsuwari Kara no Kishō (正しい偽りからの起床), on November 14 through EMI Records. The EP reached 8th on the Oricon Albums Chart and was nominated in the 19th CD Shop Awards.[9][10] On June 5, 2019, a second EP was released titled Ima wa Ima de Chikai wa Emi de (今は今で誓いは笑みで), which topped the Oricon chart.[11] The group's first full-length album, Hisohiso Banashi (潜潜話), was released on October 30 of the same year.[12] The song "Darken" was used in the live-action film The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window, and "Hypersomnia" is also featured in the film.[13] The group released Gusare (ぐされ) on February 10, 2021, featuring songs "One's Mind", "Can't Be Right", "STUDY ME", "Hunch Gray", "Have a", "Engine Oil", "Darken", "Milabo", "Loneliness", "Crop", "Hypersomnia", "Fastening", and "Inner Heart".

In October 2022, the group provided the second ending theme, "Time Left" (残機), for the anime Chainsaw Man.[14]

Discography

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As of October 2024, Zutomayo has released five EPs and three full-length albums. Some songs contained in these albums were released digitally before the album's release.[15]

Studio albums

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Title Details Peak chart
positions
Sales
JPN
[11]
JPN
Comb.

[16]
JPN
Hot

[17]
Hisohiso Banashi 5 5 4
Gusare
  • Released: February 10, 2021
  • Label: EMI
  • Format: CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming
2 2 2
Jinkōgaku
  • Released: June 7, 2023
  • Label: EMI
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
4 3 2

Extended plays

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Title Details Peak chart
positions
Sales
JPN
[11]
JPN
Comb.

[16]
JPN
Hot

[17]
Tadashii Itsuwari Kara no Kishō
  • Released: November 14, 2018
  • Label: EMI
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
8 3
Ima wa Ima de Chikai wa Emi de
  • Released: June 12, 2019
  • Label: EMI
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
1 1 1
Hogaraka na Hifu tote Fufuku
  • Released: August 5, 2020
  • Label: EMI
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
2 2 2
Nobi Shigusa Korite Itomagoi
  • Released: February 16, 2022
  • Label: EMI
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
1 1 1
Koke no Ichinen Kaiba ni Takusu
  • Released: October 23, 2024
  • Label: Universal
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
3 3 3

Compilation extended plays

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Title Details
Zutomayo's Playlist for U.S.
  • Release date: August 27, 2021
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
  • Label: Universal
Zutomayo's Playlist for U.S. Vol. 2
  • Release date: April 22, 2022
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
  • Label: Universal

Singles

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Title Year Peak
chart
positions
Certifications Album
JPN
[26]
JPN
Comb.

[27]
JPN
Hot

[28]
"Byōshin o Kamu" (秒針を噛む) 2018 42 Hisohiso Banashi
"Nōriue no Cracker" (脳裏上のクラッカー)
  • RIAJ: Gold (st.)[29]
"Humanoid" (ヒューマノイド)
"Mabushii DNA Dake" (眩しいDNAだけ) 2019 97
"Seigi" (正義)
"Kettobashita Mōfu" (蹴っ飛ばした毛布)
"Obenkyō Shitoite yo" (お勉強しといてよ) 2020 21 20
  • RIAJ: Gold (st.)[29]
Gusare
"Darken" (暗く黒く) 49
"Hunch Gray" (勘ぐれい) 50
"Can't Be Right" (正しくなれない) 22 22
  • RIAJ: Platinum (st.)[29]
"Inside Joke" (あいつら全員同窓会) 2021 19 16
  • RIAJ: Platinum (st.)[29]
Jinkōgaku
"Stay Foolish" (ばかじゃないのに) 45
"Neko Reset" (猫リセット) 95
"Mirror Tune" (ミラーチューン) 2022 43
"Blush" (消えてしまいそうです) 18 47 65
"Summer Slack" (夏枯れ)
"Time Left" (残機) 14 14
  • RIAJ: Gold (st.)[29]
"Kira Killer" (綺羅キラー)
(featuring Mori Calliope)
39 32
"Intrusion" (不法侵入) 2023 90
"Truth in Lies" (嘘じゃない) 2024 75 Non-album singles
"Blues In The Closet"
"Hippocampal Pain" (海馬成長痛)
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Promotional singles

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Title Year Peak
chart
positions
Certifications Album
JPN
Comb.

[27]
JPN
Hot

[28]
"Kan Saete Kuyashiiwa" (勘冴えて悔しいわ) 2019 97
  • RIAJ: Gold (st.)[29]
Hisohiso Banashi
"Konnakoto Sōdō" (こんなこと騒動)
"Haze Haseru Haterumade" (ハゼ馳せる果てるまで) 100
"Milabo" 2020 44 31 Gusare
"Fastening" (低血ボルト)
"Hypersomnia" (過眠) 2021
"Quilt" (袖のキルト) 2022 50 Jinkōgaku
"Hanaichi Monnme" (花一匁) 2023 70
"Taidada" 2024 45 Non-album singles
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

References

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  1. ^ "『ずっと真夜中でいいのに。』メンバーの年齢や名前、意外な経歴とは…?【THE FIRST TAKE 出演!】 カルチャ[Cal-cha]" (in Japanese). 12 February 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Spotifyのバイラルチャート首位に突如登場「秒針を噛む」 歌っている"zutomayo"とは何者?" (in Japanese). Oricon. October 8, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  3. ^ "『フジロック』第3弾出演アーティスト発表 TAKKYU ISHINO、HYUKOH、中村佳穂ら18組". Real Sound (in Japanese). April 5, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  4. ^ "ずっと真夜中でいいのに。". Fujirock Express (in Japanese). July 27, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "ずっと真夜中でいいのに。満員のオーディエンス詰めかけたワンマンライブ追加公演" (in Japanese). Natalie. April 17, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  6. ^ 峯岸利恵 (December 3, 2018). "ずとまよ、いよいよ本格始動!". Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  7. ^ a b 山口哲生 (September 21, 2019). "動画再生回数700万回超えの『ずっと真夜中でいいのに。』謎の多き超注目新人アーティストのシークレットライブレポートを掲載". Spice (in Japanese). eplus. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  8. ^ "【知りたい】ずっと真夜中でいいのに。とは何者なのか?" (in Japanese). Rockin'On Japan. October 21, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  9. ^ "ずっと真夜中でいいのに。 正しい偽りからの起床". Mikiki (in Japanese). Tower Records Japan. November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  10. ^ "CDショップ大賞". 全日本CDショップ店員組合 (in Japanese). Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  11. ^ a b c "ずっと真夜中でいいのに。のアルバム売上ランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  12. ^ "ずっと真夜中でいいのに。1stフルアルバム「潜潜話」発売、新曲7曲含む13曲収録" (in Japanese). Natalie. August 6, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  13. ^ "Lずっと真夜中でいいのに。、平手友梨奈出演「さんかく窓の外側は夜」主題歌担当". Natalie (in Japanese). 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  14. ^ "ずっと真夜中でいいのに。「残機」が彩る『チェンソーマン』の熾烈なストーリー ACAね流に表現された"デンジの苦悩と幸せ"". Real Sound|リアルサウンド (in Japanese). 24 October 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  15. ^ "ずっと真夜中でいいのに。新曲「脳裏上のクラッカー」MV公開". Natalie (in Japanese). October 3, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  16. ^ a b "ずっと真夜中でいいのに。の合算アルバム売上ランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  17. ^ a b "Hot Albums". Billboard Japan. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  18. ^ Cumulative sales for Hisohiso Banashi:
  19. ^ Cumulative sales for Gusare:
  20. ^ "週間 アルバムランキング 2023年06月19日付" (in Japanese). Oricon. June 19, 2023. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  21. ^ "月間 アルバムランキング 2018年11月度". Oricon (in Japanese). Oricon ME. Archived from the original on December 12, 2018. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  22. ^ "月間 アルバムランキング 2019年06月度" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on July 10, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  23. ^ "月間 アルバムランキング 2020年08月度" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on September 9, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  24. ^ "オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 2022年02月14日~2022年02月20日" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  25. ^ オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 2024年10月21日~2024年10月27日 [Oricon Weekly Album Ranking October 21, 2024 – October 27, 2024] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  26. ^ "ずっと真夜中でいいのに。のシングル売上ランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  27. ^ a b "ずっと真夜中でいいのに。の合算シングル売上ランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  28. ^ a b "Hot 100". Billboard Japan. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g "Certifications search results: Zutomayo (digital streaming)" (Enter "ずっと真夜中でいいのに。" into the "アーティスト" (Artist) field) (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
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