Japanese alternative pop artist Ako is turning up the volume with her bold new single ‘Turn It Up’, out now via IRORI Records / PONY CANYON INC.
Serving as the ending theme for the TV anime The Darwin Incident (streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime), the track sees Ako diving into complex emotional and societal themes — all while pushing her genre-blurring sound further than ever.
Blending jazz, rock, and pop, ‘Turn It Up’ channels Ako’s signature whisper voice into a multi-layered anthem told from the perspective of the anime’s antagonist group, the Animal Liberation Alliance. Both English and Japanese lyrics dissect issues of identity, morality, and meaning — echoing the story of The Darwin Incident, which follows Charlie, a 15-year-old human-chimpanzee hybrid navigating a world that doesn’t understand him.
“When creating this song, I wanted to reflect the anime’s message by mixing music genres with different roots,” says Ako. “The title literally means turn up the volume, but I also want listeners to tune into the deeper questions behind the story.”
The track is mixed by Nathan Boddy, known for his work with Olivia Dean, PinkPantheress, and NewJeans.
Since debuting in 2020, Ako has stood out for her emotionally charged visuals and genre-defying sound. Following her major label debut ‘Planet’ in 2024 and full-length album GENE, Ako’s recent milestones include sets at SXSW ‘24, The Great Escape 2025, and a double Japan tour with stops in Taipei. Fans can catch her live again this June for Ako Live Tour 2026 'JUNO', promising raw, electrifying shows across five Japanese cities.
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