New digital single 'Mask' out November 18th, 2022

[voltron]

I believe her latest IG post is saying the MV will be out Monday - or more information about it then?

[Unai_]

I like the song!

First time of listening, it was not as I expected, but once you listened more it became nice for me!

I am not fan of this kind of bases and music. Looking at her singles this year, the album probably will be on that direction

[Ashen Twilight]

I was hoping for something more like Wanderin’ Destiny after finding out TK was doing the song. Lots of dynamic highs and lows with an epic arrangement like the cover Kumi did a few years ago. It’s not bad…. It just doesn’t really go anywhere like a lot of TK songs. It does have an interesting structure where we typically would have a bridge is the ending. Would have loved to a final, key arranged chorus to round it out as it was starting to build before be finished.

Still looking forward to the album, but I hope this is TK’s only contribution.

[SpiceSquad!]

Suprisingly is a bop. Love the outro

[tokyoxjapanxfan]

I like TK, I like this song.
But it’s not “great”—it’s actually rather safe.

But I dislike DaD, and Summer Again I liked at first but now find myself skipping. And I don’t like 23rd monster. Lol Oh, I do like Nonfiction too but I legitimately just forgot about it when thinking about her recent songs lol. Not sure if that says something…

So, this is the most palatable track for me. But again, nothing outstanding. Videos can sway me though, so let’s see what tomorrow brings lol.

The thing that’s been irking me a bit though is her pronunciation? Vocal inflections? That weird “uuuuuuurh” sound… I know she’s done it forever, and I love it in I am… but now it’s feeling way more used?

[ShiraJemJem]

I like it. I hate the winter/carol part at the end but I still like it. The hook part is so catchy.

[Sky High]

I was not too fond of the song. It sounds so dated. Let's hope that PV will be decent.

[summerain]

I really liked how unusual the melody is. People often say some TK compositions "doesn't go anywhere" and that's exactly why I like it. It's a different way to build a song and it sound strange for us who are used to listen to songs with intro-verses-prechorus-chorus-anotherverses-anotherchorus-bridge-chorus(sometimes-with-a-bit-higher-tone)-end structure. I know some of the deconstruction are not always well done, but I liked it in here.

The arrangement sounds a classical 90s TK song, but it doesn't sound dated to me. The album is gonna be cohesive as hell, as we are having a lot of 90s reference, specially dance music within Dreamed a Dream, Summer again and now MASK.

[perfectodub]

I'm actually enjoying the song. I was not very exited for a new ballad, maybe because summer is comming in this side of planet and sunny days give me a lot of energy.

I tried to make something more into disco with this new remix of MASK I hope you like it.


https://youtu.be/gbHxBALhWW8

[hud]

it's alright but I wish she stops working with TK. not going to have replay value imo.

[280301]

I didn't like MASK's previews, but I actually really like the full track!!! It *almost* appears to me as a classic Ayu track.

I'm not a huge TK x Ayu fan (but I adore globe), but I enjoy that TK and Ayu integrated somewhat of an unusual structure here. I also like the texture of the arrangement - it feels a little rough and gritty, though I wish that the track became progressively cleaner and smoother towards the end, I think that would have elevated it further. The last minute of the track does capture some of that old school Ayu magic for me also.

Maybe I just remain a sucker for Ayu's solemn "La la las" after all this time. I think that Ayu's mastery of bittersweet and melancholy musings, and TK's tendancy to create tracks "that go no where", are a fantastic pairing here.

However, I will note that this is kind of track that I would expect as a perfectly decent album track (either halfway through or toward the end of an album to re-energise the overall vibe). I don't think it's a great choice as fully-fledged single. I would still love for Ayu to release a grand winter ballad.

Regardless, this is probably the song I've liked best since Ayu released TROUBLE. I'm pleasantly surprised - Ayu really made my day! I think it joins the ranks of WORDS (which I greatly warmed to after not liking it initially) and aeternal (which I enjoy, but still believe requires a beefier arrangement) for me as being the "Ayu rehashing her classic style" tracks with merit.

[LOONAppears]

I liked it! Definitely some things I wasn't expecting, like the key changing between the chorus and verse, and the outro part which makes me think that that was the part the made ayu cry. I absolutely love the pre-chorus! I kinda wish that the chorus the sound that follows ayu's voice in the bg, a synth i think? I wish that was a different type of sound cuz i agree that it does make the song sound outdated, and I like outdated song elements, but when they're done right. the song is very dramatic in typical ayu fashion , love that. overall pretty good song, however there are some things that I might've done differently had i been the one to produce the song. this got me excited tho, cuz if we're getting a house album from ayu i might have to buy 100 copies LOL

ayu18 singles ranking as of right now:
1. summer again
2. dreamed a dream
3. nonfiction
4. mask
5. 23rd monster
6. ohia no ki

[//ABEST]

I was so excited about this but it fell kinda flat for me? I can not remember how it sounds even tho I just listened to it. Cover is one of her best in recent years, as someone said it reminds me of that picture of Finnish primeminister Sanna Marin. ayu's being better tho

Spoiler:

Originally Posted by LOONAppears

ayu18 singles ranking as of right now:
1. summer again
2. dreamed a dream
3. nonfiction
4. mask
5. 23rd monster
6. ohia no ki

Good taste! I'd rank them like this as well

[MKAyu]

Originally Posted by //ABEST

I was so excited about this but it fell kinda flat for me? I can not remember how it sounds even tho I just listened to it. Cover is one of her best in recent years, as someone said it reminds me of that picture of Finnish primeminister Sanna Marin. ayu's being better tho

That was me. ^_^ Thanks for uploading for comparison, they really do look similar--Ayu's interesting earring and Sanna's interesting necklace add fashion.

[Irish_Ayu_Fan]

After 5/6 listens I’m fully on the Mask train now, love it

[Chris85]

I like the instrumental intro and chorus. I do understand the criticism though.

[natalaxie]

I really like the melody of the vocals but the arrangement underneath sounds cheap... Perfectodub's remix might be better! I like the tinny vocals on top of the real dance beat!

[perfectodub]

Originally Posted by natalaxie

I really like the melody of the vocals but the arrangement underneath sounds cheap... Perfectodub's remix might be better! I like the tinny vocals on top of the real dance beat!

I'm very glad that you like my remix I tried to give a current dance aura to the song.
➤https://youtu.be/gbHxBALhWW8

I have the same problem with the original music arrangement. I love old school jpop sound, and I like MASK melody, but this arrangement in particular sounds kind of cheap and lazy.
anyway, I think this one is a nice single, better that her sixxxxxx and Trouble tracks.

[andycruize]

I love Mask so much.

[tokyoxjapanxfan]

Okay so I’ve listened to it more; I’m into it now.

In my head, I feel like a dark (a la Daybreak and Depend on You) atmosphere with like, a blizzard (a la the Balenciaga FW22 show) would be really amazing. Considering we’ve seen her in a cream latex costume I have a feeling it’ll be very different than my vision lol, but Ayu keeps putting snow on the MASK story updates so… maybe it’s possible? Lol

This is a winter song in the same way DoY is to me, in that it’s released in winter, and could potentially visually be wintry and “cold”—but doesn’t necessarily sound wintry. Or, the video could completely mess it up for me lol.