LA's Shunkan announces first album in five years
LA’S SHUNKAN ANNOUNCES FIRST
STUDIO ALBUM IN OVER FIVE YEARS
FIRST SINGLE “HELLBOUND” OUT NOW - LISTEN
KAMIKAZE GIRL ARRIVES MAY 6, 2025
VIA RITE FIELD RECORDS
“Indie-pop with sweetness but also with nerve and muscle.” - STEREOGUM
“Fully-formed, confident and glorious.”- DIY
“Straight up hi-fi rock.” - VICE
“Shifts between sadcore balladry and uplifting indie rock, all covered in a layer of fuzz.” - BROOKLYN VEGAN
“A punchy rock-out reminiscent of the grunge heyday.” - UNDER THE RADAR (NZ)
“It’s a big thing coming,” Marina Sakimoto sings in the lead single off her first record in 6 years. And a big thing is coming indeed because Shunkan, the LA-based rock project of Sakimoto, is excited to announce her third studio album, Kamikaze Girl, out May 6, 2025 via Houston’s tastemaking Rite Field Records. Recorded last year in Joshua Tree, CA and produced by Alex Newport (Death Cab for Cutie, Melvins, The Mountain Goats), the incoming record inspects how to put things back together after falling apart. Heralding the announcement is the aforementioned “Hellbound,” a hazy, melancholic track that expects the worst and wants the best. Grounded by Sakimoto’s honeyed vocals, brightly toned guitar riffs reverberate like late-night memories and desire-driven mistakes.
“I like ‘Hellbound’ as the first track of the album because it feels like the initial descent into a transformative period for me,” says Sakimoto. “There’s that space in your life where you start sensing something (or someone) may not be the best for you, but the allure of it keeps you around because… what else do you have to lose? Nihilism—mixed with a lost sense of identity—is one hell of a drug. Sonically, I wanted this track to reflect what I was listening to at the time, which started with revisiting the ‘Lost in Translation’ soundtrack while I was in Japan.”
LISTEN TO “HELLBOUND”
PRE-ORDER KAMIKAZE GIRL
Shunkan signed to Rite Field Records last fall and quickly mapped out her first full-length offering since 2019’s Cumberland Falls. Sakimoto first debuted the project in 2014 with her first EP, Honey, Milk and Blood, which earned praise from the likes of DIY, Brooklyn Vegan and Far Out Magazine. Shunkan’s critically acclaimed first LP The Pink Noise, arrived in 2014 with fan favorite tracks, “Garden” and “S.A.D.” This year will mark the release of her most refined and introspective album yet, Kamikaze Girl.
SHUNKAN
KAMIKAZE GIRL
RITE FIELD RECORDS
Release date: May 6, 2025
TRACKLIST
1. Hellbound
2. Sidekick
3. Usual Suspects
4. INALYNAF
5. Frogtown
6. I Did My Part Today
7. Arm’s Length
8. Talk Is Cheap
9. Prettier
10. Gilligan’s Island
ABOUT SHUNKAN:
Born on the Gemini-Taurus cusp and raised in a bicultural household, Marina Sakimoto has always felt the pull of duality — a sense of being both split and whole. This theme is the heartbeat of Shunkan, the Los Angeles-based rock project she leads with raw emotion and unflinching honesty. In 2024, Shunkan signed to Rite Field Records and collaborated with GRAMMY®-nominated producer Alex Newport (Death Cab for Cutie, At the Drive-In, Bloc Party) to craft a record that captures a pivotal moment in Sakimoto’s life. Written during one of her most challenging years, the album reflects on fleeting friendships that echoed her adolescence, coming to terms with an unwinding love, and wandering through the streets of LA in search of herself.
Shunkan’s sound melds angular, emotive guitar work with anthemic melodies, channeling the raw intensity of second-wave emo and the vibrant hooks of early-2000s alternative rock. It’s a dynamic style that has earned critical acclaim for her EP Honey, Milk and Blood and debut album The Pink Noise, praised by outlets such as The Guardian, NME, and Spin. In 2019, The Pink Noise was archived by the National Library of New Zealand for its cultural significance. The upcoming album pays homage to the music that first inspired Sakimoto, exploring themes of connection, nostalgia, and transformation. With a foot in the past and an eye on the future, Shunkan continues to explore the beauty of being caught in a moment.
ABOUT RITE FIELD RECORDS:
Rite Field Records is a musician-led independent record label, music consultancy and merchandise distributor based in Houston, Texas. It was established in 2023 by Joseph and Parker Hernandez, founders of Gneiss Sounds, and Abraham Valladares, founder of End on End Prints. The label's mission is to develop equitable opportunities for diligent artists by providing them with the essential resources to advance their music careers. In addition to providing a creative outlet for artists, Rite Field Records is committed to fostering a sense of community among musicians and fans alike. We believe that music has the power to transform lives, and we are committed to providing a dedicated platform for our talented artists to share their music and the vision that comes with it.
