Amber Mary Bain (born 13 July 1995), known professionally asthe Japanese House, is an Englishindie pop musician fromBuckinghamshire. Bain contributes vocals and plays guitar, synthesizer and keyboard for her music. Bain decided to pursue a career in music as a teenager. She began writing music under the moniker The Japanese House in 2012, after being introduced toMatty Healy ofthe 1975, who offered to help produce her music under the labelDirty Hit. She first rose to prominence after the release of her first single, "Still", which was a critical success and premiered onBBC Radio 1.
Bain's androgynous vocals, heavy use of production, and elusive media presence fueled fan speculation about her gender and identity after her first few singles were released. In 2015, Bain released her debut EPPools to Bathe In and the follow-upClean. These first two EPs were rooted inindie pop andsynth-pop but included experimentation with genres such asdream pop,folktronica andelectropop. She toured with Dirty Hit labelmates the 1975 andWolf Alice in 2015 and 2016 before headlining tours of her own.
Bain was born inWatford and lived inHarrow,Hemel Hempstead,Buckinghamshire, andHertfordshire throughout her childhood.[2] As a child, she was taught music by her father, who was also a musician.[3] She continued practicing and recording music throughout her childhood. She began recording music at the age of 11, when she visited her father's house. As a teenager, Bain pursued a career in music rather than going to university, a decision which her father supported as he felt she had "a clear opportunity".[4]
In 2012 Bain's friend introduced her to singerMatty Healy ofthe 1975, who Bain's friend was dating at the time.[5] Bain began working closely with The 1975,[6] and signed to their labelDirty Hit.
Bain settled on the stage name The Japanese House because she did not feel ready to reveal her name or gender.[7] As a result, very little was known about The Japanese House when her debut single "Still" was premiered onBBC Radio 1 withZane Lowe on 2 March 2015.[8]
Bain's androgynous voice and avoidance of press photography fuelled speculation about her gender and identity.[9] After the release of "Still", there was widespread speculation that the singer behind The Japanese House was a man, and some fans even speculated that it was a side project of Healy's.[10] Bain went on her first tour as an opening act for the 1975 in 2015.[11] Bain subsequently released three more singles. "Pools to Bathe In" was released on 25 March 2015, "Teeth" on 8 April 2015, and "Sister" on 21 April 2015.[12] Bain's first EPPools to Bathe In, a compilation of her four previous singles, was released on 27 April 2015 to favourable reviews.[13][14]
Bain performing at the Wiltern in October 2019
The titular single from the EPClean was released on 7 September 2015 and premiered on BBC Radio 1 that same day.[15] The EP's second single, "Cool Blue" was released 15 September, followed by "Letter by the Water" on 27 October 2015.[16] The final single, "Sugar Pill" was released on 3 November 2015.[17]Clean was released on 6 November 2015, and received positive reviews from critics.[18]
2016–2017:Swim Against the Tide andSaw You in a Dream
On 26 September 2016 Bain released "Face Like Thunder", the first single from her upcoming EPSwim Against the Tide.[19] Bain stated that the EP's title was inspired by the feeling of falling in love and losing someone, saying "[it] feels like you’re swimming against the tide. In a sense it’s a struggle".[20] The track received favourable reviews for its emotional subject matter and melodic beat.[21]
On 26 April 2017 Bain released the single "Saw You in a Dream".[25] The single was noted for using fewer layered tracks, and having a starker, less production heavy sound than many of Bain's previous songs.[26] The full EPSaw You in a Dream was originally scheduled for release on 16 June 2017 but was released on 30 June.[27] The EP was praised for showcasing the evolution of Bain's dreamy style, with strong vocals and a more reserved use of production effects.[28]
Bain released the single "Lilo" on 27 September 2018.[29] After the release of "Lilo", The Japanese House announced a North American tour in December 2019.[30] On 12 November 2018 Bain released "Follow My Girl", the album's second single. That same day,Billboard announced that The Japanese House's debut albumGood at Falling was to be released on 1 March 2019.[31] The album was co-produced with George Daniel (ofThe 1975) andBJ Burton.[9]
Upon its release,Good at Falling received mostly positive reviews.[32] Megan Buerger ofPitchfork called it "confident and intoxicating", although she commented that its melancholic lyrical content almost exasperated her at points.[33] Bain announced her secondGood at Falling tour in the US for October and November 2019.[34]
Bain released the EPThe LA Sessions on 8 August 2019.The LA Sessions featured re-imagined tracks fromGood at Falling andSaw You in a Dream which were recorded live in Los Angeles.[35] On 27 September 2019, Bain released a single titled "Something Has to Change", and announced an upcoming extended play of the same name.[36] The EP was announced to be released in November 2019,[37] but was delayed into early 2020.[38] On 22 November 2019, she released a single titled "Chewing Cotton Wool."[39] On 10 August 2020, Bain announced that the EP, now titledChewing Cotton Wool, was to be released on 12 August 2020.[40] Bain released the EP on 12 August 2020.[41] It featured four songs, one of which was a collaboration withJustin Vernon ofindie folk bandBon Iver, as well as the previously released singles. Upon its release,Chewing Cotton Wool received praise for showing further growth of Bain's signature lush, hazy production, introducing more textured and sporadic electronics.[42]
The Japanese House performing at theTrinity Centre,Bristol, during part of her 2023 UK Tour.
Bain released a new single on 20 March 2023, titled "Boyhood", the lead single to her second albumIn the End It Always Does. The album was announced on 18 April 2023, concurrent with the release of the second single "Sad to Breathe".In the End It Always Does was released on 30 June 2023, and was revealed to feature credits from previous collaboratorsGeorge Daniel,Matty Healy,Justin Vernon, and new collaboratorsCharli XCX,Muna, Chloe Kraemer and more. In May 2023, Bain announced tours in North America and the United Kingdom.[43][better source needed]
On 12 January, it was announced Bain would joinThe 1975 for select dates on their 2024 UK tour.[44]
In October 2024, a billboard themed afterCharli XCX's highly anticipated remix albumBrat and It's Completely Different but Also Still Brat was found in The Japanese House's hometown, London. After some speculations, it was officially revealed that The Japanese House will feature on the remixed version of the song "Apple".[45]
Bain began producing music professionally under thepen name "The Japanese House". She has stated that her reasons for using a pseudonym include not wanting to be defined by her gender and wanting to avoid the public eye. The name "The Japanese House" was inspired by a cottage inCornwall, England, in which she and her family had vacationed for a week during her childhood. The property had been previously owned byKate Winslet, with furnishings reminiscent of traditionalJapanese tea houses,[46] and during her stay in Cornwall, Bain posed as a boy.[47]
During her early career, Bain avoided photo shoots and publicity which, combined with her androgynous vocals, led many outlets to label her as an anonymous artist. After the release of her debut EPPools to Bathe In, fans speculated about her gender and identity, with some even claiming that The Japanese House wasMatty Healy ofthe 1975.[10]
Despite the shroud of anonymity which surrounded The Japanese House, Bain never hid her personal identity online. In a 2019 interview, she noted that her official social media accounts even used her full name, Amber Bain.[48] She eventually became more public, appearing in interviews and photo shoots, stating that the reason for this was that she had become more comfortable with being in the spotlight and "didn't want the mystery to become bigger than the music".[49][50]
Bain is known for her androgynous style and wavy blond hair, the latter of which has been compared to that of American musicianKurt Cobain.[51][52] Megan Buerger ofPitchfork described Bain at the beginning of her career as "a soft-spoken, queer 19-year-old girl with Kurt Cobain hair and boyish style".[33]
Pools to Bathe In was asynth-pop album, and her subsequent releases have prominently incorporated synth-pop. Her experimental musical style also containsdream pop,electropop,[14]synth-pop,indie pop,[56] andalt pop.[57] Andy Meek ofBillboard described Bain's discography as a combination of experimentalelectronica and "catchy pop hooks backed by drums and chugging guitars".[58]
Her later releases were increasingly influenced byart pop and rock music.Saw You in a Dream was ayacht rock album,[59] whileGood at Falling was influenced by rock and art pop.[60] She is known for her atmospheric tracks and moody lyrical themes.[61] Max Migowksi, writing for Indie Mag, summarized Bain's musical style as "[an] androgynous voice embedded in ethereal, post-indie pop synths with hints at gentle acoustic guitar".[62]
Many of Bain's releases explore themes such as love, loss, solitude, and personal growth.[5][4] Her later releases have been favorably compared to her first two EPs, with critics noting the more mature lyrics and refined composition ofSwim Against the Tide andGood at Falling. Bain's debut albumGood at Falling was praised by its critics for its dark, heartfelt lyrics and light, pop melodies.[63]
Bain's vocals are often compared to Imogen Heap (left) and Victoria Legrand (right).
Bain's singing vocal range extends fromcontralto totenor and has been especially noted for its androgynous character.[48] Critics have favorably compared her vocals toVictoria Legrand andImogen Heap,[64] though Bain rejects comparisons to Heap.[65] A distinctive feature of Bain's discography is her use of layered harmonies, often three tracks or more, which simulates the effect of avocoder.[66] Her use of overlapping harmonies to create "a kind of thick, organicAuto-tune [sic]" has been praised for lending depth to her tracks.[67] Alice French ofVarsity called Bain's vocals one of the highlights of her performance.[14]
At the time of a 2015[update] article, Bain resided inEast London.[68] Bain has a petGerman Shepherd named Calvin and aDachshund named Joni Jones afterJoni Mitchell. She has been open about her struggle with alcohol abuse and stated that she became sober after the release ofGood at Falling. The song "Maybe You're the Reason" fromGood at Falling deals with her past struggles with an eating disorder, and this subject is also depicted in the music video for "Lilo".[69]
Bain was in a four-year relationship with singer-songwriterMarika Hackman until 2018.[70] Hackman later appeared in the music video for "Lilo".[71] At the time of a 2019 interview withW Magazine, Bain stated that she was in a three-waypolyamorous relationship with Polly Mackey, also known asArt School Girlfriend.[55] As of 2023[update], Bain has been together with her partner, Alyssa. The couple announced their engagement on 2 April 2024.[72] On 21 March 2025, Alyssa revealed the two had married.[73]
Bain stated in 2020 that although she previously felt that being gay explained her gender expression, due to changing perceptions of sexuality, "maybe [she] would identify as nonbinary now, because [she doesn't] feel fully female."[74]
In an interview with the Current recorded in 2023, Bain described her gender asfluid and stated a lack of preference for any particular gender pronoun set.[75]
For descriptions of the less heavy production and praise for Bain's vocals, see the following two"The Japanese House Release "Swim Against the Tide" EP".WRBB 104.9 FM. 27 November 2016.Archived from the original on 14 January 2020. Retrieved14 January 2020.
For the discussion and depiction of eating disorders, see"The Japanese House Album Review".Honey Punch Mag.Archived from the original on 15 January 2020. Retrieved15 January 2020.
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