Kavka Shishido - Wagamama/Miss. Miss Me

Despite having made her solo debut about a year and a half ago, Kavka Shishido has managed to leave quite an impression. She has already landed a theme song to a drama and a variety of music show and rock festival appearances, so it's apparent that she won't be disappearing any time soon. Her new single, Wagamama/ Miss. Miss Me, provides some insight as to what exactly this model/drummer/vocalist hybrid has to offer that resonates so strongly with listeners.

Born in Mexico, Shishido later moved to Argentina and took up the drums, learning the basics from the grandson of Tango Nuevo musician Astor Piazzolla. Upon returning to Japan, Shishido worked with all-female band The News, as well as another group called Eddy12, before making her solo debut in May 2012. An unusual combination of drummer and vocalist, Shishido made a strong enough impression to earn several modeling opportunities, radio shows, and a starring role in a commercial for Pretz.

The single begins with Wagamama, a well-composed but somewhat subdued ballad track. This will strike many as an odd choice, in that it places more emphasis on Shishido's singing than her heavily-touted drumming prowess. Though capably performed, the song is not as "wild" as one would expect someone marketed as "THE DRUM'N'GIRL" to sound. Though there aren't many surprises here, it's certainly not bad or boring, and will undoubtedly strike a chord with listeners in a particular mood.

The next track, Miss. Miss Me, is much more in-line with what is expected from a skilled drummer like Shishido. It's bouncy, raucous, and in-your-face, and the chorus is dangerously liable to take up permanent residence in listeners' ears. The lyrics are also worth some attention, providing Shishido's rambunctious take on the quintessentially Japanese weariness for the daily grind of office work.

The final song on the single, Yakiniku Princess, seems to address another uniquely Japanese issue: "herbivore men", who are romantically awkward men with little interest in relationships. Shishido confronts the topic head-on, with catchy verses about meat and how much she loves it that make it very clear she's "carnivorous". The song is probably the biggest surprise on the release, featuring brass instruments and an unexpected ‘50s-style doo-wop twist that confirms just how different Shishido can be.

There are no real slip-ups on this single. Wagamama may not be exactly what Shishido's audience is looking for, but it's handled very well and manages to easily carve out its own niche in her discography. The remaining two songs are certainly wilder and more upbeat, and really solidify the quality of this release. "Fun" is the keyword here – and with nearly all of Shishido's discography. She's got a drum set, a voice, and a few things to say, meaning that hearing her out never fails to be exciting.