ael Announce Name Change

Dansou (crossdressing as male) idol unit ael recently announced that they will be making a new start under the name Pipping Hot.

ael was formed in 2019 as a "rock-style" dansou group. The group's line-up currently consists of five members: Haruki Arimitsu, Lee Shizuki, Saku Aisaka, Kyou Yagumo and Takumi Ikari.

Their new name comes from the English phrase "piping hot", capturing the members' desire to convey passionate messages to their fans with "hot" lives. It is an intentional misspelling, with the extra "p" carrying a number of different meanings relating to their vision for the group's future, including "pep", "power", "powerful", "passion", "phat" and "presence".

Their debut release as Pipping Hot will be a single titled beyond VANITAS that will hit stores on July 20th. The single will be available in three editions. All three will feature two songs: the title track, which is said to be an uptempo number meant to inspire those taking a new step to continue moving forward, and a currently untitled B-side.

Limited edition A will come with a bonus DVD featuring the music video for beyond VANITAS, while limited edition B's will have making-of footage instead. The CD-only regular edition will add a currently unspecified third track and instrumental versions of all three songs.

The music video for DREAMER, the title track from ael's first full album, can be viewed below.