Shunkan, the LA-based rock project of Marina Sakimoto, is back with new single “Usual Suspects,” the second single off Kamikaze Girl, out May 6, 2025 via Houston’s tastemaking Rite Field Records. A larger-than-life song about attempting to figure out your life amid chaos, “Usual Suspects” showcases Sakimoto’s powerful voice, driving guitar riffs and the best of her emo influences.
“I wanted to write about the process of trying to better your life while still acknowledging that you’re in the thick of it, Sakimoto explains. “I immediately thought of Charlie [Kelly] from ‘It’s Always Sunny’ surrounded by red string and screaming about Carol. Trying to figure out your own shit can feel like solving a cold case or cracking a conspiracy theory—it’s messy, confusing, and sometimes brutal. But at least you’re trying, and that’s what matters.”
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 was “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.
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. 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.
