Since their debut in 2023, Number_i (ナンバーアイ) have continued to carve out their identity as a group, exploring their musical direction while taking on new opportunities along the way. Comprising Sho Hirano, Yuta Jinguji, and Yuta Kishi, the Japanese trio brings together three artists with a shared history, formerly members of King & Prince. Their recently released REBON / BUGS LIFE / DIGITAL GIRL EP offers another look at the sound and style they’ve been cultivating as a group.
Asia Blooming connected with Number_i about the EP, their creative process, and the experiences that have shaped their journey so far.
Following their Coachella performance in 2024, Number_I continued to pursue their global ambitions, signing with Atlantic and WME. When it comes to reaching international audiences, Number_i believe that language and cultural differences shouldn’t be barriers to connecting with their music. “It’s the same as an Asian person who doesn’t understand English enjoying Western music,” they began. “If you like it, you like it, and that’s what matters, and if you get interested, you might look up the lyrics later. That happens to me all the time, things like realizing a soft ballad actually had really cheerful lyrics. That allows you to enjoy the song twice in a different way, which is part of the fun. Language aside, music simply sounds pleasing to the ear. Within that, people have their own favorite genres and preferences, so I think if listeners get hooked, they’ll be able to enjoy it even more.”
Their latest EP features six distinctive tracks, including title song “BUGS LIFE.” Number_i described the Phonk genre song as “unpolished coolness” that represents the group’s essence. Yuta Jinguji was part of the production team and revealed it took about six months to ideate and complete the track. Although the genre typically uses a fast, upbeat tempo, the group took a slower approach, lowering the track’s BPM. While it was a creative choice, the decision was ultimately driven by practicality. “Since we have to dance to it, we realized that original Phonk is extremely fast and we definitely wouldn’t be able to do so we managed to slow it down just enough so we could dance to it,” they shared.
For the trio’s other two members, Yuta Kishi and Sho Hirano, they were wholly impressed by the track right from the first listen. Yuta described it as a song full of surprises that blew him away, while Sho felt it was a song that would make great impact at a festival or in front of audiences unfamiliar with the group. Sho also really enjoyed the bug concept and the idea of embracing imperfection. “We aren’t really fond of trying to look too cool or trying to be completely flawless,” he began. “I think if you can embrace imperfection, that’s a 100 out of 100. Our fans love us even with our little quirks and flaws, so that’s why we share this message.”
Each time they release new music, it feels like a fresh start. In this latest EP, the group even samples one of their own older releases, “BON,” as a way to pay homage to their journey. Confident in every track on the EP, Number_i found it difficult to choose a favorite. “Each one has its own appeal,” they shared. “We’ve performed “REBON” and “BUGS LIFE” on TV shows, though we haven’t performed “DIGITAL GIRL” yet. The other three b-side tracks were also produced by each of the members. “’NUMBERS PT. 2’ is a party-style track where everyone can dance together, and ‘DEJA VU CLUB’ really fits a live show setting, especially with the lighting. ‘PATRASCHE’ has a great balance of quietness and movement with a beautiful melody, so each track has a completely different way of being presented.” Giving a sneak peak at what’s to come, the group also teased an upcoming tour setlist designed to highlight each track.
As the group evolves, their goal of sharing music with their fans remains unchanged. They hope to reach more listeners, perform in new places, and establish a musical identity that resonates beyond borders. We want to aim for people to say a song feels like Number_i, the same way they would reference an international artist when listening to music,” they shared.
For those just discovering the group, Number_i recommends starting with their latests EP. “We are constantly evolving, and both our sense of style and mindset are always changing, so we want listeners to hear who we are right now in this moment,” the group explained. They also pointed to “BON,” “INZM,” and “GOD_i,” each produced by a different member, as a way to explore the individual musical influences and styles that come together to define Number_i. As the group continues to grow, their latest release offers a look into who they are today.
REBON / BUGS LIFE / DIGITAL GIRL EP came out on September 23, 2026, and is available now on all streaming platforms.
