It hurts me to have to write this, but given the urgency and the eventuality of all this, I wouldn't even be surprised if I hadn't considered doing this during my breaks last month.

But heck, my long-time indie music site Audioleaf is closing soon, so I shall provide itself a legacy in my blog because the Internet sucks and preservation isn't their biggest priority... Not the music though, that one is dead forever even if you knew of it. *sob*

Before we do that though, let's talk about what it is so the people who know of them ie. me lol, and how it has changed opinions in Klassic Note!!

So, Audioleaf is a site. The closest of relevance of such sites where indie artists can post their songs (for free mostly) and let people listen but with the added benefit of being able to download for free should be Bandcamp, you might have seen ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION's Masafumi Gotoh aka "Gotch" recommend songs from there once in a while. This is essentially the same thing, of course for Japanese artists this didn't have the worldwide coverage unlike many of the other sites, and just like Download.com Music, it is likely going to the graveyard. *sob*

Oh yeah, how to use the site. Normally the homepage will show a rotating cast of indie artists(?) ranging from like they just posted their first work and is well received with the... maybe thousands of viewers even when I'm around a decade ago *cringe* and all the way to the more established artists who will likely think this won't get them enough traffic compared to YouTube. Guess what? YouTube recommendations aren't the best thing and especially when YouTube Music not being a thing until much later, so this is a good way to find out new songs on weeks when I'm not into Anime or mainistream artists. Mostly through the genres and/or artist image, I then listen to the few songs they have posted whether it's full or not but unlikely for the latter and try to find out more about them outside, if even possible. Well, back then it's possible, when they are active, and in Klassic Note fashion, I will take an audio sample down ie. download or record the c*ap out of it so I will remember them forever.

And that's normally how it goes like, maybe twice a year back then? Yeah, nowadays it's more like once a year or lesser for me, and this says a lot about its death as an indie artist recommendation site. Again, not like no one is posting new stuff, the homepage does show newly joined artists, and you log in as an "artist" or as a "listener" to keep track of stuff you like. It's actually a really small and niche community right here representing Japan's underground of music, the stuff you won't see in the popular sites, and that's what I enjoyed and like about it. *wink*

I think it's good time for me to talk about the ones I did give songs to, and how they are doing... now if they are even active or anything. Remember, these guys are indie which means they maaaay do this on a random weekend. *cringe* OH SHIT I CAN AT LEAST UPLOAD THEIR ARTIST IMAGES!!! Okay we need to up this production a bit, excuse me while I spruce this up hehe

sunday morning bell

(In Klassic Note 2012, 2019)

This band is pretty much where I started, with their rough singing and rather quirky style, their pop-rock style immediately rubbed on me as I even struggle to give their latest song posted on the site "city of light", and that really showed how unpolished they sound, but also rather cool to some extent, it's hard to describe. I think I did try to get hold of their 2011 album which had all the songs from the site but DAMN it was hard getting that, and I think they got into music streaming eventually which was how I managed to listen to the album in full. Yes, I only knew of the only 3 songs posted for like, at least 5 years. *laughs* They did appear once again in 2018 with another album though and that was their latest activity, and boy did I still enjoy it a lot especially their title song "ash fall", that alternative emo feel never fails to amaze. But that's also where I think they will reach their limit, but I did enjoy listening to them, and I don't think they will change my mind compared to many of the others listed below.

tic tac case

(In Klassic Note 2014)

I was initially rather deterred by the 2 songs posted on the site which are part of a single released in 2013 and I did get to listen to the release though in previews which I did find the full songs, thank you SoundCloud. *blessed* I preferred the first title song "Latitude" just because it reminded me of the early days of Klassic Note songs listening to rather peaceful and standard good old rock music from Japan. It's just normal good, and that's also how I learned to drop my standards on listening to them compared to the high standards I will expect from production-based major labels. I didn't go any further to listen to their library mainly because it was not easy to find back then, and also, their newer songs did not really hit as much as this song did, so only this was here to stay.

Pretaporter

(In Klassic Note 2014)

Oh yeah these guys. *giggles* They are great though, don't get me wrong, a cool pop-rock band, and though I did not give much chance to the 3 songs posted on their site, I did end up seeing their YouTube channel and ended up giving if I'm not wrong one of their songs form their debut mini-album from 2013 "Denjirenji" (trans.: Microwave) which took a bit of searching because this band name is widely used for many other things, even if we don't get its meaning. Still, these guys only was good with that one hit wonder in my opinion, so despite recalling giving them a chance to listen to their full album, it was all a mirage now just remembering the one song that made this encounter happen.

iki

(In Klassic Note 2014)

OH THIS, this one has a lot more lore than I can remember, so hear me out. They are an emo rock band which has some sweet tunes even just listening to their latest of 3 songs posted on the site which was actually released on the same year I'm listening in "Kansen", and even though I did not find the release source and I don't recall seeing a music video, this song was DOPE and representative of the best of indie artists, heck, I would argue they should get more attention just by sounding different. They are weird in their lyrics though which will explain why they have been indie all this time. Years later though, I did notice their vocalist(?) re-branded themselves in another band because years ago I tweeted (yes) about this band and how great they are, and the guy re-tweeted it, and it wasn't until I saw their profile did I know who they are!! (Yeah I'm like "who the heck is so into this indie band from years ago that I'm into" lol) (Will update if I can find the tweet/post) But yeah, they are great, underrated vibes, and I wish they were up there instead of... list any popular rock band today I don't even care they aren't this cool. *dabs*

Kiriku to Majou

(In Klassic Note 2015, 2017, 2019)

You know how slime sticks on your hands it gets all over your hand and refuses to get away? That's me with these guys which they call themselves "theatrical rock band" mainly because their songs and lyrics have to sound so magical and poetic, I believe this is one thing they got right that many other (even) popular artists will never be able to, but that's also its niche and bias that people will never get. But somehow my brain just soaked in their EP from 2013 with "Doukeshi" I think was the first of them I gave, and then if I'm not wrong a single or two soon afterwards, and when they got into music streaming, even their full album released in 2019 I can't even. *giggles* It's interesting once you get into it and forget that this is just an indie rock band from Japan, and I think you will get what I mean. It's their spin-off of fantasy music, and I think they deserve all the praise they can get for being so different from the norm. Oh yeah, and don't watch their music videos, that will quickly reveal their indie-ness. *giggles*

Light Palette

(In Klassic Note 2016, 2020)

Oh yeah, these guys are so stereotypical indie rock band I cannot even. Similar to "tic tac case" but maybe better? These guys have a unique feel to pop-rock describing life in school mostly, but also in general about everything and I like their vibes even if they are slightly emo back then with 2016's "Sky Area" (which was ported into music streaming a few years later), and then I did listen to their next mini-album released in 2018 "Aoringo no Kisetsu" afterwards even though a few years later, so I think they have the potential to go far, if they did. *cringe* Maybe it's because they didn't get enough exposure, maybe it's because they sound like everyone else, but they did carry an impact on me who like to give indie artists a chance every time I visit the site, so this is definitely a win for me even if it didn't do much for them, and I feel bad sometimes for saying this, honestly. *sob*

titilulu

(In Klassic Note 2016)

Dude, this one song from them "Bed time story" is such an impact on me, I vibe to this every night for the time I was listening to them I can't even. *giggles* And then in comes the first words from the vocalist and I'm like "vibe is over" haha so yeah, they are not the most polished band out there, the singing isn't much depth it didn't bring much of an impression, but their rock band vibes are there, so I was influenced to give this song. Which will also explain how their presence disappeared soon after this 1st EP in 2016 I think they did release another in the same year which I was like meh, and then I never saw them again. Sad, I wanted such moods but I guess they didn't follow up on it as well as say, "Kiriku to Majou" to be honest.

GENNARI

(In Klassic Note 2016)

Oh these guys are another stereotypical rock band more inclining on pop because their genre wrote as "Pops" and I don't believe it even if I heard of their first of 2 songs "Aruba" which did eventually get a digital release of a full album (I think remastered?) in music streaming services, so that's one way to prevent the death of indie artists and their great tunes. Catchy chorus got me, dude, everything else didn't matter. Like, really, I didn't really follow up on these guys even on their full album in 2020 just because. But I'm just glad I gave them a chance, this honesty coming from indie bands and their rough style and simple is what I like about them, after all.

come (trans.: Japanese asterisk)

(In Klassic Note 2017)

Okay this is an interesting one. *giggles* For whatever some brainwave I had which decided to make me click on this instrumental band, and I knew I wouldn't be too keen even on the 2 songs posted on the site of their demo EP in 2016, I still think "feint" is such a cool track it probably was one of the reasons I was into atmospheric music afterwards, and I don't mean city pop or chill pop, this rock band don't know of any of those. *giggles* And this is a good example of me exploring other genres even within Audioleaf, just to see if any of them will actually stick, and I am still happy I gave them a chance even if it's just on this. They are still very much alive and on social media even this year though, so if you like what you heard on Bandcamp (yep) then go give them some support, dude!!

Ghost Sense

(In Klassic Note 2019)

Ah yes, the most sense I have ever had since I was an emo kid who disappeared into the scenery. *laughs* This is also your typical indie band, but I also think these guys are the closest to sounding like a major label band or a popular one with their quick and flashy style, you can listen to their EP from 2016 "Mikansei no Shodou" to know how I actually even gave another song from the release itself, that's how interesting they are despite still sounding indie overall and unpolished- Heck, major label artists might be worse than these guys. *wink* They are also very much alive on social media and such though and even releasing songs up till last December, so I might just give their newer songs a listen after all. *dabs*

Sans

(In Klassic Note 2022)

From what was my previous successful visit to Audioleaf, instead of the featured artists, I checked out the new artists and found these guys, mostly electronic pop but heck, they like the 80s so they kept that aesthetic on despite looking old (lol) and I WISH they made that 2nd demo EP at some point *cringe* which I suppose they didn't release it at all, because just listening to their 1st EP in 2022 (which was fully posted on the site too) I'm already into their short yet sweet melodies, it's such a vibe that doesn't even make them sound indie in comparison, honestly.

So, why all this hype or lack thereof. *cringe*

Audioleaf the indie music community site will shutdown in July 25, 2026 end of Japan midnight time, and will not follow-up with any support of where and if the songs or artists will remain. No, all content will cease to exist, and that's my problem, because reminiscing the artists who have ONLY posted their songs in there will be a hard recommend to anyone else I want to share their vibes on. "iki" is a very good example of lack of support as you may notice they are the only ones without external links to literally ANYWHERE ELSE on the Internet, and that makes me sad. I know there's the Internet Archive, but they won't care about a small site of indie Japanese bands. But I do. *sob*

I meant this heading for a lot more things, from what can you and I do from now until it closes in less than a month, and having to embrace the trend of going to other sites like Bandcamp, and its likes of being replaced by music streaming services like YouTube and Spotify for my next indie band recommendation... which would hardly call one after I gave a slew of artists I mentioned last week on my weekly entertainment post, they are WAY too polished to sound like the rough indie style I would have preferred. Simple melodies, dude, it just hits different. *dabs*

This heading also represents what is left for Klassic Note, and for me... not much. It's not that I don't remember them; Vibing to their songs as I type is more than just a nostalgia trip. It's a symbol of how some of them are still alive, and I should continue to support them by listening to them or liking their stuff especially if it hits, or we may never see them thrive again. Sadly, this only makes me even sadder to see it go, and maybe just for preservation purposes I'll help post the "iki" songs just because. *sob*

This shall be it, I can't bring myself to write more even though this is the longest I've been writing without stopping for a while, and I write review for Anime every week. *giggles* Serious opinion though? It's okay to see it go, they aren't as popular and not like web hosting is free with all the AI bullsh*t that is out there. And I don't think I need to mention AI content and its moderation need not be here OR do we know if it will be taken over by that, so maybe it's a thing of a generation to let it go.

I guess I can still hear them... for now, and even if I want to get into this once more, it will never be the same again.

Rest in peace, Audioleaf. *salutes*

Guess I should click on music videos from random bands on YouTube music more often. *laughs*