Mirei Gauges the Surreal Price of Modern Love in Her New Video "Sell Me Your Love"
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Japanese artist Mirei muses on the surreal yet demanding price of modern love in her new sultry alternative R&B-pop single and video “Sell Me Your Love” out now via Cool Japan Music.
Pairing glistening smoky production with her silky croons, Mirei takes us on a feverish and slow-burning trajectory as she steps into a more minimalistic trope of alt-R&B polished with pop sensibilities. The track nestles us into the real-life stabbing incident in 2019 that took place in Kabukicho (known for being the red-light district of Tokyo) where a woman fatally knifed her then-boyfriend who was working as a nightclub host. The lyrics beckon its listeners into the perspective of the woman as Mirei walks us through the tightrope between passion and jealousy that arises when love is treated as a commodity. The chorus “Sell me your love / How much do I gotta pay” accentuates the surreal consumerist culture that has infiltrated modern romance, making every action and emotion measurable ad nauseam.
“They say love is priceless, but can I buy your love…?” reflects Mirei. “The incident illustrates the similarity between the host club business and the risky relationships between idols and fans bonding through handshake events, or between artists and performers who market towards fans into buying glimpses of their personal lives. The Beatles made their hit record, ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ more than 50 years ago, but society now has become the complete opposite; more than ever, the concept of ‘love’ is portrayed in numbers and money, as we pay for ‘likes’ and ask for ‘donations’ on social media to measure people’s love towards yourself to value your recognition and worth through them. The question we now constantly ask ourselves in this new society is, ‘How much is your ‘love’?’”
Filmed and directed by Takeshi Nomura, the video features Kanon Yamazaki who has appeared in Mirei’s previous visuals (like “Lonely In Tokyo”) that are part of a cinematic collection exposing some of the unspoken realities of Tokyo’s nightlife. Through guttural scenes of blood, money, and desire, the video re-tells the harrowing 2019 incident while allowing viewers a peek inside the mind of the main character. ”For ‘Sell Me Your Love,’ I invited Kanon to reprise her role as the lost, lonely girl in Tokyo which she played in my previous music videos,” says Mirei. “In this video, we see Kanon transform into the perpetrator as a recreation of the Kabukicho incident. I wanted to use my videos and the main character in them to highlight the overwhelming loneliness and despair that often gets overshadowed by flashy neon lights and hollow affection that can easily be bought.”
Produced by Selan (singer/songwriter and keyboardist for Adele, Alejandro Sanz, Chic, Stevie Wonder, and Roberta Flask) and co-written with Zak Leaver (classically-trained musician who has gained support from artist like Diplo) and DJ Shiftee (two-time DMC World Champion) who also mixed, “Sell Me Your Love” sees Mirei embracing a newfound simplicity in her sonic palette. The slick laidback tempo feels optimized for reflection as she nudges us to question the way intimacy has become coldly quantifiable, making people feel far disconnected than ever. Never to shy away from cultural issues, she continues to pave her way as an artist and storyteller who leaves her audience dazed with her relentless experimental approach towards her music.
Watch Mirei’s brand new “Sell Me Your Love” music video now, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with her on her website and social media.