If anybody told me a few years ago that Awich, ONE OK ROCK, rapper CHICO CARLITO and progressive metalcore band Paledusk would form a music unit together, I would have called the idea intriguing but entirely far-fetched. Yet, at the end of June, that seemingly impossible idea became a reality. The artists blindsided fans with a coordinated Instagram post: a stark, monochromatic image emblazoned with “YAO.” This was accompanied by a simple caption reading “We are YAO,” followed by a brand new Instagram handle. That same day, they took over the Red Bull MIC channel, premiering a collaborative performance video for the new Red Bull IN-YO! series. But just when I thought this might be a temporary crossover project, they made their official debut as YAO with their first single and music video, “777” just one week after.
For those who have been closely tracking their orbits over the past year, this powerhouse of a union actually makes perfect sense. CHICO CARLITO and Paledusk were already well-acquainted with ONE OK ROCK, having lent their distinct styles to the track “C.U.R.I.O.S.I.T.Y.” on the band’s DETOX album. That chemistry naturally spilled over onto the stage later that year when both acts, alongside Awich, performed as special guests for various shows during ONE OK ROCK’s DETOX Japan Tour.
The collective bond was cemented even further when Paledusk joined ONE OK ROCK across the continent as the supporting act for their European Tour. However, the foundational seeds of this formal group were planted much earlier. Back in 2024, at the SUPER DRY SPECIAL LIVE concert that took place at the Belluna Dome in Saitama, Japan, a joint performance between ONE OK ROCK and Awich unlocked an undeniable, lightning-in-a-bottle on-stage energy. It was that exact moment of mutual artistic respect that laid the groundwork for what has now become YAO.
Yao
We heard the catalyst for this project goes back to your joint performance at a dome concert. What is the full story behind how this group actually formed?
Taka (ONE OK ROCK): It actually started with a trip. Before we could create something together, we needed to really get to know each other. We put together a rough demo, and as our shared vision began to take shape, we started bringing more people into the fold.
Awich: For me, performing with Taka at Belluna Dome felt like pure alignment. We both felt this intense, undeniable energy on stage and we knew right then we couldn’t let it end as a one-time collaboration. But we also didn’t want to rush anything or make something formulaic.
Like Taka said, we started by traveling and spending real time together — really digging into each other’s mindsets and creative outlooks. Building a genuine brotherhood and sisterhood came first. Once we started playing around with different sounds and demos with DAIDAI from Paledusk, the vision naturally expanded. Bringing in CHICO’s heavy-hitting verses and Kaito’s (Paledusk) raw, unruly shouts was what ultimately made this musical universe complete.
“This group was never meant to blend into a single, uniform sound… it’s about bringing entirely different forces together […] and recognizing that there is a distinct, powerful spirit in each of them.”- Awich
When Taka and Awich first reached out to pitch the idea, what was your very first thought about joining the group?
CHICO CARLITO: I was incredibly happy, but at the same time, I immediately felt the pressure to step up my game and level up my skills. I also wanted to brag to my high school classmates right away – they all knew how obsessed I was with ONE OK ROCK – but I had to keep it a secret until the official announcement.
DAIDAI (Paledusk): My very first thought was just, “Hell yeah! I get to write some massive tracks!”
How did you land on this name, and how does it embody the spirit of the group?
Awich: YAO is short for Yaoyorozu. The concept of Yaoyorozu (the belief in eight million gods, or countless spirits) is deeply rooted in Japanese spirituality, but it also perfectly aligns with how we view music and community. We landed on YAO because this group was never meant to blend into a single, uniform sound. Instead, it’s about bringing entirely different forces together – rock, hip-hop, metalcore – and recognizing that there is a distinct, powerful spirit in each of them. With YAO, we wanted to embrace both the chaos and the harmony of these diverse energies coexisting.
What is the core story and message you wanted to lead with for your first release, “777”?
Awich: I envisioned a group of outsiders who treat the world like a high-stakes gamble. Then, realizing the game itself is rigged, they decide to flip the table and completely rewrite the rules for everyone. On the surface, it plays out like a heist — four ambitious artists from different parts of Japan coming together to take over. But underneath, it poses a deeper question: what are we actually playing for? The turning point comes during the bridge, when the lyrics ask, “What if we play for something more?” For me, that’s the moment the metaphor cracks open. The number “7,” which reads as “nana” in Japanese, starts as a jackpot symbol, but ultimately transforms into a defiant cry for our collective humanity.
In the early stages of making “777,” was everyone’s role defined right away? What was the creative process like?
DAIDAI: From the moment I was approached about the project, it was decided that I would write the tracks and handle the production. But before we even got to work, Taka said, “Let’s fill our stomachs first!” — and he cooked this incredibly delicious meal for us. The food was so amazing that it made me want to write songs that are tasty too.
Shohei Kashima
Shohei Kashima
Shohei Kashima
Shohei Kashima
Shohei Kashima
Juggling all of your individual schedules must have been tough. How did you all find the time to make this track happen?
CHICO: Before we laid down the final tracks, we put together a rough demo recording in my hometown of Okinawa and sent it over to the team. To make sure we were delivering the best possible material even at that early stage, I ended up calling in favors and getting help from a lot of my friends.
The music video for “777” is incredibly impactful. How did the concept for it come about?
Awich: For “777,” we wanted to anchor the music video in a raw, distinctly local Japanese aesthetic — something the global audience hasn’t been overexposed to. The core concept was heavily inspired by the scale and rebellious energy of classic Japanese youth films like Seven Days War, where youth culture, spectacle and defiance collide. We wanted to take the fast-paced, disruptive energy of the track and elevate it into a modern ritual of youth rebellion. It’s fresh, culturally grounded, and speaks a visual language that feels entirely new both in Japan and on the global stage.
“We really don’t want to box ourselves in or create any creative boundaries by overthinking genre categories.” – Taka (ONE OK ROCK)
What was your most memorable moment from the video shoot, or your personal favorite scene in the final edit?
CHICO: Looking back, what really stood out to me was the sheer impact of the main shot where all the extras come running in. During the night shoot, it was also really nice to chat with them for a bit; I even found myself asking, “Does anyone have any questions for us?”
As for my personal favorite scene, it has to be the part where we’re all headbanging on the rooftop. I’m actually terrified of heights, so I had to give it everything I had! [Laughs]
You represent a brilliant cross-section of generations and genres. Is this current four-act lineup the permanent core of YAO, or are you open to bringing in guest artists for future projects?
Taka: That’s a secret for now. But as a group, we really don’t want to box ourselves in or create any creative boundaries by overthinking genre categories.
How has collaborating on this collective scale impacted the way you approach your own solo work or your main band projects?
Taka: It has been an incredible learning experience across the board. It’s allowed me to step back and look at my own work from a much broader, bird’s-eye perspective than usual. I’m so grateful to the other members of YAO and our entire staff.
So, what’s next for YAO? Can you give us any early hints on what to look forward to?
DAIDAI: Taka is going to be featured on every single track!
