Utada Hikaru Returns With a New Song on June 16
Nine months after the release of her sixth Japanese studio album Fantôme and three months after switching labels to Sony Music's Epic Records Japan, Utada Hikaru is already coming back for more.
The "Automatic" international icon unveiled a refreshed official homepage, two new promotional photos and a brief news update overnight (June 13), confirming that her first Epic Records Japan release is coming "in early summer." And by "early summer," she mean...uh, three days from now.
Embedded in her newly refreshed website is a teaser video announcement by Japanese beverage company Suntory, which previously partnered with Utada to promote Fantôme opening track "Michi" alongside their Tennensui brand of bottled water. Throughout the spot, which again features Utada hiking through nature, a release date appears: "6.16."
Utada is now featured as an artist on Sony's website. Her marketing manager also tweeted: "It's about to get busy."
Consider these next few days the calm before the storm.
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