CHAI collaborate with YMCK on retro Game Boy-style single "PING PONG!"

28 April 2021, 15:01 | Written by Cerys Kenneally

(News)

(CHAI)

CHAI have shared another taster of their upcoming album WINK with "PING PONG!", which sees the Japanese four-piece collaborate with YMCK on the retro game-inspired track.

After previewing their new album with previous outings "Nobody Knows We Are Fun", "Maybe Chocolate Chips" featuring Ric Wilson, "ACTION" and "Donuts Mind If I Do", CHAI have released new cut "PING PONG!", which features retro, Game Boy-style melodies and sees them team up with YMCK.

CHAI say of the song, "We’re channelling our inner playful selves, challenging ourselves to fun, and bringing you that nostalgic-feel with this song! There’s just something about old video games that’s super cute, a little tacky, yet at the same time fancy. Something that you think is "old-school" but at the same time super refreshing. YMCK collaborated with us on this and created the ultimate 8bit World of CHAI!"

WINK will be CHAI's debut album for Sub Pop after signing to the label in October 2020, and will follow their 2019 album PUNK.

CHAI say of the album title, "A person who winks is a person with a pure heart, who lives with flexibility, who does what they want. A person who winks is a person who is free." YUUKI adds, "With this album, we’re winking at you. We’re living freely and we hope that when you listen, you can wink and live freely, too."

WINK will be the first album from CHAI to include contributions from outside producers (Mndsgn, YMCK).

"PING PONG!" featuring YMCK is out now. CHAI's WINK album will be released via Sub Pop on 21 May, and is available to pre-order now.