When the zombie apocalypse strikes, even sentient mannequins from the future aren’t safe – at least if FEMM’s new music video ‘THE SIX’ is anything to go by. ‘The track is the theme song to hot new Japanese zombie drama series ‘Ikinokotta 6-nin ni Yoru to’ (‘WHAT SIX SURVIVORS TOLD’), and the title of a new six-track EP, both released today.

‘THE SIX’ is a fierce amalgamation of hyperpop, dark-pop and trap, through the lens of avant-garde J-pop. FEMM’s RiRi and LuLa wrote the track directly when director Ken Ninomiya reached out to ask them to provide the opening theme song to his new MBS/TBS TV series ‘Ikinokotta 6-nin ni Yoru to’, based on the hit manga of the same name by Kazune Yamamoto and published by Harta Comics / KADOKAWA. The TV adaptation of the Japanese zombie series began airing in Japan last week and has been frequently trending on Twitter since, attracting attention domestically and internationally.

Included on the EP is ‘Crawl Away’, an 80s new wave ballad with bouncing future bass undertones. There’s cyberpunk hip hop with ‘Level Up’, and aggressive pop-trap via Danny L Harle (Charli XCX, Rina Sawayama) produced track ‘Peach’. The tempo switches up with ‘Crystal Ball’, co-produced between FEMM, Danny L Harle and John Ryan, the co-writer behind massive pop anthems from One Direction, Katy Perry and Maroon 5. While ‘Private Dancer’ sees the EP reach a sexy and dark conclusion with beats powered from M.I.A producer ADP. In total, THE SIX documents FEMM’s audacious attitude to keep taking pop in new directions.

The music video for ‘THE SIX’ features choreography by GENDAI, leader of popular Japanese popular dance team KUROKO. At first glance it seems as if FEMM are dancing through an industrial estate by the sea. On closer inspection the members RiRi and LuLa have succumb to a zombie virus, husks of their former selves, aimlessly walking towards the end as the last fragments of their consciousness flicker, eager to dance and celebrate brighter days...

FEMM recently completed their first headline European tour, which included festival dates in London and Paris. Next, FEMM will perform at Japan Weekend Madrid in Spain on 24 and 25 September.