Tokyo’s rising rock force One Eye Closed today unleash their ambitious, hard-hitting track ‘Real Intent’, featuring Japanese rap-rock hero TEEDA, MC of BACK-ON – one of Japan’s most recognised artists globally with over a quarter-of-a-million monthly listeners on Spotify and whose biggest track has been played more than 20 million times on the platform.

Real Intent comes hot off the heels of One Eye Closed’s latest EP DISTANCE, a collection of tracks recorded during Japan’s recent state of emergency. The band, whose music was featured as the ending theme to the award-winning music adventure videogame No Straight Roads, are big fans of BACK-ON. So when BACK-ON joined the same record label as the band, JPU Records, they decided to send a DM to the band they admire and say hello. Soon after, ‘Real Intent’ was born.

“Working with TEEDA is a dream come true for all of us, as we all grew up listening to BACK-ON,” comments One Eye Closed vocalist REI. “I still remember air guitaring to their song "Chain" and rapping along to TEEDA's part in my bedroom. I sent him a message immediately after JPU Records announced BACK-ON has joined the family, letting him know that we are big fans and that we look up to him...and that we're in JPU Records too. Thankfully, he messaged us and the conversation quickly turned into one of mutual appreciation, tossing around the idea of a possible future collaboration. I thought it would be left just at that, knowing how busy TEEDA is with his own solo project and BACK-ON. Fortunately, our guitarist none had a song in the song vault that we've been saving for something special, and it was this song: a song dedicated to those who have supported us throughout the years with real intent, pushing us to never give up on our dreams no matter how painful and sacrificial it can be.”

“I thought the track sounded dope,” TEEDA states in a video message recorded about the collaboration. “I listened to the lyrics and the overall sound of ‘Real Intent’. Their outlook concerning one’s ideals and reality, struggle, and determination to move forwards with a dream really got to me. It made me think about how I first started a band, and even the way I feel now, it just made me feel nostalgic. It inspired me to work even harder in music.

“In the track I am taking the role of their sempai and sing and rap about my own viewpoint on things like haters and allies, ideals and reality, all of that,. I wanted to add a message saying that we gotta eat it all up, like Pacman, to complete the level and move on with our dreams. I think the song came out really cool and we even filmed a video together. I’d be really happy if you checked it out.”