Shake My Days is a Japanese indie pop-rock duo from Kyoto, consisting of vocalist Mitsuki and songwriter/producer Showky Saezawa. Blending nostalgic melodies, jangly guitars, and cinematic storytelling, the duo creates songs that capture the bittersweet emotions of youth, longing, and fleeting moments. Their music draws inspiration from British guitar pop, city pop, and indie rock, while maintaining a distinctly Japanese sensibility. Through releases, such as “Without Knowing Anything?” “Cider At Dusk,” “Canary,” and “Someday, Be Mine,” Shake My Days has steadily built an international audience, earning media coverage across Europe, North America, and Latin America. Their music invites listeners into a world where memories, dreams, and everyday emotions quietly intertwine.

With “Someday, Be Mine” out now, we took some time to hear from Shake My Days. Read below to learn more about Shake My Days, the story behind “Someday, Be Mine,” and what’s to come.

Hi! Let’s start with how did the group’s name come about?

Showky: We wanted a name made up of multiple English words, and we came up with three candidates. Mitsuki chose “Shake My Days” from those options. The phrase itself is actually inspired by the famous line “Make my day” from the Dirty Harry films.

What city are you both from, and where are you both based now?

Showky: We were both born in Osaka, Japan, and we are currently based in Kyoto.

How and when did this duo form?

Showky: When Mitsuki was in junior high school, she came to me to learn guitar. Her mother told me, “She loves music and has a great singing voice, so I’d like her to become a musician.” However, Mitsuki herself felt nervous about performing alone and didn’t really want to be in the spotlight. Her mother suggested that we work together as a unit, and that’s how Shake My Days began. In a way, we’re a teacher-and-student duo.

How would you both describe your group’s sound?

Showky: I grew up immersed in music from before the 1990s, while Mitsuki is constantly exploring newer artists and trends. As a result, our music naturally blends influences from different generations of rock music. Lyrically, we often combine Mitsuki’s current feelings and experiences with some of my own memories and perspectives, which allows us to express complex and delicate emotions that resonate across generations.

Who are some of your group’s main musical influences?

Mitsuki: I really love SIX LOUNGE, a Japanese three-piece rock band. I’m especially drawn to simple, straightforward rock played by three-piece bands.

Showky: I studied countless hit songs from the 1970s and 1980s across many genres. As a band lover, my biggest influences are The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, and a legendary Japanese rock band called The Street Sliders.

What’s one of the proudest moments of your group’s music career so far? 

Mitsuki: One of the happiest moments for me was realizing that people overseas were listening to our music. Seeing comments and reactions from listeners in countries I’ve never visited made me feel that music can truly connect people across borders.

Showky: Shortly after my debut as a musician, I had the opportunity to perform live on Japanese television. That remains one of the most memorable moments of my career.

Is there a country that you all would like to perform in someday?

Mitsuki: I’ve only traveled abroad once, to South Korea, so it’s hard for me to imagine. I don’t like hot weather very much, though, so somewhere cool would probably be nice!

Showky: I once had the opportunity to perform in Alberobello, Italy, and I would love to go back someday. Honestly, if music can take us there, I’d be happy to perform in any country.

Is there a country where you all would like to film a music video?

Mitsuki: I’d love to see Big Ben in London. I first became interested in it because it appeared in a Japanese anime called Detective Conan. By the way, are you actually allowed to film there? Haha.

Showky: I think our music would fit beautifully with the old streets and historic architecture of Europe. I’d also love to visit an old town in the American South that feels like something straight out of a Ray Bradbury novel.

What would you both say are the greatest lessons that you both have learned so far?

Mitsuki: I’ve learned that music is really about people. So many people support us behind the scenes, and I’m grateful every day for those connections.

Showky: One lesson I constantly remind myself of is that being technically skilled isn’t everything. Music needs heart and personality as much as it needs technique.

Now onto “Someday, Be Mine.” What inspired this song? 

Mitsuki: The song began with feelings I developed while watching a certain actor on television. As I tried to understand and organize those emotions, the lyrics gradually took shape.

What is “Someday, Be Mine” about?

Mitsuki: The song is about longing for someone who feels out of reach. At the same time, it’s not meant to be sad or hopeless. There’s also a sense of optimism and the belief that maybe, someday, those feelings could be returned.

What was the inspiration behind the cover artwork for “Someday, Be Mine?”

Showky: The photos were taken in a studio, but rather than focusing on dramatic poses, we wanted Mitsuki to appear completely natural and relaxed. The photographer and I spent most of the shoot simply talking with her and creating a comfortable atmosphere. We wanted the artwork to reflect the song’s sincerity, innocence, and genuine emotions.

What was the creative process like when making “Someday, Be Mine?”

Showky: The song originally started as a project Mitsuki created while attending music college. At that time, it had a much rougher three-piece rock band arrangement. Considering her vocal style, I felt the song would benefit from a brighter and more melodic approach, so I rebuilt the arrangement around twin guitars inspired by the sound of The Rolling Stones in the 1980s.

How long did it take to complete “Someday, Be Mine?” 

Mitsuki: The songwriting process itself took around two months.

Showky: Once we decided to record it as a Shake My Days release, the arrangement, recording, and production were completed in about three days.

What do you both hope fans take away from “Someday, Be Mine” and your duo’s music in general?

Showky: We put a great deal of care into our lyrics, but we also understand that listeners won’t always interpret them exactly as we intended. That’s why we focus on communicating emotions through melody, arrangement, and Mitsuki’s voice as well. If our songs remind people of their own memories and experiences, we’ll be very happy.

What’s next? Are you all working on any upcoming projects, or do you all have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?

Showky: We’re currently working on several new singles and music videos, which will eventually lead into our third album. We are aiming to release the album physically on CD by the end of 2026. We’re also planning to release multiple new music videos throughout the year.

Where can we follow you all on social media?

Official Website: https://shake-my-days.bitfan.id/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ShakeMyDays

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shakemydays/

Bandcamp: https://shakemydays.bandcamp.com/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Gvtgc6lJiA6xvfI2MfEKi

Thank you all for the great interview; wish you all much continued success!