Qrion releases new single ‘keep on moving up’

The widely acclaimed Austin (TX)- based producer Qrion (real name Momiji Tsukada) has shared a new taster from her recently announced second album, ‘We Are Always Under The Same Sky,’ which will be released on January 17th via Anjunadeep. Today’s single, ‘Keep On Moving Up,’ is a powerful, raw house track infused with poignant lyrics reflecting her sobriety journey.

She says about the song, "It is about hitting rock bottom and challenging myself to conquer small goals, gradually working my way up to larger ones. The lyric 'Don’t Know Where I’m Going' reflects the uncertainty of my first year of sobriety after rehab, capturing the struggle and growth of finding my path forward.”

The accompanying artwork reflects the hills of San Francisco and Sapporo, where Momi is reaching for a star at the top — a nod to the determination and joy of progression, much like the star-collecting journey in Super Mario 64. Each star is a step toward the ultimate goal, representing resilience and the pursuit of something greater.

By openly addressing her struggles with addiction and recovery after her father's passing, Qrion imbues the theme of rebirth in We Are Always Under The Same Sky with a profound sense of poignancy and resilience. The album follows the release of her 2021 debut album, I Hope It Lasts Forever, which Forbes hailed as “stunning” and “a masterful production.”

Alongside the recent announcement, Qrion unveiled her single ‘Hush My Heart,’ featuring South-East London rising star Josie Man. Anchored by energetic beats, it’s a melodic house earworm, which blends the producer’s trademark emotive piano chords with arpeggio melodies and Josie Man’s soft vocals. The song has garnered support from BBC Radio 1 across

Sian Eleri’s Chillest Show and Danny Howard’s Dance Party Warm-Up, with spins from KCRW and SXM Chill in the US. Also featured on the upcoming album is the multi-layered, emotional builder ‘Miyanosawa,’ named after a small town in her hometown of Sapporo, Japan, and ‘Ice Palace,’ a song she recently shared across streaming services.

This new record signifies a rebirth for Qrion, representing the next phase of her journey following her debut, which was written as a reflection of the past. The album is also a celebration of female and non-binary Southeast Asian talent, with features from British-Kongese singer-songwriter Josie Man and Paris-based South Korean DJ, producer, and vocalist DIDI HAN. Qrion teamed up with the American-Chinese animator and designer Zee Yorke for all the artwork accompanying the album.

Melancholic, wistful, and dancefloor-minded, Qrion’s sound ranges from supple, exploratory works to driving house and soul-sampling groovers, always with a light and playful touch - evoking memories and feelings through sound. Her productions have drawn acclaim across dancefloors globally, from her long-running relationship with Anjunadeep to her remixes for the likes of Booka Shade and Röyksopp. It’s music for walking in the rain, driving through mountains, or reflecting on memories.

Growing up in snowy Sapporo, Momiji Tsukada’s father was a pianist who taught her how to play from the beginning of her life. The freeform jazz he’d play, experimenting with chords and melodies, stayed with her. When she was in secondary school, the 2011 EDM era was in full swing. The music from artists such as Skrillex, Knife Party, and Porter Robinson reminded her of the energy of Japanese rock, post-hardcore, and punk, which she loved. Inspired by this, 16-year-old Tsukada started working on her music whenever possible.

As a shy yet typical schoolgirl, music became her avenue for expressing herself. Uploading these tracks to Soundcloud at age 18, just for fun, she was asked to release an EP on the influential label SenSe from Sapporo. But amid this surge of creativity came the tragic passing of her father, and she struggled to cope with her overwhelming sadness. Aged 19, Tsukada played an online set to an internet crowd, where someone from the US was watching. He asked her if she wanted to play a show in San Francisco, ultimately inspiring her to move and settle in the States. Something her father’s death had done was make her realize she didn’t have to follow what society said she should do. She followed her passion, which was music.

Fast forward to today, with a new direction for her sound, Qrion concentrates on moments of joy through her music. “It’s therapeutic for me, playing shows and being vulnerable together with the audience”, she says. “I enjoy how we can connect through music.” Qrion recently announced an extensive run of international tour dates, which are currently underway in the US, with the following shows remaining:

Nov 2 - Anjunadeep Open Air San Diego, Beach House - USA

Nov 3 - Anjunadeep Open Air Red Rocks - USA

Nov 29 - Anjunadeep Manchester, New Century Hall - UK

Nov 30 - Anjunadeep London, Archives -UK

Dec 6 - Liverpool, 24 Kitchen St - UK

Dec 7 - Leeds, Freedom Mills - UK

Jan 10th - AREA15, Las Vegas, NV - USA

Jan 11th - Celebrities, Vancouver, BC - CA

Jan 18th - Audio, San Francisco, CA

Jan 24th - Wish Atlanta, GA - USA

Jan 25th - Night We Met, Nashville, TN - USA

Jan 31st - Sound Nightclub February Los Angeles, CA - USA

Feb 1st - HB Social Club, Honolulu, HI - USA

Feb 7th - Soundcheck, Washington D.C. - USA

Feb 8th - Elsewhere (The Hall), Brooklyn, NY - USA

Feb 21st Kingdom, Austin, TX - USA

Feb 22nd - It'll do, Dallas, TX - USA

Feb 23rd - Black Circle March Indianapolis, IN - USA

Mar 7th - Chvrch Of John, Edmonton, AB - CA

Mar 8th - SubRosa, Calgary, AB - CA

Mar 14th - Q Nightclub, Seattle, WA - USA

Mar 15th - Bluebird, Denver, CO - USA

Mar 21st - Magic Stick, Detroit, MI - USA

Mar 22nd - Newspeak, Montreal, QC - CA

Mar 28th - Coda, Toronto, ON - CA