While Psychic Fever from Exile Tribe prepares for the physical release of their new EP, “PSYCHIC FILE III” for its June 18th release, the Japanese boy group reflects on their journey of artistic growth, international connections, and exciting new sounds. This latest offering promises a fresh perspective on the group’s evolving artistry and a deeper connection with their global fanbase.
Psychic Fever from Exile Tribe, a seven-member Japanese boy band, was formed in 2019 by LDH JAPAN and officially debuted in July 2022. Comprising members TSURUGI, RYOGA NAKANISHI, REN, JIMMY, KOKORO KOHATSU, RYUSHIN HANDA, and WEESA, the group has quickly gained international recognition.
They’ve already won the “Next Generation Global” award at the 2022 GENIE MUSIC AWARDS and the “Asia Rising Star Award” at Thailand’s Digital Awards 2022, signaling their ambition to top the Billboard Global 200 Chart and achieve worldwide success.
Watch their new EP: PSYCHIC FILE III
Anticipation is high for the physical release, with members eager for fans to experience the EP’s unique features. We had a chat with the group, and here’s what they’ve got to share about this EP.
RYOGA: I’m excited to be releasing a physical EP for the first time in a while. Each version comes with an original photo card, so I hope you’ll enjoy collecting them!
KOKORO: There’s also a version that includes a DVD of our solo Asia tour from last year, “PSYCHIC FEVER ASIA TOUR 2024 ‘HEAT’.” I hope you’ll watch it and feel a bit nostalgic with us.
JIMMY: There’s also a DVD of our very first U.S. tour, “PSYCHIC FEVER FIRST U.S. TOUR 2025,” which took place this February! I know many people weren’t able to come to the shows in person, but I think this is a great way to see how much we’ve grown.
Psychic Fever and the impact of their SXSW 2025 experience in Texas
The group recently made a significant impact at SXSW 2025 in Austin, Texas, an experience that resonated deeply with them. REN described it as a “valuable experience,” while Kokoro shared that it was fun to experience the richness of genres and cultures in one place. WEESA also shared that it was a chance for them to connect with other artists and performers.
REN: Many locals came and got excited with our songs and dances—it was a valuable experience. Performing among so many different artists was inspiring, and since performing in the U.S. isn’t something we take for granted, we cherished every moment.
KOKORO：It was a festival where artists from many countries gathered, and I could really feel the richness in genres and cultures. While performing, I felt that local fans and even passersby genuinely enjoyed our music.
WEESA：There were so many incredible artists performing at SXSW, and we had the chance to connect with some of them, which was really inspiring. I think a lot of people who had never seen PSYCHIC FEVER before got to watch our performance, so it was a great experience for us overall.
Behind the “PSYCHIC FILE III”
“PSYCHIC FILE III” marks a significant evolution in Psychic Fever’s sound and artistry. RYOGA shared his personal growth, while JIMMY described the EP as a bold step for the group to gain overseas experience. For RYUSHIN, this EP helped the members discover their new strengths and evolve individually.
RYOGA：One personal area of growth I’ve noticed is my vocal expressiveness. I’ve worked hard to balance how to convey various nuances—like strength or gentleness—while staying true to myself. As a result, I feel like I’ve gained the ability to express a much wider emotional range. Also, since this is our first release after moving to Warner Music, we were more conscious than ever about global reach. We incorporated English lyrics to make sure our message reaches listeners all over the world.
JIMMY：This EP, PSYCHIC FILE, is all about trying new things and experimenting with new sounds. We chose not to make it overly flashy or poppy, but rather focused on showcasing the skills and energy we’ve built since our formation. As a Japanese group with overseas experience, I believe we’ve created an EP and image that’s fitting for representing HIP HOP and R&B with authenticity.
RYUSHIN: I think we’ve all grown in how we express ourselves vocally. Since there’s a lot more English in the songs, it was tough at times, but we were able to experiment with different vocal tones and styles. That helped us discover new things and evolve individually.
The concept behind “PSYCHIC FILE III”
Psychic Fever’s new EP, PSYCHIC FILE III, focuses on incorporating experimental elements and showcasing the group’s unique appeal through a genre-defying lineup of tracks. RYOGA explains that the collection was designed to resonate with listeners’ everyday lives, offering songs for various situations. JIMMY adds that the EP represents a bold step forward, with the tracks carrying a more mature tone that reflects the group’s current evolution.
RYOGA : As the concept behind PSYCHIC FILE III suggests, we focused on incorporating experimental elements to showcase the unique appeal of PSYCHIC FEVER from various angles. The EP features a genre-defying lineup of tracks, once again challenging a wide range of musical styles. We believe it’s a collection that can resonate with listeners in their everyday lives, offering songs that can be enjoyed in many different situations.
JIMMY: We have explored a wide range of genres and styles over time. With this EP, we take another bold step forward, delivering tracks that carry a more mature tone—a reflection of where we are now and how we continue to evolve.
Special Tracks on the EP
“PROMISE” is a fan-dedicated favorite for TSURUGI, RYOGA, and KOKORO, praised for its exhilarating house beat by Thai producer NINO and its message of unity. REN finds “Reflection” significant for its innovative sound and the artistic growth it fostered, while JIMMY highlights “Evolve” for its focused vocal work that shaped its powerful energy.
TSURUGI: Definitely “PROMISE”! It has an exhilarating feel and is very pleasant to listen to. Produced by NINO, a beatmaker from Thailand, it blends trending sounds with our own PCF style. Since it’s a song dedicated to our fans, it’s extra special to me!
RYOGA：For me, it’s “PROMISE.” This song was created for our fans, the ForEVERs. It was produced by NINO, a producer we worked with in Thailand, and it’s our first challenge with a house beat. Despite its bright and festive feel, the song contains a positive message: “Let’s always be together.” I think it’s a song that conveys our emotions directly and clearly.
REN: “Reflection.” When I first heard it, I felt it could bring something new to our music if we expressed it well. I prepared a lot for the recording, and though I faced challenges, it made me want to grow even more. It was a valuable experience for me as an artist.
JIMMY: It’s “EVOLVE.” I sing the hook part, and I went through many microphones to find the one that suited my voice. I paid a lot of attention to vocal technique and creating the right vibe. I think that’s what made the intro so powerful and gave the track its energy.
KOKORO： Among all four songs, I’d choose “PROMISE.” It’s a message to our fans, the ForEVERs, and reflects our journey and current feelings. It’s a very special song to me.
RYUSHIN：“PROMISE,” I’d say. It’s a song dedicated to our fans. We previously had a song called “ForEVER,” but this one is entirely in English. I think it captures expressions and words that only we, in our current state, could deliver. It’s a song that reaches everyone who supports us, not just people from specific countries.
WEESA：That would be “reflection.” To me, this track feels like one that will lead PSYCHIC FEVER into a new and better direction in the future. It really represents a turning point.
Creative Process Behind the EP
The creative process for the new EP, particularly for the track “Reflection,” involved a hands-on approach from JIMMY. He was present for every recording session, ensuring a consistent vibe throughout the song.
JIMMY: For the recording of “Reflection”, I was present in the studio from beginning to end for everyone’s sessions. By being there the whole time, I was able to help maintain a consistent vibe throughout the track, while also identifying each member’s strengths and areas where we could push even further in the future. Thanks to that process, the result is a truly cool and powerful track!
What best represents PSYCHIC FEVER now?
When asked which song best represents PSYCHIC FEVER, “EVOLVE” was chosen by TSURUGI, KOKORO, and WEESA, symbolizing their current growth and tour theme. RYOGA, JIMMY, and RYUSHIN selected “Reflection” for its powerful, fresh sound and new chemistry. REN, however, picked “Gelato” for its unique summer vibe and showcase of their performance skills.
TSURUGI：“EVOLVE”! It’s also the theme song for our current tour and really captures the fire of PCF right now. It has the vibe of an opening anthem!
RYOGA：I’d choose “Reflection.” It’s powerful and cool, and really makes an impact. It still retains the PSYCHIC FEVER vibe, but also introduces a fresh new side of us. It’s packed with memorable phrases that will stick with you after just one listen. I hope everyone listens to it a lot!
REN：“Gelato.” While many of our songs are love songs, this one has a summer love song theme, giving it a different vibe. I think it showcases our performance and entertainment skills well.
JIMMY：“Reflection.” Not just the song itself, but the outfits, choreography, and live performance aspects were all carefully designed with our creative team. For the recording, I approached it as if I were “feat. JIMMY” on a PSYCHIC FEVER track—so I used an intentionally edgy voice. Each member brought their own individuality, creating a great final product. It really felt like we created a new chemistry together.
KOKORO：“EVOLVE.” It was created as the kickoff song for our LIVE TOUR EVOLVE. As the title suggests, it reflects the growth we’ve undergone and our will to keep evolving through the experiences we’ve gained around the world.
RYUSHIN：“Reflection”! It feels like us, yet also shows a new side of us. We gave everything we had—from vocals to choreography—so it’s a song we’re proud to present. We hope you look forward to it!
WEESA：I’d say “EVOLVE.” It’s also the title of our current tour, and I think it symbolizes how we’ve grown through various experiences and how we’ve evolved as a group.
The group’s inspiration in creating songs
The group’s global appeal is driven by a deep connection with fans. TSURUGI says love powers their worldwide outreach, as they feel and reciprocate fan emotions. REN finds energy in fan comments and messages on social media, using performances to show gratitude. WEESA is fueled by the excitement of discovery and growth from visiting new countries, which broadens his perspective and drives his artistic evolution.
TSURUGI: Love! We’re always feeling the love from everyone, and we share our emotions too.
I really feel that. We want to connect with people all around the world and will keep working hard to make that happen!
REN: The comments and messages we receive. Through social media, we can connect even with those we can’t meet in person. We’re always reading them and they give us energy. We try to show our gratitude through our performances every day.
WEESA：The more countries we visit, the more my world opens up and the more excited I get. That excitement is definitely what drives me. I want to keep gaining new experiences and growing through them.
Collaboration with BINI
The group expressed immense satisfaction with their BINI collaboration, particularly its warm reception here in the Philippines. TSURUGI called it an “honour and a meaningful experience, with fan happiness being the ultimate reward.”
RYUSHIN described it as a rare and valuable opportunity that significantly boosted their recognition, eagerly anticipating a future reunion and a visit to the Philippines. JIMMY echoed these sentiments, highlighting the incredibly valuable opportunity and the overwhelmingly joyful reaction, expressing a strong desire for another collaboration, be it a song or a live performance.
TSURUGI: It was such an honour! Working with BINI, who are active worldwide, was very meaningful for us. And most of all, seeing the fans happy made me truly glad!
RYUSHIN: It was a rare and valuable experience, and we’re incredibly grateful. Many people got to know us through that collaboration, and I’d love to do it again. We also really want to visit the Philippines!
JIMMY: It was an incredibly valuable opportunity. The reaction was huge, and I was so happy. Since we’re all musicians, I really hope we can collaborate again—either in a song or on stage!
PSYCHIC FEVER on future collaborations
PSYCHIC FEVER harbors strong hopes for future collaborations with Filipino artists and performances in the Philippines. RYOGA was highly impressed by BINI’s diverse musical styles and expressed a deep desire to collaborate, also hoping for a live performance in the Philippines. KOKORO teased that “something is in the works,” urging fans to anticipate it. WEESA is eager to perform in the Philippines, keen to experience the local atmosphere, meet artists, and explore the culture.
RYOGA: Of course, I would love to collaborate with artists from the Philippines. I had the chance to meet the members of BINI when we were in Singapore, and it was my first time experiencing Filipino music live. I was really impressed by how they take on such a wide range of styles—from cool and edgy to refreshing and even sexy. It was incredibly captivating, and I would be truly honored if we could work together one day. If we ever have the opportunity to perform live in the Philippines, I would absolutely love to make it happen.
KOKORO: Yes, while I can’t reveal too much yet, there is something in the works. Please look forward to it!
WEESA：I’d love to perform in the Philippines. Neither I nor the group have been there before, so I’d really like to experience the atmosphere firsthand—meet local artists, try the food, and just soak in the vibe.
Any plans in visiting Philippines?
PSYCHIC FEVER has big plans for the year ahead, both at home and abroad. TSURUGI wants to perform live and host a fan meeting in the Philippines. RYOGA aims for a world tour, global festival appearances, and awards, hoping to connect with fans worldwide. KOKORO intends to share their “evolved selves” globally and showed their interest visit Philippines in the future.
TSURUGI: We definitely want to perform live in the Philippines! We’d also love to host a fan meeting there and share more of our charm with everyone in the Philippines!
RYOGA: One of our biggest goals in the near future is to go on a world tour. We also hope to take on the challenge of performing at festivals and music award shows in various countries, and eventually become an artist recognized with awards on the global stage. We want to be more active not only in Japan but in many more regions and countries, and increase opportunities to connect with our ForEVERs around the world in person.
KOKORO：We want to share our evolved selves and energy with the whole world. We’re working hard to make our live tour in the Philippines happen soon—please stay tuned for what’s next!
With “PSYCHIC FILE III” on the horizon, PSYCHIC FEVER is poised for continued growth, aiming to captivate audiences worldwide with their evolving sound and unwavering dedication to their craft and their fans.
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