Singaporean visual kei band “MAO.A” dropped their debut music video, SEVER, on May 18. Blending Japanese and English lyrics with harsh screams, melodic bridges, and pounding metal, the track reveals a band unafraid to balance tenderness and brutality.

Drenched in gothic imagery and emotional weight, the video dives into the shadows of grief, exploring its five stages through both sound and visuals. It’s a bold first statement from a band that’s as theatrical as they are aggressive. Check out the music video below.

MAO.A - SEVER

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SEVER leads the charge from their debut EP HAKAI, available on digital platforms worldwide.

To introduce their debut EP, MAO.A had this to say:

Charged with fire, MAO.A’s first EP, HAKAI (破壊)—meaning “to destroy”, “destruction”—is a vibrant burst of emotions and energy, featuring themes of war and chaos in track one, Ningen (人間), the five stages of grief in track two, SEVER, and a neighbor who cooks good curry in track three tamaGO!. HAKAI is red, bold, and wild, like MAO.A’s courage in facing the human condition.

Formed in March 2025, MAO.A describe themselves as “imbued with the warrior gene”, on a mission to “transform inner shadows into courage”. The band comprises vocalist NEO, “noise” screamer UROKO, guitarist KUMA, bassist ASH, and drummer IVAN.

MAO.A is more than just a band; they are also innovating the promotion of Japanese subcultures overseas. They made their live debut at “KIZUNA”, a creators’ market and live music event to celebrate visual kei music and Japanese pop culture. They performed a 70-minute set of original tracks as their debut to a passionate crowd of over 200 attendees. You can watch their live performance of Ningen, the lead track from HAKAI, here.

On May 17, MAO.A hosted re:SERVE Ichi, a visual kei concept maid and butler cafe, as a thank you to fans and to celebrate the release of the HAKAI EP. The event featured fan interactions, meet-and-greets, intimate acoustic performances, and an exclusive premiere of the SEVER music video.

With one foot in Japan’s underground aesthetic and the other in Singapore’s rock scene, MAO.A are poised to carve a unique path through the global visual kei landscape. We’re excited to see where their journey takes them!