In Focus: Mariya Takeuchi

The face of the algorithm-buoyed online citypop revival, Japanese singer songwriter Mariya Takeuchi's now four decade body of work transcends the often fickle view of modern nostalgia-fuelled fads. Her timeless pop songwriting eschewed the "cool" aesthetic posturing which draped most '80s & '90s western chart music, in favour of an unadorned, authentic joy. Her records – which interpolate US boogie, R&B, and soft rock styles – patently stand the test of time. Just check the YouTube metrics.