Tokyo Tea Room Feel Forever with their Latest Effort

(Photo Credit: Tamibé Bourdanné)

UK’s own Tokyo Tea Room are back next week with their latest ‘Feel Forever’! In honor of this, I had the chance to chat with the band about the record and what it’s been like since the band went from part-time musicians in university, to being a full-time act putting up eye popping numbers through their organic growth in streaming, touring, etc. They have built a genuine connection with audiences all over the globe. Check out what they had to say!

You all have had a pretty meteoric rise from your origins as university students living in England. In 2025, you all had eye popping streaming numbers that in a way became a reality in a big way when you completed a tour that had tons of sold out shows. This has happened largely organically, as you didn’t have the machine of big media behind you. Can you touch on how connecting with those fans in person and hearing how their stories impacted you all? Did you feel that it validates the hard work you have put into writing and touring because you’ve created such a powerful connection with your audience?

“It’s been quite surreal, especially because so much of the growth has happened gradually, you kinda don't feel it's real. When you’re looking at streaming numbers or seeing people interacting with the music online, it can be quite difficult to actually comprehend what those numbers mean. Touring has definitely made it feel real for us. One of the nicest parts of meeting people after the shows is hearing about the relationship they’ve built with the music. People attach songs to really specific moments in their lives, and have unique interpretations and experiences of the songs. I love that.”

“It definitely makes all the years feel worthwhile. We’ve always approached the project with a level of professionalism, mimicking the level we want to be, so seeing the community grow is gratifying. More than anything, it makes us want to keep making music that feels genuine to us and hopefully continue that connection.”

Your sound is so fresh, as it blends indie-pop and psych so effortlessly. These genres might not feel like they’d go together because of song length traditionally used in both, etc. On Feel Forever, I loved the joining of Beth’s hushed vocals, Dan’s leads, and the rhythm Sam lays. Can you share a bit about how the writing process came about with this one? We’re curious because it’s such a bright record for the dark times we live in.

“Thank you! A lot of the writing on Feel Forever is a blend of trying to make sense of both my inner world and what was happening in reality. There’s definitely a brightness and optimism to the record, but I don’t think it exists without the melancholy underneath it. The world can feel pretty uncertain, and there are moments on the album that reflect that, but there are also these moments of love, excitement, escapism and hope that feel just as real and important to me.”

“That parallel is echoed in the sound of the album as well. We love dreamy, psychedelic textures and things that feel slightly hazy or otherworldly, but we also really love pop music and the immediacy of a hooky melody or groove. A lot of the songs start quite intimately, a small idea, then the colour comes later. Beth’s voice is naturally very soft and intimate, and pairing that with more expressive guitar parts and Sam’s rhythms creates a nice push and pull.

You wear the DIY label proudly, (as do we!). Can you share how it’s felt sharing some of these tracks in a live setting, and how that’s been received so far from audiences?”

“We actually haven’t had the chance to play any of the new tracks live yet! Our tour starts on September 24th, so that’ll be the first time we get to see how these songs translate. So far the response through streaming has been really lovely, which has made us even more excited to get out and play them. There’s always a bit of a different energy once a song leaves the studio and becomes something you’re sharing with a room full of people, so we’re really looking forward to seeing which songs people connect with.”

Dan did some great work lyrically and has been quoted as saying that he brings a lot of personal experience into the lyrics you all write. I think what’s so cool is that the songs are extremely accessible and relatable. How do you feel about achieving that balance of sharing your soul, but also creating something that someone can relate to and also identify with?

“Thank you very much! Most of the lyrics start from somewhere personal, whether that’s something I’m going through at the time, something I’m reflecting on, or a particular feeling that I’m trying to understand. Writing has always been a way for me to process my inner world, but I don’t necessarily want to spell out every detail of why or where a song came from. Leaving some of those details open is what allows other people to find themselves in the songs. The specific experience might be mine, but the sentiment is universal. It's a balance between being honest enough that there’s something real at the centre of the song, but leaving enough space around it for it to become someone else’s as well.”

This is a record that is probably best enjoyed in its entirety, that is, to just start at the top and let it rip. If I had to choose favorites, I’m personally torn between “Feeling High” and “Always in The Sun”. “Feeling High” is more subdued, with an understated melody that highlights Beth’s vocals. On “Always in The Sun” the guitar work pairs perfectly with Beth’s vocals in a ways that is a fusion of pop, funk, and dance music. What song from the record was your favorite to create? And which is your favorite to perform as a collective?

“It’s difficult to say because they were all satisfying in different ways. “Always in the Sun” was definitely one of my favourites to create. We had a lot of fun building all of those lush piano sounds and folding different layers into each other until it became a rich, colourful arrangement. “Temporary Love” was similar in that sense.“Hypnotised” and “All Night” were satisfying for a different reason. They’re much more about the groove, and there was something really rewarding about finding all the individual parts and getting them to slot together in exactly the right way.”

“In terms of playing them as a band, I think we’d probably all agree on “Always in the Sun”. It has such a good energy to it and feels really natural when we play it together. It’s definitely one we’re excited to bring to the live shows.”

You return to North America later in September. Are there any places you’re especially looking forward to playing either for the first time or returning to?

“We’re really looking forward to getting back to New York, LA, and Chicago. We had such a great time in those cities last time around, so it’ll be nice to return and hopefully reconnect with some familiar faces and be back on the road with our US team!”

“We’re also really excited to head further south this time and play in Texas, which will be completely new territory for us. We’ve never really had the chance to explore that part of the US, so we’re looking forward to experiencing somewhere a little different. The same goes for Canada, we’re getting to see a bit more on this tour, which is one of the best parts of touring with the band.”