(Credit: Exciter Records)
Rising Japanese singer-songwriter Rol3ert continues his rapid ascent globally and across Asia with the release of “(how could i be) honest? - DAUL mix (feat. THAMA),” a newly reimagined version of his breakout track, created in collaboration with Korean producer DAUL and acclaimed R&B artist THAMA. Recently selected for Rolling Stone’s “Future 25” as one of 25 artists representing Japan, Rol3ert is quickly emerging as one of the country’s most promising new voices on the global stage.
Originally released in December 2025, “(how could i be) honest?” quickly gained global attention, landing on Spotify’s official playlists across 18 countries. Across Asia, the track saw strong regional traction, charting on viral charts in Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, earning heavy rotation on Singapore’s 987FM, and peaking at No.5 on Singapore’s Shazam charts. On Spotify, the song surpassed 500,000 streams within its first month, becoming Rol3ert’s fastest-growing release to date. Across his recent releases, including “(how could i be) honest?” and “savior,” user-generated content has continued to spread organically, amplifying his reach among younger listeners across the region.
This new version sees the track reconstructed rather than traditionally remixed—expanding its emotional and sonic identity across cultures. Featuring newly written Korean lyrics and vocals from THAMA, the song retains the emotional core of the original while introducing a new dimension through DAUL’s electronic production and THAMA’s distinct artistry. The result is a version that feels both familiar and entirely reimagined, bridging Japanese and Korean music sensibilities within a global pop context.
DAUL shares, “when I first heard the original track, what stood out most was the vocal melody. It has a strong hook that stays with you, and I felt the natural energy and dynamism of the band sound. Rather than drastically changing the song, I focused on preserving its emotional core and melody while expanding that energy through electronic elements. By reconstructing it around synthesizers and electronic drums, I aimed to create a denser, more three-dimensional soundscape.
With THAMA joining, the color of the track became even richer. The combination of Rol3ert and THAMA’s distinct styles, along with the production, creates a piece that reveals more depth the more you listen.”
THAMA adds, “the original track had a rock texture that I don’t usually work with, which made it feel very fresh. Rol3ert’s voice and melody were especially memorable—they reminded me of the emo rock bands I listened to growing up.
During production, I focused on preserving the tone, rhythm, and lyrical appeal that Rol3ert brings, while adding a new interpretation on top of that foundation. The synth-forward sound is a key element of this version. I’d also love for listeners to pay attention to the newly written first verse, which wasn’t in the original. I hope people enjoy hearing how the song transforms through my voice.”
Rol3ert reflects, “the main thing I focused on was creating something completely different while still inheriting the original’s charm—its slightly absurd, chaotic, and imperfect qualities in a good way. I referenced sounds from ’80s video games to bring in a bit of playfulness.
When I first heard DAUL’s demo, I was really happy to hear how that sense of playfulness was already embedded in the track. By combining that with THAMA’s voice and the addition of Korean lyrics—which was a completely new challenge for me—I think we were able to create something that feels like a different song, while still preserving what made the original special.”
Accompanying the release, a music video featuring Rol3ert and THAMA, filmed in Korea, further brings this cross-cultural collaboration to life. In parallel, Rol3ert has also unveiled a live performance video for “savior,” captured during his sold-out headline show Rol3ert Live “katachi” in Tokyo, offering a glimpse into the growing scale and energy of his live performances.
Further expanding his connection with fans, Rol3ert has also launched his official Discord community, creating a dedicated space for global listeners to engage, connect, and access exclusive content. He is also set to make his Singapore debut at Mediacorp’s Cloud 9 Festival on May 9, marking another key milestone as his presence continues to grow across Southeast Asia.
With momentum building across Japan, Southeast Asia, and Korea, Rol3ert continues to emerge as one of the region’s most compelling new voices—bridging cultures, languages, and sounds with a distinctly global perspective.
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STREAM (how could i be)honest? - DAUL mix(feat. THAMA) HERE
WATCH “(how could i be)honest? - DAUL mix(feat. THAMA)
OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO HERE
About Rol3ert
Born in the United States in 2005 and raised in Japan, Rol3ert began his solo career in January 2025. Singing primarily in English while incorporating Japanese and J-pop-influenced melodies, he has developed a distinct cross-cultural sound. His cover videos have gone viral globally, with some exceeding 4 million views, and his original releases have been featured on playlists across Asia and beyond. With listeners spanning Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, the United States, and Brazil, Rol3ert is emerging as a new Japanese artist making a mark on the global music scene.
About DAUL
Producer DAUL is an artist who has secured a global listener base, recording approximately 170,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and continuing to deliver steady streaming performance. In particular, Fujii Kaze’s “Kirari (DAUL Remix)” surpassed 10 million streams on Spotify, proving his production capabilities. In addition, through an overseas tour with R&B artist JUNNY, he has experienced various global performance stages, and through collaborations with major domestic artists such as Lee Youngji, CHANGMO, and GRAY, he has expanded his presence as a producer.
About THAMA
THAMA is one of Korea’s leading R&B singer-songwriters and producers, known for his low, velvety vocals and a sound that naturally blends jazz, hip-hop, and neo-soul. He debuted in 2017 with the single “Fall In Love,” and has since expanded his musical presence through songwriting and featured appearances with major artists including Dynamicduo, EXO, NCT 127, george, and Kang Daniel. His 2021 full-length debut album, DON’T DIE COLORS, was widely acclaimed for its high level of craftsmanship, winning both the 19th Korean Music Awards for Best R&B/Soul Album and the Korean Hip-hop Awards for R&B Album of the Year. The record was also selected by Harper’s Bazaar (U.S.) as one of the “15 Best K-Pop Albums of 2021,” praised for its multi-layered sound that moves freely across R&B, hip-hop, soul, and jazz. This recognition further elevated THAMA’s international profile. In 2023, THAMA broadened his palette with his second album WOOOF!, embracing funk and neo-soul influences. That same year, he sold out his Hyundai Card Curated solo concert, cementing his reputation as a powerful live performer.
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