While IHL’s “Romantista” is a change of pace musically and lyrically for the band, they use their skills to pull it off seamlessly. They’ve always played this style of music right?

“ロマンチスタ” (Romantista) by IHL came out in late April.

“Romantista” is an optimistic love song that tells a story. It looks to the bright future and how much one is needed for that to happen. While the playful synth only plays in the intro, it sets the rosy tone for the rest of the song. Those lines give way to the guitar and bass which back up the positive lyrics even more.

“Romantista” is a much more laidback change of pace from IHL’s past singles, which were straight-up for the club.

The second track on the “Romantista” single is “I HAVE LOVE 2008″. The song was featured as an ending theme on the long-running Beat Takeshi show “たけしの誰でもピカソ” (Takeshi no daredemo Picasso, Anyone Can Be Picasso).

The initials IHL stand for the band’s amusing full name and former moniker: Illmatic Headlock. The initials also unofficially mean “I Have Love”.

IHL is TARMY (MC), MASATO (MC), Ho-Z (guitar), MAD-K (guitar/synth), ATSUSHI (bass), and MACHILLDA (drums). The guys’ variety of musical influences contributes to the no boundaries vibe of their work.　Their ’street rock’ sound is a crossover of rock, hip-hop, funk, breakbeat, electronic and more.

IHL first got together in 2000 and began playing shows across Japan. They released a limited single at Tower Records in 2006. In March ‘07, IHL’s debut single with Def Jam came out. “Romantista” is their third single with the label and the first that has them credited as IHL rather than Illmatic Headlock.

The PV for “Shall We Dance ?”, their second single, was featured on the now defunct IMF (International Music Feed) TV channel.

Watch the PV for “Romantista”:

Buy “Romantista” or the CD+DVD Limited Edition by IHL