One Dream, One Star

Sugar Plant worked hard for their stature as Japan’s indie rock darlings. Early in their career they squatted in other band’s houses, practicing in dingy basements, scrounging for the funds to rent out recording studios. The sound they were developing, shaped by American indie, felt out of place in their country’s underground scene, which was riding a wave of influence from the UK instead. Feeling ignored in Japan, they took a gamble on releasing their music abroad — and it paid off. (One of their international releases, Cage of the Sun, included a cover to one of their American heroes The Flaming Lips with a cover of “Turn it On.”) They’ve now passed a significant milestone of over 30 years together as a band, and one dream, one star comes under a different set of circumstances, anticipated at just as much at home as overseas.