Third-wave or "neo"-visual kei emerged around 2004, coinciding with the hyper-connectivity of the Internet and increasing foreign interest in the scene. The Japanese music industry's reluctance to embrace digital releases brought international fans together in online communities to share enthusiasm and illegal download links. As teenagers, my friends and I spent many late nights and weekends seeking out obscure "kei" bands online, styling our looks after them, and begging our parents for the rare chance to see them live. This mix is a heavily biased sampler. Find the full tracklist and related episodes on NTS: https://www.nts.live/shows/your-specialist-subject-ii/episodes/your-specialist-subject-ii-neo-visual-kei-w-cyckie-27th-april-2026
