After Hours (with Asher Sofman) [Seinen Exception #1]

We discuss all three volumes of After Hours by Yuhta Nishio.

Welcome to the club. Emi knows nothing about dance music. Kei is a DJ with manic pixie dream girl energy. Emi gets sucked into Kei's world in this series that's basically a 101 lesson in EDM. "Isn't this a seinen manga?" Yes, yes it is. But Shojo & Tell host Ashley has a soft spot for these lesbian DJs, so we're covering it anyway! Ashley and her husband, Asher, discuss the particular moment in music time the series is in response to, how relatable Emi's millennial struggle is, the rosy portrayal of technology and the club scene we get, and more. Let's vibe.

REFERENCES

After Hours is available from Viz Media in EnglishAshley's been reading Tim: The Official Biography of Avicii, which provides a great history of the scene After Hours is in response to (and also, it's sad :( RIP Tim)Take a look at the top 100 DJs in the world throughout the years on DJMag. You will see a lack of women.Asher keeps raving about One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston, no matter what the discussionOther series mentioned:Dimension WChobitsDaytime Shooting StarNonstandard/specific tech mentioned:Google GlassApple AirTagSongs/artists mentioned in episode but not in the manga:DJ SumirockAviciideadmau5Calvin HarrisSkrillexSwedish House MafiaThe Chainsmokers"I Took a Pill in Ibiza" [Seeb Remix] by Mike PosnerLil Dicky"Save Tonight" by Eagle-Eye Cherry"Save Me, San Francisco" by TrainSongs/artists mentioned in the manga (at least, the ones we know are real):"Music Sounds Better With You" by StardustDaft Punk"We Are Your Friends (Justice Vs Simian)""Lucky Star" by Basement Jaxx"Local Distance"RytmeklubbenPa's Lam SystemIglooghostDJ WildpartyDuckySlugabedGRRLFemale DJs Ashley likes:RezzBuddygrrlChantel JeffriesHavana BrownJuicy MKrewellaNERVORebecca & FionaThe Jane DozeCool EDM/electronic-y songs/artists Ashley is forever sad don't get enough attention:Dave Edwards"Slow Down" by BeatauCueThe Naked and FamousBroke for Free"OMG" by Gryffin ft. Carly Rae Jepsen is a god-tier level song, it is a CRIME that it was not played on mainstream radioHujjeThe KnocksI'm sure there are 50 million things I'm forgetting but you get the pictureOutro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by Danosongs

CONTACT US

Asher on Archive of Our Own: @dasheryAsher on Twitter:  @asherdasheryShojo & Tell on Twitter, Tumblr, and InstagramAshley on Twitter: @AshMcD00