Rol3ert Releases video and single for “HOPE”

Posted by on May 13, 2025

Meet Rol3ert—the 19-year-old Japanese artist making waves on a global scale by rewriting what modern J-pop can sound like. His latest single, “HOPE,” is a genre-defying release that confirms his place among a new generation of emotionally driven innovators.

On “HOPE,” Rol3ert draws inspiration from genre-benders like The 1975 and keshi, delivering a sound that is equal parts tender and towering. The track’s production leans into retro 8-beat rhythms that echo the spirit of the ’80s, while still feeling unmistakably modern. It’s in the subtlety that Rol3ert shines—his voice rising from a hushed whisper to passionate crescendo, giving weight to lyrics about the uncertainty of love, the fragility of trust, and lingering regrets.

The music video is just as compelling: Rol3ert, riding through rural roads on the back of a pickup, later performing in open fields as the sunlight fades. It’s the perfect visual metaphor for the song’s journey—quietly dramatic, beautifully solitary, and full of yearning.

After the viral impact of “meaning” and its international remix contest hosted via SURF MUSIC, Rol3ert has quickly gained traction outside Japan. The winning remix from KIDCOZY brought new ears to his already-expanding fanbase, and with “HOPE” now trending across Instagram and TikTok, it’s clear that this is an artist people are ready to follow across genres and borders.

Only three tracks in, and Rol3ert is already signaling a global pop future built on vulnerability, style, and emotional storytelling. If “HOPE” is any indication of what’s next, this is just the beginning.

+