f5ve have released their otherworldly new single ‘UFO’ today (October 17). Ahead of the song’s release, the Japanese girl group spoke to NME about the story behind the new single, their remarkable social media presence and how they’re bringing Japan’s unique subcultures to the world.

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‘UFO’ comes shortly after f5ve – originally known as SG5 – hit the big time with their May 2024 single ‘Lettuce’, a quirky but scathing diss track to a former lover that’s since become a viral sensation on TikTok. Over a video call from Tokyo, the girl group told NME that ‘UFO’ tells the story of a girl who is exceptionally skilled at claw machines, which were popularised in Japan during the ’70s and have since become mainstays at arcades around the world. “The people watching her start thinking, ‘Oh, she’s so good, she must be an alien’,” Kaede said. “It’s a really fun and unique story.”

The futuristic music video for ‘UFO’ was filmed in Akihabara – which member Miyuu describes as the “starting ground” of Japan’s idol scene – and finds the girl group performing inside a gacha ball, each of them caked in pale makeup and eerie all-white contact lenses. They soon arrive on earth disguised as humans, but their unnaturally large pupils, awkward movements and fascination with claw machines soon give them away as extraterrestrial beings.

“In the US, the word ‘UFO’ makes people think of aliens, but in Japan, it brings to mind things like claw machines and gacha games,” Miyuu said of their alien-like appearance in the music video, explaining that “it’s a playful word association that blends both Japanese and English” which takes inspiration from UFO-related connotations in each language.

Despite being a global-facing act, f5ve unanimously agree on the importance of showcasing Japanese culture in its truest form in their music and visuals. “I believe it’s going to spark a revolution,” said Rui, the youngest of the group. “We really love and have a lot of confidence in our music and our activities, and we are proud of who we are. We want to bring Japan to the world.”

Take their July single ‘Underground’, an energetic dance anthem about escaping from societal expectations. Its music video begins with scenes from Tokyo’s busy subway network, with salarymen filing in and out of high-speed trains on their daily commutes. Tired of the monotony on the surface, they escape into the vibrant underground rave scene where they find their place in a sea of colourful outfits and neon lightsticks.