When the Music Transcends Language: Enfants Return to SXSW

Japanese alternative rock band, Enfants, returned to SXSW this year to play the TOKYO CALLING × INSPIRED BY TOKYO SXSW 2026 event, one year after debuting at SXSW. Besides that showcase, Enfants performed at seven different venues during their few days in Austin. Before hitting the stage for the TOKYO CALLING set, which was well-received by the crowd, frontman Matsumoto Dai visited with us about returning to the city. 

Twwk: Welcome back! This is your second year in a row at SXSW. What’s different about this year’s experience?

Matsumoto: 昨年よりも観客のリアクションがたくさんあったと感じています。少しだけ英語に慣れた事も関係しているかもしれません。何にしてもとても嬉しいです。言語を越えても伝わるという実感は何にも変え難い自信に繋がります。

I felt like we got much more of a reaction from the audience than last year. Maybe it’s because I’ve gotten a little more used to English, but regardless, I’m thrilled. The feeling that our music can truly connect with people despite the language barrier gives me a kind of confidence that is irreplaceable.

Twwk: You’re coming from Tokyo, where you recently sold out a 1,500-capacity show. What was it like playing in front of a packed audience in the city?

Matsumoto: とても幸せでした。観客が喜んでくれる事もですが、関わってくれていたスタッフ、チームの皆が楽しそうに仕事をしていた事もとても印象に残っています。

It was a moment of pure happiness. Seeing the fans enjoy themselves was wonderful, of course, but what really stuck with me was seeing our staff and the entire team having such a great time working the show. That sight was truly unforgettable.”

Twwk: Your new album, Bedford Hedgehog, was recently released. What was the experience like recording it? How would you describe the album?

Matsumoto: M7″天国に生まれた僕ら”はアメリカでレコーディングした曲ですが、これはとても貴重な体験でした。「もっと自由な発想で取り組んでいいんだ」という事を強く思った日々でした。アルバム全体を通しては”日記がそのまま音に変換された”ような気分でレコーディングできていて、自分のスタイルを見出す良い機会だったと思っています。

Recording Track 7, “When We Were In Heaven,” in the U.S. was a truly precious experience. It was a time when I strongly felt that I could be much freer and more experimental in my approach. Throughout the entire album, it felt as though my personal diary was being directly converted into sound. It was a great opportunity for me to really find my own style.

Twwk: Enfants has been described as creating “anthems for those struggling to find their place.” Do you feel young people in Japan are struggling to find that place? What do you hope to tell them through your music?

Matsumoto: 自分の存在価値について難しく考えている人が多い印象があります。もう少し気楽に、感情を閉ざさずに、もっとシンプルに幸せになる方法を探したい。だから複雑な感情を全て一言にまとめて叫んでしまおうという意識があります。僕は必要な時に人生の意味があればいいし、辛い時は意味なんかないと思えるように生きていたい。

I get the impression that many people think too hard about their own self-worth. I want to find a way to be happy more simply—being a bit more lighthearted and not closing off one’s emotions. That’s why I have this urge to take all those complex feelings, bundle them into a single word, and just scream it out. I want to live in a way where life has meaning when I need it to, but when things are painful, I can also feel that life doesn’t have to have a meaning at all.

Twwk: If you return again next year, what do you hope to say Enfants accomplished between now and then?

Matsumoto: アメリカの地で過ごしてみて、オーディエンスの反応、共演のバンドの人達を通して、音楽のアプローチ次第では言葉が理解できなくても更にエキサイトしてもらえる可能性を感じました。今後、世界のどこに居たとしてもこの経験を大切に更なる進化を目指したいです。

Spending time here in the States—seeing the reactions from the audience and connecting with the other bands we played with—made me realize that with the right musical approach, it’s possible to get people even more excited, even if they don’t understand the language. No matter where we are in the world, I want to cherish this experience and keep evolving as a band.

After their whirlwind few days in Austin, Enfants returned to Japan, where they’ll continue to express the raw energy and vulnerable songwriting that’s been a hallmark of the band and Matsumoto’s songwriting. You can follow them on Instagram and listen to their music on YouTube—and hopefully, catch them for a third year at SXSW in 2027!

Twwk
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