“I had to question myself before thinking about the third album,” Fujii Kaze tells Apple Music about the genesis of Prema. “Questions like ‘What if this album ended up being my last? What would I like it to be? What would I regret not doing?’” The J-pop singer-songwriter accomplished so much after 2022’s LOVE ALL SERVE ALL, including a successful series of stadium concerts and multiple international tours. Yet while his standing as an artist continued to grow, Fujii confesses that facing the creation of a new record left him in turmoil. “I was burnt out,” he says. “I felt like I had nothing to say, and my music career could have been over at any time.” Feeling lost in a maze with no way out, Fujii eventually heard a clear voice within: “The answer I found was to make an English album, filled with my favourite tracks, songs I consider classics.” Driven by his ambition to reach a wider global stage, Fujii signed with Republic Records, a major US label, in 2024. Prema was made in Los Angeles with most of the production handled by 250, the Korean producer known for his work with K-pop stars NewJeans. The lyrics are entirely in English and consistently convey a sense of hard-won truth, a sentiment reflected in the album title. “‘Prema’ means selfless, spiritual, supreme love in Sanskrit; this word has always been close to my heart,” Fujii says. “I believe it was only through that kind of pure love that God let me finish this project. There was a time when I prayed every day for God to finish this album ’cause I didn’t want do it by myself, and he did what he did.” Its nine songs carry a living sense of love and prayer for the world; below, Fujii talks us through each of them, track by track. “Casket Girl” “Originally titled ‘Basket Boys’, this song was born while I was writing music for the FIBA [Basketball World Cup] TV broadcast. Being stuck in a studio in LA somehow energised me enough to keep going as an artist. I struggled a lot but finally found some kind of hope, and that feeling is directly reflected in this song.” “I Need U Back” “This one directly expresses my burnt-out state and craving for a new direction in my life. It’s inspired by the late-’80s to early-’90s production style of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. A big beat and a passionate melody—I needed that energy back to kick off this latest project. It’s my most personal song on the album, I would say.” “Hachikō” “This represents my playfulness and willingness to try something new. I had never written a song to a beat, but somehow they let me do it, and it turned out cool and stylish. Hachikō is the name of the loyal dog who waited for his deceased owner for more than nine years.” “Love Like This” “Inspired by Gwen Stefani’s ‘Cool’, this is the oldest tune on the album. It lived in my head for over seven years. In this crazy world, I hope the song feels like an imaginary utopia. Love like this doesn’t exist outside, it exists inside of us.” “Prema” “I knew I needed the song called ‘Prema’, and when I asked, God let me have it. It feels like this song wrote itself, both musically and lyrically. I surrendered, and then it came organically. In this track, my higher self and I are introducing ourselves.” “It Ain’t Over” “I never played the saxophone on a record before, but the producer 250 suggested it, and it made the song feel intimate and warm. What if someone or something so close to me has gone for good? I’d probably sing this song again in an empty room.” “You” “Writing these lyrics with Shy Carter was a beautiful experience. He gave me the courage to be purely me and sing what I want to hear. And this is it. A smooth R&B groove, filled with a positive and uplifting message. This is what I want to hear from music.” “Okay, Goodbye” “And this is exactly what I want to hear too. I’ve always sung about the importance of letting go, and so far, this is my favourite of them all. We eventually have to say goodbye to everything in this world. I hope this bittersweet song casually helps you to do so.” “Forever Young” “When this melody came into my body in Bali, I knew I was finally gonna be able to finish the album. This song was like the last missing piece. Like the song ‘Prema’, it almost wrote itself, and I even sing about that divine experience in the lyrics: No need to worry anymore, it’s time to celebrate.”