Hikaru Utada just reminded the world why they’re a J-pop legend. On the second weekend of the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Utada made a surprise appearance during avant-garde producer Arca’s set at the Gobi Stage—and absolutely stole the show. But that’s to be expected!
For fans, it felt like history repeating itself: Utada first rocked Coachella back in 2022 at 88rising’s “Head in the Clouds Forever” showcase. This time, though, it was a whole different vibe. As the desert air buzzed under the night sky, Utada and Arca teamed up to deliver a mashup of the “Electricity (Arca Remix),” the emotional Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time theme “One Last Kiss,” and, of course, “Passion,” the iconic Kingdom Hearts II anthem that defined a generation of gamers.
Seeing Utada perform “Passion” live at Coachella—for longtime followers—was a full-circle moment. For newcomers: “Passion” (released as “Sanctuary” in English) has been the sound of Kingdom Hearts since 2005, intertwining Utada’s name forever with Sora, Riku, and Kairi’s epic journey across Disney and Final Fantasy worlds. Meanwhile, their “One Last Kiss” cemented their standing among anime fans when it debuted as the theme for the final Evangelion movie, a massive pop culture event in Japan and around the world.
The set was livestreamed on YouTube, and it didn’t take long before “#HikaruUtada” started trending on X (formerly Twitter) in Japan’s entertainment category. Utada may have technically been a guest on Arca’s set, but the moment belonged to them.
Following the performance, Utada dropped the official music video for “Electricity (Arca Remix)” on their YouTube channel. Although the special social media share campaign—where fans could win a Coachella setlist signed by both Utada and Arca—has already wrapped, the excitement around the collaboration is still going strong.
In case you are new to Hikaru Utada’s music, they burst onto the scene at age 15 with their debut single “Automatic/time will tell,” leading to the record-shattering success of their album First Love. Since then, Utada has become one of Japan’s most iconic artists, providing unforgettable theme songs for beloved franchises like Kingdom Hearts and Evangelion. With their critically acclaimed 2022 album BAD MODE and 2024’s greatest hits collection SCIENCE FICTION, Utada remains at the forefront of global J-pop innovation.
As for this collaboration, Arca is a Venezuelan producer, singer, and visual artist whose boundary-breaking music blurs the lines between avant-garde, pop, and experimental soundscapes. Known for her work with Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, and Madonna, Arca rose to global fame through her ambitious KICK series, which redefined Latin American experimental music. Whether composing for Dior or headlining in Caracas, Arca continues to push creative boundaries across music, fashion, and art.
And if you think Utada’s year is slowing down, think again. Their new single “Mine or Yours” is dropping May 2, already creating buzz thanks to its feature in Ayataka green tea’s latest ad campaign. It’s shaping up to be another milestone in Utada’s career, which has seen them rise from teenage breakout with First Love to the voice of some of anime and gaming’s most emotional moments—and now, a cross-genre icon blending J-pop, R&B, and electronic sounds with artists like Skrillex, Floating Points, and Arca.
Whether you grew up getting emotional to “Simple and Clean” or just discovered their music through Evangelion, it’s safe to say: Hikaru Utada is having another major moment.
Source: Vegas PR Group
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