Tokyo Tea Room

Calling all fans of Beach House, Mac DeMarco, Night Tapes, Men I Trust, Vansire, Love Spells, No Vacation, and/or Yellow House. Anyone that just appreciates dream indie pop. Or just likes slowing down. Tokyo Tea Room is one of the most promising artists to emerge from the genre in 2025. And although the UK band has been making beats since 2019, they released only this year their debut album No Rush, for which they are currently touring.

The name of the album tells you all you need to know. No Rush is a 36-minute 12-track peace-enforcing project. From the tempo to the sleepy synths to the hazy guitar, Tokyo Tea Room blends the best of indie, R&B, dream pop, and jazz. This places them somewhere in the midst of a reputable selection of alternative favorites, listed above. 

Tokyo Tea Room has mastered their production - and while variety will be a struggle for them, as it is tends to be for bands like Men I Trust - they have nailed the atmosphere they intended to create. Clearly, it is resonating with people. The most popular track on the record, If You Love Her has almost 25 million streams on Spotify. That being said, There’s A Place is the track that transports me like no other. Plus, it boasts that sexy solo guitar riff that breaks up the sleepiness of the rest of the song.

Overall, the lyrics are rather straightforward, but tasteful. They lean towards being introspective without demanding too much. Nothing will shatter, test, or push you. The album is comforting above all else. Tokyo Tea Room’s writing is genuine, but not overwhelmingly so. There is a (welcome) shallowness of their ease.

But sonically, No Rush will unwind you. Gently, carefully, it will soften and open you. You will be left unravelled like a scroll or carpet. The (healthy) laziness of the album is simply contagious. It washes all over you. Like the drowsiness of waking up next to a lover. A slow morning. A Sunday stroll. Sipping tea on a balcony. Watching city lights. Slow down. Take it in. No Rush.