Rol3ert’s Most Honest Chapter Yet Is Finally Here

Twenty-year-old Japanese singer-songwriter Rol3ert continues his three-month consecutive release series with the launch of “(how could i be) honest?”, available worldwide today, December 17. The official music video will premiere on YouTube on December 19 at 10:00 PM JST, following a special Instagram Live at 9:30 PM JST.

Marking a bold shift in pace and intensity, “(how could i be) honest?” stands as the fastest-tempo and most distorted track in Rol3ert’s catalog to date. Driven by sharp guitar stabs, frenetic synth lines, and a grinding synth bass, the alternative dance-rock anthem delivers an adrenaline-fueled soundscape—one that contrasts its uplifting energy with an emotionally raw core.

Beneath the bright, danceable exterior lies an urgent inner monologue: a quiet SOS from a young artist grappling with anxiety, loneliness, and emotional paralysis. The lyrics reveal an aching vulnerability, confronting helplessness and the longing to be seen, captured in striking lines such as:

“I can’t even save myself / I can’t quit though it’s useless / I’m covered in mud so I want you to find me”
“Help me / I wish I could bleed / So I could show you this pain”

Producer MONJOE, who previously collaborated with Rol3ert on “Nerd,” returns to craft the track’s multilayered and chaotic sonic palette, expanding on the raw intensity of Rol3ert’s original demo. Mixing and mastering were handled by D.O.I., a revered figure in Japanese hip-hop production, whose signature low-end depth and vocal processing lend the song its unconventional texture and emotional weight.

Serving as a quiet rebellion against a culture of emotional concealment, “(how could i be) honest?” offers listeners an invitation rather than a declaration—encouraging them to sit with vulnerability, acknowledge confusion, and navigate the turbulence of coming of age, even if it means dancing through discomfort and tears.

Rol3ert continues to carve out a distinct voice within Japan’s new wave of young songwriters. In 2025, he sold out his first acoustic headline show at Daikanyama SPACE ODD, performed at major festivals including FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL and SWEET LOVE SHOWER, and was named Best Breakthrough Artist at the Tokyo Alter Music Award 2025.

Momentum is also building across Southeast Asia. Rol3ert’s recent cover releases—featuring Regina Song (903K views) and Bernadya (837K views)—sparked strong organic engagement following their respective TIMM performances, drawing listeners from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore.

The music video for “(how could i be) honest?” mirrors the song’s emotional restraint. Shot in muted tones and centered solely on Rol3ert, the visuals capture the tension between wanting to speak and choosing silence. The video also expands on the band performance teased in the latter half of “frozen,” offering a fuller look at Rol3ert’s evolving live-band configuration.

Rol3ert is set to headline his next one-man live show, “katachi,” on February 27, 2026, at Shibuya WWW X. The performance marks his first full-band headline concert following his July show “3mpty,” which featured an intimate, stripped-back piano set. Tickets are now on sale.

STREAM “(how could i be) honest?” HERE

WATCH “(how could i be) honest?” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO HERE