Five-member Japanese boy group, MADKID, made their Atlanta debut at Anime Weekend Atlanta (AWA) 2025. YOU-TA (vocalist), KAZUKI (vocalist), SHIN (vocalist), LIN (rapper), and YUKI (rapper) recently toured with fellow Japanese artist, NANO, on their "Rising Live 2025 Tour," visiting 11 North American cities. Everywhere they go, they bring electrifying energy and a genuine joy that is contagious from the stage.
Anticipating their December 24th release of their 'Mad Pulse' EP dropped and their concert featured at AWA, we were able to sit down with them to talk about their relationship with music and what fans might be able to expect from MADKID in the future.
KpopWise: Your recent release 'Mad Pulse' is used for the DIGIMON BEATBREAK show, is there a different approach you take creating the songs made for TV compared to a regular MADKID album?
MADKID: We change our approach in the way we write the lyrics and music tracks so it is about becoming an elite with all the points of creating the songs. When writing for an animation, it is about matching the tone and making sure the song is on a beat that is considered more "made-for-anime" or the particular show we are working with.
KpopWise: Is there anything else you can tell us about the other songs on the 'Mad Pulse' EP?
MADKID: There are two other songs on the album; One is a song written with NANO, who toured with us, and the other is our 11th year letter to the members/ourselves.
KpopWise: If you had to adapt one of your songs for an anime or do something new with your music and anime, what would it be?
MADKID: We've never created an ending song for an anime before, so we would like to try that.
KpopWise: What artist(s) got you all interested in music?
MADKID: NEWS, Tamaki Koji, Tohoshinki, and Michael Jackson.
KpopWise: We were able to read through your interview series on your website and it seemed like each of you mentioned different parts of your personal lives and some goals with and without music -- I was wondering what you think draws someone to create music?
MADKID: One of the things that attracted us to it is being self-produced. is that we are self-produced. We all like different genres and aspects of creating. Lin couldn't make it here today but he is more than just dance. He really likes making anime songs so he is focusing on those. We focus on our own strengths and joys and then come together to create something for the group.
KpopWise: When you aren't working on music, what do you like to do for fun?
Shin: Visiting the temple(s) and going for walks,
You-Ta: Drinking or working out.
Kazuki: Me too! I like beer, and watching baseball.
Yuki: Fashion.
KpopWise: What can fans expect from MADKID in 2026?
MADKID: We are planning to tour more and see more places. We want fans all over the world to look forward to it.
See more from the MADKID Anime Weekend Atlanta concert in our gallery below.
