First Love is Never Returned Drops New Summer Anthem “Sparkling Summer 微炭酸”

First Love is Never Returned (FLiNR)’s new single “Sparkling Summer微炭酸” hits like a cold drink on a hot night: sharp, sweet, and a little bit nostalgic. Built on sleek digital beats, a splash of R&B, and their first-ever live horn section (courtesy of members from fellow band Emerald), it’s a summer anthem made for long drives, late texts, and feelings you can’t quite name.

Known for their soulful storytelling and emotionally layered vocals delivered by frontman Kazuki Ishida, who studied voice in New York, FLiNR first grabbed attention with “POP OUT! III” and its Billboard Japan Heatseekers Top 5 hit “Our March 僕らの行進曲”. Now, they’re turning the page with a new seasonal anthem: “Sparkling Summer微炭酸”, named for that nostalgic rush of sweetness and sting you get from both soda and summer love.

“This is our first time writing a song that really captures summer head-on,” the band shares. “Whether it’s blasting in your headphones during a heatwave or playing while you’re driving somewhere new — we hope “Sparkling Summer微炭酸” becomes part of your scene this season.”

Its accompanying music video captures that hazy high too — swaying between joy and melancholy, movement and memory. The band also just kicked off their second solo tour across Osaka, Tokyo, and hometown Sapporo — and announced a co-headline tour this November with longtime friends Emerald.

Whether you’re chasing sunsets or getting lost in city nights, “Sparkling Summer微炭酸” is the perfect dose of pop fizz for summer 2025.