Written by Veronica Campos | July 30, 2025

maru haru performing @ antone’s nightclub | photo by samantha firmin

Every now and then, a band comes along that doesn’t just make music; they create a feeling, a space, a world. This month, that band is Maru Haru, a rising Austin-based indie rock band that collectively blends orchestral sounds that create unique and emotional music.

At its core, Maru Haru is about connection. The band’s sound is rich and cinematic, but what truly sets them apart is the vulnerability they bring to every track and every lyric. Bringing in different topics of storytelling into their music.

A Personal Beginning, A Collective Voice

Maru Haru started as the personal project of James Tabata, a classically trained composer, songwriter, and lead vocalist. After an injury left him physically sidelined, James turned elsewhere, writing songs that explored identity, queerness, acceptance, and personal transformation. What began as a solo outlet soon evolved into a larger collaboration with a group of friends, string players, technologists, and fellow artists.

The band’s name, “Maru” meaning circle, and “Haru” meaning spring in Japanese, is a reflection of the themes at the heart of their music: cycles of healing, growth, and renewal.

A Sound That Defies Categories

Their debut album, Dearly Belated, released on June 13, 2025 and it spans to 11 tracks, each one exploring emotional landscapes with both elegance and rawness. Songs like “Golden” and “To the Strongest” are standout moments, pairing rich instrumentation with lyrics that speak to vulnerability, memory, and the process of coming into your own.

maru haru performing @ captain quack’s | photo by leila miranda

Looking Ahead

As Dearly Belated continues to gain attention, the future looks promising for Maru Haru. Their next upcoming performance will be at Radio/East on August 8th, in collaboration with Mariachi Cielo Azul and Harboursome.

If you’re looking for music that offers both sonic beauty and emotional depth, Maru Haru deserves your attention. Put on your airpods, start with “Still Remember” or “Golden”, and let yourself sink into their world.

You may come out the other side feeling just a little more understood.