by Stewart MasonThe Japanese Popstars are an electronic trio from Derry, Northern Ireland, specializing in the same sort of pop-leaning big beats that fueled '90s acts like Underworld, the Prodigy, and Orbital. Gary Curran (aka DJ Curntables), Declan McLaughlin (aka Decky Hedrock), and Gareth "Galo" Donoghue debuted with the single "Rodney Trotter" (named for a character in the British sitcom Only Fools and Horses and featuring a main hook lifted from New Order's "Blue Monday") in 2006, followed by "Dirty Popstars on Your Radio" and a split remix EP with Groove Armada the following year. Signing to the electronica label Gung Ho Recordings, the Japanese Popstars released the three-track EP1 in the spring of 2008, with debut full-length We Just Are following that summer. The Japanese Popstars are also popular house DJs in the Irish club circuit and have remixed singles for artists including Cagedbaby, Streetlife DJs, and Rob Hawk.\r