VK Blanka and Novel Core release “Beast ≠ Knight,” a dramatic new collaboration with dark Latin influences.
VK Blanka has teamed up with Novel Core for their new single “Beast ≠ Knight,” released April 25. The collaboration arrives as a bold new entry in VK Blanka’s growing catalog. It also serves as the opening theme for TV Asahi’s April 2026 Friday night drama Cheated in My Last Three Months.
Built around a dark Latin-inspired sound, the track explores the tension between instinct and control. “Beast ≠ Knight” uses a back-and-forth vocal exchange between the two artists, creating a dramatic atmosphere that reflects the emotional themes of the television series.
VK Blanka said the collaboration had been in the works for some time. He shared:
I made a dark Latin-style track. Core and I had always talked about doing something together someday, so I’m really happy it finally happened. It was also fun creating the back-and-forth sections by improvising lyrics during the recording.
Novel Core also spoke about working with VK Blanka, saying he was pleased to finally collaborate during a milestone year for the artist. He described the recording process as a natural creative reaction that helped shape an exciting final track.
The single arrives as VK Blanka approaches his 10th anniversary in 2026. Known for blending genres and dynamic songwriting, the singer-songwriter first gained wide attention in 2018 with “Masshiro.” He later found global success through his opening themes for the anime Black Clover, including “Black Catcher,” which ranked among Spotify’s most-streamed Japanese songs overseas for three consecutive years beginning in 2020.
Across streaming platforms, VK Blanka has surpassed 500 million total streams and now reaches more than 1.5 million monthly listeners.
In September 2024, he released his fifth full album Knightclub. He has also expanded internationally through solo tours across North America, Latin America, Hong Kong, Taipei, and Seoul.
With “Beast ≠ Knight,” VK Blanka continues to expand his sound while marking the beginning of a new chapter ahead of his anniversary year.
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