Feel the visual-kei heat with new releases from Kaya, Sileen, LIX. and GLACIER
Yokohama, Japan – July 28th, 2010 – The summer scorcher continues with
four brand new visual-kei releases from HearJapan!
LIX. continues to impress with their second maxi-single “Seimei no
Shuen.” “[]” in an elegant rock track sure to hit the hearts of fans
while “Sanctuary” is a pure metal blitz.
“Requiem D-moll” by Seileen is a massive collection of new original
tracks and various remixes from producers around the world. Seileen’s
unique operatic vocals drift over the dark electro beats and
atmospheric mist. The various remixes take it to the next level,
striving to get you on the dance floor and melt your face off.
HearJapan is particularly excited to announce the return of Kaya!
Since his old label went out of business, much of his past work has
been lost. It’s been over a year, but now HearJapan is happy to
provide the world with his newest single “Awilda.” This time, Kaya
takes the role of a female pirate, Alfhild (Awilda). He sings about
her exploits in life and love in this symphonic trance track!
GLACIER takes things in an entirely different direction with the
upbeat rock single “Kariyushi.” Kariyushi is an Okinawan word for
joyous and this song is the perfect backdrop for any joyous trip to
the beach.
Also of note: the LIX. and Seileen releases are on the Starwave and
Darkest Labyrinth labels respectively. You can explore more from these
labels on the two compilations listed below.
All of these release are available now at HearJapan. Enjoy the heat!
We’ve just received this info from Maru Music, regarding older releases of fan faves Vidoll, alice nine., the GazettE, and more:
In a Big announcement today, at their private panel at the Anime Expo
Convention in Los Angeles. Maru Music announces their upcoming releases for 2010. With
the total of ten new releases, Maru Music continues to bring the best in JRock and Jpop together
to the fans. Maru Music’s popular artists will have new releases as well as multiple new
artists will be released. This is exciting news for fans to have much greater access to their favorite
bands’ music and merchandise without having to pay import prices.
The following titles will be released by Maru Music:
Kanon Wakeshima – Lolitawork Liberetto, Sony Music
AKB48 – Kamikyokutachi, King Records
Vidoll – Monad, Crown Records
Vidoll – Esoteric Romance, Crown Records
Vidoll – Bastard, Sword Records
alice nine. – Complete Collection 2006-2009, King Records
the GazettE – NIL, King Records
the GazettE – Stacked Rubbish, King Records
the GazettE – DIM, King Records
DuelJewel – We Will Melt You (Exclusive combination album), Sword Records
Though there are no release dates set, expect to see these titles in the US market real soon. All
of these releases will be available through our online store.
These releases have been in high demand from Jrock fans throughout the US. Maru Music is
very happy to finally legally license and release these products officially in the US. Each release
will be announced prior to its release date and will be available through both Maru’s CD distribution
network as well as our digital formats for legally downloading albums.
Maru Music is the leading media company, bringing the highest quality, Visual Kei, Jrock and
Jpop to North America. A full-service media company based in Los Angeles, Maru Music provides
the best in CDs, DVDs, Band Merchandise and Live Performances. Maru Music would
like to thank the fans for their continued support and will continue to build a community
around our common love of JRock.
Yokohama, Japan – June 29th, 2010 – Two new visual-kei labels have
been drawn into HearJapan’s warm embrace. Over 30 releases will emerge
over the next week!
Two new compilations that come out on June 30th may best sum-up
the artists and sounds of the Darkest Labyrinth and Starwave Records labels.
Darkest Labyrinth’s “Darkest Labyrinth Vol 2” collects 13 artist into one solid package
dripping with dark electro beats and massive synths. Featuring an
impressive roster including GPKISM, Seileen, Blam Honey, BESPA
KUMAMERO, Takuya Angel, 2 Bullet and many more, this is the perfect
album for both the seasoned goth-electro fan and newcomer interested
in taking a bigger bite.
Starwave Records is a fresh new label exploding with rock and grinding
metal. Their compilation “Starwave Records” features loud and raw rock
tracks from Luzmelt, SUICIDE ALI, Calmando Qual and more. Oh, and it
includes a crazy Christmas song direct from Hell thanks to SaTaN
whom are also releasing a new album 13 I SCREAM on June 30th! This
collection is not for the faint of heart, but will nevertheless get
people grinning and shouting along.
And that’s just the beginning! You can find extended discographies
from most of the above mentioned artists as well as many more, like
BLOOD and Variable Messiah. This gathering of instant classics as well
as never before heard tracks is sure to make adoring fans happy all
over and expose a new sound to the rest of the world.
Keeping with his tradition of giving fans virtually NO notice for events, Yoshiki has announced a free event, to take place in L.A. on July 1st.
The event, to be held at Club Nokia from 8-11 pm, will be a “benefit bash for charity”, though, since the event is free, it is unclear how money will be raised for the charities. Fans will be treated to an h.Naoto fashion show, and have the opportunity to win many prizes.
Fans who wish to participate in a costume contest may win the chance to appear in the new X JAPAN video, which will be filmed directly after the event, or a chance to meet Yoshiki in the V.I.P. area of the club, during the event.
For more information or to register, visit the Jrock Revolution website.
Following their sold out tour in Japan, the Japanese Visual-rock band D’espairsRay announces nine North American dates for their “Human-clad Monsters” world tour. These dates mark the beginning of the international leg of the tour to follow immediately with performances in Russia and throughout Europe.
Aug 3rd- Roxy Theatre- Hollywood, CA
Aug 4th- Slim’s- San Francisco, CA
Aug 6th- Showbox at the Market- Seattle, WA
Aug 9th- Bottom Lounge- Chicago, IL
Aug 11th- Mod Club Theatre- Toronto, ON
Aug 12th- Studio at Webster Hall- New York City, NY
Aug 14th- Masquerade- Atlanta, GA
Aug 16th- The Loft- Dallas, TX
Aug 17th- Meridian- Houston, TX
When we last caught up with Miyavi last summer, he was on the brink of launching his world tour. Since then he has rolled out his international fan club, rocked South America, released a “Best of” compilation, and kept busy with his new family and new company.
We chatted with him again last week, and talked about his upcoming US tour, Augusts’ “Screaming out from Tokyo” tour, and his new single, which will be released in September.
Broadcasting from Tokyo – interview with Miyavi Interview by Sara Crane
Photo provided by J-glam
In March you released your Fan Best compilation. Seeing the voting results come in from around the world must have been very exciting… where did you get the idea?
M: My recording company staff gave me the idea, and I was really interested in doing it. Also, I changed record companies last year, so I wanted to do something with the new label – gather the songs I had done with the old record company.
Were you able to view the voting by region, so that you could see which songs were most popular in each country?
M: Not really. I think the staff was checking it though.
Were there any songs you would have liked to be on the album that didn’t make it?
M: No, I was really happy with the list my fans voted for. I’m really satisfied with it.
Would you consider putting your tour set lists up for a similar vote in the future?
M: Yeah, in the future.
We know that last fall you were forced to cancel the US leg of the tour last year. What was it like as an artist, to have to break that kind of news to your fans?
M: Of course it was really sad to disappoint my fans who were waiting for me for a long, long time. When we decided to cancel the tour, I wanted to go to America by myself to see my fans…but I couldn’t go.
You were really sick, weren’t you?
M: Yeah. And that’s why we tried to make the tour bigger this time. To make up for last time.
What about South America, it was very successful, wasn’t it?
M: It was cool, and the people were so enthusiastic, but I was really sick, so I couldn’t really enjoy myself.
What were the crowds like there?
M: They were so musical and enthusiastic, and they originally started dancing, even during the songs they didn’t know, so I was really impressed.
It must be really exciting to go to other countries and see the fans singing along with you.
M: Yeah, it was really fantastic, to see them singing in Japanese. I wondered if they understand the meaning or not, but it’s really fantastic.
You’ve been running your own company for a year now – has it been difficult balancing the roles of artist and president of the company?
M: Yeah, it’s pretty hard. I’m having a hard time changing modes between artist and president. But now I can handle everything myself, all my responsibilities, so I’m having fun.
Do you feel a sense of relief, knowing that you’re in control of everything?
M: Yeah, I definitely feel that.
When we spoke last, you mentioned your vision for J-glam as including fashion shows, art, etc. Do you have any news for us on that front?
M: I think sooner or later, I’m going to do a clothing line. But not until after I achieve something as an artist, as “Miyavi”.
Last year we discussed your vision of recruiting other solo artists for J-glam, is there anything like that on the horizon?
M: Not yet.
Has your vision for J-glam changed at all since last year when you started?
M: No, I haven’t changed it yet. Just managing Miyavi, and promoting.
You did open the fan club up internationally –
M: Yeah, it’s really important for me to have a place like that where people can share and be one. We’re still trying to improve it, but it was a good first step.
How have you handled juggling the roles of family man and business man?
M: It’s been hard. Usually I work 24 hours, but now I want to be with my daughter, and I really love to play with her…it’s hard to find a balance.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in the past year?
M: Being productive. Using my time productively. Before it was make music, eat, sleep. Now I have to take care of my company and take care of my family. It’s hard but it’s fun. And both roles affect each other.
Let’s talk about new music: When do you anticipate releasing an all new album?
M: October of this year.
Are you already recording?
M: Yes, I Just finished with the first half of recording. A few songs, 6 or 7 songs.
Have you been experimenting with any new ideas for the album?
M: Yeah, it’s pretty different for me, and people who know about me. It’s just drum and my guitar. That’s it. It’s really simple and solid.
This tour as well, I’m just taking my drummer, and sometimes a keyboard player. It’s really simple and back to basics.
That’s a big change from the shows where you had djs and artists, and a tap dancer!
M: (laughs) Yeah, totally different, opposite direction. But now I want to perform with my guitar, and people will be able to hear guitar better. It will be more of a Miyavi show.
Fan Questions:
FQ: What is your favorite song to perform live?
M: I love “Selfish Love”. That song is really important for me, because I debuted with a major record label – Universal, and I had been trying to create my original style.
I tried to make pop music, rock music, but eventually I found that I should use my guitar more – it makes my music stand out more as original music. So “Selfish Love” really stands out for me. It was the first time I tried to make it as a guitarist.
S: That’s something that must be really difficult when you’re starting out – trying to find the balance between what will sell enough copies s o that you can eat, and what will make you happy as an artist…
M: Yeah, it’s really hard. Especially when you work with many people- there are so many opinions around you. But it was a good experience. I think because of “Selfish Love”, I could really reach out to people as a guitarist. Some people didn’t really know me as a guitarist before that.
FQ: Do you like large or small venues best?
M: Small venues. You’re so close to the fans – I can feel them directly. Even a middle sized venue, like I had in Tokyo a few days ago, I couldn’t feel how my crowd felt. Small venues are the best.
Now that I’m just performing with a guitar, and singing at the same time, it’s hard to move around on the stage. When I was just singing, it’s fine, I can do anything – Tokyo dome, or whatever huge place. But now I’m trying to bring my original style to stage as well, small venues are best.
This is why I’m having my shows in Tokyo in August- 12 shows, all smaller venues. It’s called “Screaming out from Tokyo”, like we’re broadcasting from the venues, to the world.
S: Back in 2007 when we talked, you mentioned playing on the streets in Hollywood. That’s what the sort of stripped down feel of the new tour reminds me of. Are you still able to do things like that – just jamming on the street – or do people recognize you too much now?
M: Sometimes I do. Sometimes people recognize me, but I don’t care. As a musician, it’s very important – it’s the happiest time to be able to play on the street where ever, with whoever.
FQ: If you had a choice of being the first artist to play a concert in space or deep under the ocean, which would you choose and why?
M: I’d rather have my show in space, in the universe. Definitely. No stage, just floating in space, and everyone can see me (laughing).
FQ: What is your secret hobby or something you like to do that most people don’t know about?
M: When I play with my daughter, people don’t expect how I am. It’s my secret hobby, just playing with my daughter. Hide and seek or whatever. It’s really fun.
FQ: What is your favorite song to sing to your daughter, Lovelie?
M: Of my songs, or…? Any song
M: Sometimes I sing (starts singing “Love me Tender”). She likes my music. She always dances when I play the guitar and sing. Not dancing, but shaking her body and bouncing.
FQ: What are your hopes for her when she is grown?
M: I want her to be as she wants. I think she’s really musical, she has musical skill, you know? She likes singing and she likes dancing, and she likes crying (laughs). I think she’s going to be a musician or something. But whatever she wants to be.
FQ: Do you have any pets?
M: No, no, no pets. It’s enough to take care of my family.
One more fan question -If you were a famous cartoon character (Japanese or otherwise) which would you be and why?
M: You know Doraemon? I’d be like him, cause you know, he has everything (laughs). It’s pretty cool to go anywhere in a minute.
Fans have been waiting patiently for your return, is there anything you’d like to say to them before you see them next week?
M: First of all, thanks for waiting for me. I was really sad and disappointed when the last tour was cancelled. But this tour, I’m sure that I have improved a lot compared to the last year. So you guys can enjoy my new style – it’s really simple and solid, with a simplified stage this time. I’m really, really stoked for seeing you guys. Thanks!
Hear Japan is having a treasure hunt on their website, and one of the prizes is an absolutely adorable nendoroid figurine. Trust us, we’ve seen ‘em, and they’re damn cute! Check out the details in their press release below:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
===========================
Yokohama, Japan – March 9th, 2010 – Why is March 9th Hatsune Miku’s day?
Well in Japanese 3 (mi) + 9 (ku) = Miku! To celebrate another year of
mesmerizing music from the world’s premiere Vocaloid singing idol
Hatsune Miku, HearJapan and Crypton Future Media are teaming up to
bring you, yes YOU, a load of presents for Miku’s day!
Well OK, there is a small catch. First you need to download a
selection of 10 free Vocaloid samples from Hatsune Miku Treasure Hunt at HearJapan.
No, really, they’re all free! The only problem is that they seem to be missing
their names. What you need to do is sift through the Vocaloid
collection on HearJapan (that’s over 150 releases!) by listening to
the 30 second samples and figure out the names of all 10 songs. The
songs are a selection of both new and old tunes, possibly even the newest
Avtechno “Free” and Reng “Nextone -Krnt Edit- “ releases. Ten lucky
winners will be randomly picked from the correct answers.
Oh, the gifts!
The 1st place winner will receive a Hatsune Miku Nendoriod Figure
(courtesy of Good Smile), complete with several expressions and even a
leek to spin, a Hatsune Miku calendar and 5,000 yen in HearJapan
credits.
2nd, 3rd and 4th place will get a figure of their choice from Kagamine Rin, Kagamine Len or Megurine Luka, plus 2000 yen in
HearJapan credit.
5th through 8th will get a calender plus 1000 yen in HearJapan credit
9th and 10th will get 500 yen in HearJapan credit.
So hurry up and get the 10 free samples through the link below and
start tracking down those songs!
HearJapan is the largest and fastest-growing place on the web to
purchase Japanese music of all genres. Featuring over 2000 artist
profiles in English with 40-second samples of all songs. Over 100
releases are added every week to the currently-available 20,000+ songs
in the 100% DRM free catalog. HearJapan is a great place to find the
hard to find and to explore the unexplored in the world of Japanese
music.
FLOPPY (Kobayashi Sharaku of Metronome, and Hiromu Toda of Shinjuku Gewalt) are back and better than ever with their latest full-length album, “Deus Ex Machina”. Fans of electronica will be delighted by the nostalgic trip down 8-bit memory lane brought to you by the masters of chip pop (also known as game pop).
Only recently has video game music become a respected genre, worthy of its own orchestral concerts and high-attendance conventions. Mostly, this is due to the fact that the technology behind video games has improved to the point that listening to a game score is no different from the quality of a movie soundtrack. However, those of us who grew up in the 8-bit world of the Atari 2600, or Nintendo’s “Super Mario Bros.” remember fondly the blips and bloops that accompanied our adventures through various side-scrolling worlds. Video game music has finally come full circle with FLOPPY, who take the sounds of video game music and use them to create lasting pop melodies.
Video game connoisseurs are sure to instantly recognize the laser blasts and sound effects from a variety of their favorite, classic games in every song. Anyone who’s ever looked for a legitimate outlet to relive their dork days as a button-pushing gamer need look no further! A combination of bright, happy sounds and funky, high-speed rhythms, along with playful vocals, make FLOPPY’s album a must have. If you’re looking for a pick-me-up, or just for something that defines Japanese pop culture, FLOPPY are it!
It’s not every day one gets to see living legends in action, but on the afternoon of August 15th, 2009, thousands of hot, tired, music fans had the opportunity to do just that, as they were about to witness the re-emergence of legendary rock band DEAD END.
Though much of the crowd appeared to be too young to be first generation DEAD END fans, there was a nervous excitement in the air before the band took the stage. Fans were definitely ready and waiting. Whether they had experienced DEAD END first hand, through parents and older siblings, or whether vocalist MORRIE’s most recent project, “Creature Creature”, had grabbed their attention, these fans were expecting something big. And they got it.
From the moment the band took the stage, they had the FULL attention of the audience. Tens of thousands of eyes were glued to the stage, as guitarist You rocked out with the intro to “Danse Macabre”, and the audience erupted in to screams for more.
Minato’s sometimes pounding, sometimes hypnotic drum work paved the way for “Psychomania”, during which You once again let rip with an amazing guitar solo that left the audience breathless. Next up was “I want your love”, which was Minato’s turn to shine, as the bass in this song rang out loud and clear, even to fans in the back of the massive hall.
Observers would never have guessed that this band last played together more than a decade before. From the hard rockin’ songs, to the sultry and seductive “Serafine”, their musicianship was tight, timing perfect, and the members were absolutely ON. The audience wailed for more as MORRIE strutted out on to the central cat walk and struck a pose, working up fans on either side of the stage.
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, DEAD END should count themselves as some of the most flattered men in music. Listening to their live, one could easily pick characteristics out of the music that can be found in today’s most popular bands. Even if one has never heard DEAD END before, it becomes immediately obvious that they’ve influenced bands such as L’arc~En~Ciel, Buck-Tick, Luna Sea, and more.
Perhaps it was this taste of “something familiar” that caused the youngsters in the crowd to embrace this band so whole heartedly, or perhaps it was the energy of long-time fans and the band alike, but the screams never let up throughout their set, even when the band played a new song, “Dress Burning”.
Unfortunately, their short set was over with just six songs, but it ended with an amazing performance of the fan favorite “Perfume of Violence”, which sounded better than ever. They say the best things only get better with age, and DEAD END songs are no exception!
DEAD END are: MORRIE (vocal), You (guitar), CRAZY COOL JOE (bass) and Minato (drums).
Set List:
Danse Macabre
Psychomania
I Want Your Love
Serafine
Dress Burning
Perfume Of Violence
