Archive for October, 2009

Kat McDowell Interview

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Post your comments about our Kat McDowell Interview and let us know what you thought of her.

“I was playing in a bar in Roppongi one night a few weeks before I was heading back to New Zealand. I had given up on doing music in Japan after many people telling me how hard it would be for someone like me. A Sony scout heard about me and came to see me play…” Kat McDowell

For Kat McDowell that pivotal day of discovery would come after a long, multi-cultural journey. She spent the first five years of her life in Japan and the next 17 in New Zealand, where she learned to appreciate the twin cultures of her heritage. When she set her sites on a career in music, the time had come for her to return to Japan.

But finding success in the Japanese music industry is a challenge, especially when, as she herself admits, “I always struggled with the fact that I didn’t look Japanese and I was never going to be accepted as Japanese when on the inside parts of me were incredibly Japanese.” So how does this chapter in the life of Kat McDowell end? With the release of her debut album “Echoes over the ocean” on August 26.

On October 23, 2009 Kat McDowell was kind enough to give an interview to J-Pop World. Kat McDowell Interview.

abingdon boys school Interview

Sunday, October 25th, 2009

Post your comments about our abingdon boys school Interview and let us know what you thought of them.

“The most important thing is a message. Of course, lyrics are important, but music including instruments, special effects, and beats are also important essences in expressing messages. We don’t need to express it in any words, but we’re trying to express our messages in music making.” – Toshiyuki Kishi

Once upon a time a boys school in Oxfordshire, England discovered that their name had become famous overseas, not only for the quality of their education, but also for the Japanese rock band that took their name as their own. Abingdon boys school (a.b.s.) is fronted by the great Takanori Nishikawa of TM Revolution fame. Begun in 2005, the group achieved success with a series of popular singles released through Sony Music and their first self-titled album in 2007.

Their latest single, “Kimi no Uta,” was released on August 26 and provides the theme song to the anime show “Tokyo Magnitude 8.0.” They are releasing a 13 track album in Europe entitled “Teaching Materials” to coincide with a European tour beginning November 3, which will fittingly include a show in England.

On October 22, 2009 Takanori Nishikawa and the members of a.b.s. were kind enough to give an interview to J-Pop World. abingdon boys school Interview

Naomi Tamura Interview Comments

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

Post your comments about our Naomi Tamura Interview and let us know what you thought of her.

“The whole production scene was “magic” for me. Everything seems to fit perfect in writing and production. With this great “magic flow” of this production, I’ve learned to enjoy creating anime music.” – Naomi Tamura

For many fans of Japanese music it was Naomi Tamura’s rousing theme songs to the anime series “Magic Knights Rayearth” that first let them experience that “magic” she so eloquently describes. From her signature hit Yuzurenai Negai to the many albums she has created over the years, Tamura has maintained a level of musical composition and singing prowess that helped to lend respectability to anime soundtracks.

Discovered by Sony Music at a young age, it took some coaxing of her conservative father to let her venture to Tokyo to start her career. As a member of the group Pearl and as a solo artist, her music has gained her a following in Japan and earlier this year, a debut appearance in the US at Otakon 2009.

On October 13, 2009 Naomi Tamura was kind enough to give an interview to J-Pop World. Naomi Tamura Interview.

New Dead End Album: METAMORPHOSIS

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009


METAMORPHOSIS album cover

After 20 years these Visual Kei pioneers are back together with a new ten-track album.

Here is their official press release:

“TOKYO, JAPAN-1 OCTOBER 2009-The legendary rock band, DEAD END announced today the title and track listing of their highly anticipated upcoming release METAMORPHOSIS on Danger Crue Records. It is set to hit on 11-11. METAMORPHOSIS will be also be available in a limited edition to include DVD.

Also on 11-11 the re-mastered releases of GHOST OF ROMANCE, SHAMBARA, (both with new bonus tracks) and DEAD LINE. DEAD LINE will also be available in a limited edition including DVD.

Dead End’s recent reunion concert at Jack in the Box 2009 Summer will be broadcasted November 7 on TV Asahi.”

Dead End have also announced the following two live shows:

November 17, Osaka Big Cat, Osaka
November 20, Shibuya AX, Tokyo

METAMORPHOSIS (11-11-2009)

Label/Distributor: Sony Music Entertainment

1. Materou Game (Game of Skyscraper)
2. Dress Burning
3. Terepashi (Incarnation)
4. Devil Sleep
5. Shinen (God Monkey) 
6. Giji Venus (Venus Dummy) 
7. Princess
8. Guillotine
9. Kill Me Baby
10. Meigou (Ultimate Fuse)

Where to buy
Order from CD Japan
Order from YesAsia

Checkout the interview J-Pop World did with Morrie’s project Creature Creature.

Links
Dead End official
Dead End official MySpace

J-Pop World News and Comments Homepage
J-Pop World Homepage


Dead End – photo by Mote Sinabel

detroit7 Album “Black & White” Goes Digital

Monday, October 19th, 2009


CD cover (left side) and digital download (right)

The latest album from detroit7 will also now be available on iTunes starting October 20.

Black & White (5-20-2009)

Label/Distributor: Victor Entertainment

1. WHY?
2. COLD HEAT
3. STOOGES
4. 24 HOURS
5. DDD
6. DOWN BEAT
7. LOVERS FIGHT
8. ZELDA
9. Owaranai Uta
10. TORCH SONG
11. MR. KATO ON THE ROAD
12. LOUIE LOUIE

Order from CD Japan

Digital download from iTunes and darumalabel.com.

Be sure to checkout the interview detroit7 gave J-Pop World earlier this year: detroit7 Interview.

Links:
detroit7 official
MySpace official
Daruma label

J-Pop World News and Comments Homepage
J-Pop World Homepage

Tomihira Interview Comments

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

Post your comments about our Tomihira Interview and let us know what you thought of him.

“I wasn’t born with the name Tomihira, it was my mother’s maiden name. I changed it in my early twenties to honor my grandfather and as something for my mother.” – Dean Tomihira

Two generations ago a Japanese musician named Tomihira left his hometown to fight and die for his country on the battlefields of World War Two. Thirty years later his grandson Dean would be born, not in Japan, but in the country Tomihira had gone to war against. While young Dean’s upbringing was a world away from his grandfather’s, he has been gifted with the same love of music as the man whose name he now proudly calls his own.

Now joined by his band members Markkus Rovito on drums and Susie S Kim on bass, Dean is working on a follow up album to his 2006 debut, “Play Dead.” With a voice that has been described as exuding “an amorous warmth” and a musical style inspired by the likes of The Cure and New Order, one can only wonder what his grandfather might have thought of his progeny across the sea.

On October 12, 2009 the members of Tomihira were kind enough to give an interview to J-Pop World. Tomihira Interview.

New Captain Funk (Tatsuya Oe) Album: “Sunshine”

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009


Sunshine

The master of the remix Captain Funk aka Tatsuya Oe is back with a new album entitled “Sunshine.” The album includes vocals by the Macedonian singer AdNaN Kurtov.

Sunshine (8-19-2009)

Where to buy
Order from tatsuyaoe.com
Order from Club Model Electronic
Order from CD Japan
Order from YesAsia

Be sure to checkout the interview Tatsuya Oe gave J-Pop World in 2008: Captain Funk Interview.

Links:
Captain Funk official
MySpace official

J-Pop World News and Comments Homepage
J-Pop World Homepage