Japan's Top R&B - A.I.

I love music. It's simple. Unfortunately, finding new music I like is often impossible. Either it's too "poppy" for me or it lacks a certain element of the underground, which I so desperately crave. In recent years, in terms of the music I've been listening to on a daily basis, most of the music I listen to these days were orchestrated by friends I've made in real life. Today's featured artist is no different, allow me to introduce you to Japan's top R&B singer, the beautiful "A.I.".

Born in Los Angeles, California in 1981, AI would go on to become one of Japan's top R&B artists. In 2000, she signed with Universal (BMG) Japan, and moved to Def Jam Japan in 2002. It wasn't until 2005 when AI found major success with her single, "Story." Since then, AI has gone on to win numerous awards from Billboard Japan, Space Shower and MTV Japan. No matter what AI does, there is just no stopping this sensational singer.

Megadeth - Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!

Megadeth's first album. Definitely my favorite! It keeps to amaze me the fact that their first album is so good, usually first albums are not necessarily bad, but not the best either. It amazes me even more the fact that they managed to record such a great album even after they spent half of their already limited budget in drugs/alcohol, I wonder what it would've been like if they didn't... but I guess we can see some of that on the remastered version, which I recommend over the "original" if you're looking for sound quality. This album enters my top 3 Megadeth albums right next to Countdown To Extinction and Youthanasia

Magenta Beach

Some bands make it, some bands don't. Some bands have great music, and terrible PR. Other bands just don't give a f*** and make music for the love of it. Magenta Beach is one of those bands...

Magenta Beach has 5 members:

Ali (Vo,)

Candy (Bass, Vo.)

Kosuke (Guitar)

Maro (Drums)

Chemizalfa (DJ)

I can't accurately recall the first time I met these guys. I want to believe it was in 2008, at a show at Club Asia in Shibuya. At the time, I had no idea their music would find its way to my iPod, but flash forward to 2012 and I can't help but smile every time I hear one of their songs come up on shuffle.

Hakai Hayabusa ( ハカイハヤブサ )

While waiting in the clubs for the headliners to play, I've often discovered new bands I would have otherwise never known existed.  I've been introduced to some really great bands, and really great people via this method. One such notable group I've met via a random encounter is the band Hakai Hayabusa (ハカイハヤブサ).

Pictured: KZ (Gu./Vo.)

Hakai Hayabusa was formed in 2002 and was originally a three piece band. Hakai Hayabusa currently consists of four members:

KZ (Guitar, Vocals)

Nori (Drums)

Moby (Bass, Chorus)

WACK (Guitar, Chorus)

I've rocked out with Hakai Hayabusa live a few times. I remember first seeing them (meeting them, and partying with them) on August 8, 2008 at a show in Tokyo. I was at the show to support my friends in the band Chokesleeper, but before they were due up to the stage that evening, this super chill, surf-punk band ruled the stage (Hakai Hayabusa).

Song of the Day - Golden Age - Def Tech

And today's song is... Golden Age by Def Tech. I've got a special love for Def Tech - somehow, their music just fills me up with a happy floaty feeling. Which, by the way, is a feeling you don't often encounter if your hobby is writing depressing lyrics about death, destruction and annihilation... oh, right, getting way off topic here. In any case, this is a great song, and somewhat recent at that.

Song of the Day - HellHounds - Dante

What do you know, I'm back folks. Following a flood of biblical proportions in the studio, of course. In any case, I'd like to bring you guys a little something that floated up in my Youtube suggestions today: Hellhounds, by Dante. 

FIREBALL (Japanese Reggae)

The Japanese reggae scene has seen an explosion of talent in recent years. From Ryo the Skywalker to 卍Line, and Def Tech, the Japanese music scene continues to embrace the irie culture. One of my personal favorite Japanese reggae bands is FIREBALL.

FIREBALL consists of four members:

CRISS

TRUTHFUL 

CHOZEN LEE 

JUN4SHOT

If you see FIREBALL perform live, you might be confused to see more than four people on stage performing with  them. Providing FIREBALL's irie sound while touring is their supporting (back up) band, Home Grown. The two bands intermingle frequently, as seen in the Home Grown song "Stay with Me" featuring Criss from FIREBALL.

PaymoneyTomyPain

One of my personal favorite bands from Japan, PaymoneyTomyPain offers up a collection of rhythmic hits, each with their own catchy guitar riffs and punk/rock hooks. Formed in 2005, PTP continues to make waves throughout the Japanese music scene.

The band consists of four main members: 

K - Vocals

Pablo - Guitar

Zax - Drums

Tsuyoshi - Bass

Albums

• Another Day Comes (September 12, 2007)
• After You Wake Up (March 18, 2009)
• Remember the Name (January 26, 2011)

Song of the Day - Carry on Wayward Son - Kansas

I sweaaaaar I was not watching Supernatural today. Or anytime in the past year, actually. It's an awesome show, I'll give it that - however, my interest in classic rock dates waaaay back before Dean Winchester ever drove a Chevy Impala.

Katherine's Big Five

Alright, since we've had RYO and Nex put up their lists of top-five favorite artists, it's about time I got on that also. Now, it was a bit of a difficult time for me to make this list. I like A LOT of different musicians. Often we all like the same things (for example, we all love Rize, even if only Nex listed them). Other times, we are quite different from each other. 

1 Month Anniversary! (Thank you so much!)

Wow, it's been a month already and we've already done so much and there are so many people to thank, from the readers to the people who have allowed me to interview them and of course Katherine and Nex who without, this could not have been possible. It's only been one month, but I am optimistic that we will be able to spread more good music to even more people as we go along. Thank you all so much! To end this I would like to name my top 5 favorite artists/bands of all time, something that we as a whole have been wanting to do for a while, but had yet to find it appropriate. Anyway, thank you again and here goes nothing! Okay, not nothing, this was very hard to sort out the top 5! Not including anything that I've already mentioned on here was tough, but I managed not to.

Song of the Day - Red Rose - When the Sun Goes Down

So, we've recently stumbled upon this awesome band from Israel, and we thought we'd share the goods.

And yes, there was no Song of the Day post yesterday... because I suck. I'm sorry!! It has been a very busy time. Whoever says you can't make a living as a freelance writer is a liar...but, it's a lot of work!

ARTIST PROFILE: Orphaned Land - Metal For A United People

Orphaned Land are a band that defies the normal standard of what a metal band should be. Hailing originally from Israel, their music is a call for peace between the different warring states, religions, and ethnicities. The premise is that through music, all people of the world can be united. It is with this in mind that Orphaned Land create their music.

Interview - SUAKA - Metal Band From NYC with Indonesian Roots

 

Today, we are catching up with the mega-epic band Suaka from NYC! They blend Indonesian influences with hard, heavy METAL. They sat down to tell us a bit about their experiences and influences throughout their 11 year history.