The Watanabes
| The Watanabes | |
|---|---|
|
The Watanabes performing live in Tokyo, 2011. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Japan |
| Genres | Indie pop |
| Years active | 2005 - present |
| Labels | Babyboom Records Japan |
| Associated acts | Kate Sikora |
| Website | thewatanabes.com |
| Members |
Duncan Walsh Selwyn Walsh Ayumi Sato Yoko Osawa Matt Hogan |
| Past members |
Flavio Jerome Ashley Davies Stefan Samuelsson Tadashi Yoshikawa |
The Watanabes are a Tokyo based indie pop rock band with members from the UK and Japan.[1]
Musical style
Their jangly alt pop sound[2] has drawn comparisons to melody driven indie acts such as Belle and Sebastian,[3] Teenage Fan Club,[3] Crowded House[4] and 1980's Liverpool band The Pale Fountains,[5] while their lyrics often touch upon their experiences in Japan.[1] Time Out have described them as "Tokyo's answer to The Smiths"[6] although their soft acoustic melodies make an easier comparison to other British bands such as The Beatles or The Kooks.[7]
Members
The band are fronted by British brothers Duncan and Selwyn Walsh on vocals and guitar.[8] New Zealander Ashley Davies and Belgian Flavio Jerome were also founding members and co-songwriters but have since left the band.[9]
History
The band have featured in several of Japan's English speaking publications including The Japan Times,[10] Metropolis,[11] Japanzine[12] and Time Out. In November 2009 they began working with Glaswegian music producer David Naughton[1] and released their second album, You're Dancing I'm Absorbed, in February 2011. It includes guest appearances from American singer songwriter Kate Sikora and British multi-instrumentalist Nick Duffy of The Lilac Time. In December 2011 two tracks from the album, True Romantics and Concerned With You, were used in a TV advertising campaign for Triumph Motorcycles.[13]
The Watanabes have featured on the BBC Introducing Series,[14] and in September 2010, their acoustic green lullaby “Whales Can Sing” was championed by Ric O'Barry,[15] star of the Academy Award winning documentary The Cove, as well as race car driver and environmental activist Leilani Munter.[16] On August 29, 2013, The Watanabes performed live in Tokyo with former Guns N' Roses drummer Matt Sorum at an event organized by Ric O'Barry's Dolphin Project.[17]
The band have received praise for their fundraising efforts, particularly in aid of Tohoku following the Tohoku earthquake.[18] In 2014 they released a collaborative music video with NPO Playground of Hope.[19]
In the autumn of 2014 they released a 5 track EP entitled Draw What You Like.[20] Three tracks from the record were adopted by CNN International for a documentary on food in Japan.[21]
Formation
The band formed in the rural prefecture of Ehime in Japan, during the summer of 2005.[22] Watanabe is a common surname in this region of Japan,[23] and the group used the name in order to ingratiate themselves with the locals, whilst also alluding to British band The Smiths.[24] It was initially inspired however by Toru Watanabe, the slightly troubled and over nostalgic protagonist in Haruki Murakami's novel, Norwegian Wood.[25]
In April 2007 they sent off their first demo to the Fuji Rock Fesitival, and were selected alongside bands such as The Bawdies and Avengers in Sci-Fi in the top 50 nominees for the Rookie a go stage.[26] In August of the same year they moved to Tokyo where they began work on their debut album, Independent Social Power.[27] Recorded at KRH Studios[28] in Harajuku, the album was independently released in association with Manchester based record label BabyBoom Records.[29]
Releases
Independent Social Power (2009)
There Are Ghosts Around Here EP (2009)
You're Dancing I'm Absorbed (2011)
Draw What You Like (2014)
References
- 1 2 3 Ryall, Julian (March 2013), "Living the Dream", BCCJ Acumen
- ↑ "New Music Critiques: The Watanabes". Music Connection: 53. January 2015.
- 1 2 Morel, R (7 March 2011), "CD Reviews: The Watanabes: You're dancing I'm absorbed", Metropolis Magazine
- ↑ Tiernan, L (February 2012), Live Reviews: The Watanabes (PDF), Music Connection Magazine, p. 53, ISSN 1091-9791
- ↑ "Reviews and News". Sound & Recording Magazine: 199. March 2011.
- ↑ Wilks, Jon (2 February 2011), "On the Up: The Watanabes", Time Out
- ↑ Terrestrial, Esther (29 October 2014), "Review: Draw What You Like, The Watanabes", Toxic Online
- ↑ Tiernan, Laurier (December 2014), "Music: The Watanabes: Indie Alt Rockers Release New EP", Metropolis Magazine
- ↑ "Lomo Amigos: The Watanabes", Lomography Japan Magazine, 5 February 2015
- ↑ Tiernan, Laurier (27 May 2014), "Gaijin band scene welcomes music fans of all kinds", The Japan Times
- ↑ Grunebaum, Dan (8 October 2009), "The Watanabes", Metropolis Magazine
- ↑ Davies, Jonti (9 October 2009), "The Watanabes: A Tale of Indie Success in Japan", Japanzine
- ↑ バイク新車カタログ トライアンフ, Triumph Motorcycles, 2011
- ↑ Standley, Gary (12 November 2008), "Big in Japan with The Watanabes", BBC
- ↑ O'Barry, Ric (29 August 2011), "The Road to Taiji: A Night at The Pink Cow for the Dolphins", Earth Island Institute
- ↑ Münter, Leilani (September 2011), ""Whales Can Sing" Taiji, Japan", carbonfreegirl.com
- ↑ Palmer, Mark J. (30 August 2013), "Matt Sorum Rocks Tokyo", Ric O'Barry's Dolphin Project
- ↑ Building Playgrounds and Making Music Videos, Tokyoite: The Time Out Tokyo Blog, 21 May 2014
- ↑ Music Fundraiser for Playground of Hope, Tokyo Weekender, May 2014
- ↑ The Watanabes 'Draw What You Like' album launch, Time Out Tokyo, August 2014
- ↑ CNNGo in Japan: Wagyu, Ramen, Sake, CNN International, October 8, 2014
- ↑ Wilks, Jon (November 2007), "Starving Artist: Duncan Walsh", Japanzine
- ↑ Sakaki, Mariko (23 August 2011), "東日本大震災：復興支援へ演奏会 ＡＬＴらの「ザ・ワタナベズ」", Mainichi Shimbun
- ↑ Ryall, Julian (March 2013), "Expat bands from all over Britain enjoy firm following in Tokyo", Japan Today
- ↑ Ostrander, Daniel (20 June 2012), "Bands Of Japan: The Watanabes", Japanzine
- ↑ Fuji Rock Rookie A Go Go, PIA Corporation, 2007
- ↑ "Independent Social Power". Tower Records.
- ↑ "KRH Studios". KRH Studios.
- ↑ "BabyBoom Records". BabyBoom Records Japan.