Quruli
Quruli | |
---|---|
Quruli performing at the World Happiness Festival in 2014 | |
Background information | |
Origin | Kyoto, Japan |
Genres | Electronic rock, alternative rock, synthpop |
Years active | 1996–present |
Labels |
Speedstar Records Bad News Records |
Website | http://www.quruli.net |
Members |
Shigeru Kishida Masashi Satō Fanfan |
Past members |
Nobuyuki Mori Christopher McGuire Tasshin Ōmura Yūji Tanaka Shonen Yoshida |
Quruli (くるり Kururi) is a Japanese music group formed in 1996. As of March 2007, the lineup consists of Masashi Sato and Shigeru Kishida. Their music is produced and distributed by Victor Entertainment.
Career
After meeting at "Rock Commune," Ritsumeikan University's music club, Shigeru Kishida, Masashi Satō, and Nobuyuki Mori formed the original three-piece band. The name "Quruli," an onomatopoeic word expressing rotation, was taken from a sign in the Kyoto Municipal Subway. In October 1998, Quruli released the single "Tokyo" on Victor Entertainment. They released their first major label album, Sayonara Stranger in 1999.[1][2]
Quruli released the albums Zukan in 2000 and Team Rock in 2001, both produced by Jim O'Rourke. During the production of 2001 film The World is Mine, Quruli added guitarist Tasshin Ōmura to its lineup. In 2002, Mori left the band.[1][2]
In 2003, after a trip to England, Quruli returned with a single, How to Go, and created the soundtrack for Josee, the Tiger, and the Fish. After working with a number of session drummers, Quruli officially added drummer Christopher McGuire to their lineup in November 2003. In 2003, HMV Records Japan rated Quruli No. 74 in their "Top 100 Japanese pops Artists".
In 2004 Quruli released the album Antenna. After the tour for the album was completed, Christopher McGuire left the group. 2005 saw the release of several Quruli singles along with a new album, Nikki, released in December of that year. In 2007 Quruli released a new album, Tanz Walzer, recorded in Vienna with the Ambassade Orchester Wien. They joined forces again in 2008 to put out the live album Philharmonic or die.[1][2]
Quruli first appeared on television performing Aoi Sora on NHK. On September 9, 2005, Quruli appeared on the popular "Music Station" program and performed their song, Akai Densha. The song was also featured as the theme song to a Keikyu commercial.[1]
On May 26, 2010, Quruli released the B-side compilation Boku no Sundeita Machi, which also included their new song "Tokyo Rerere no Re". The album reached No. 1 on the Oricon weekly album charts, becoming their first No. 1 album on the charts.[3]
On September 8, 2010, Quruli released their album Kotoba Naranai Egao o Misete Kure yo, including the singles "Shatsu o Araeba" (with Matsutoya Yumi) and "Maho no Jutan". Their songs continue to be used in Tiovita drink commercials, starting with Jubilee, followed by Taiyo no blues, Shatsu o Araeba, Maho no Jutan, and a new song yet to be released.
Members
Current members
- Shigeru Kishida (岸田繁 Kishida Shigeru) (born April 27, 1976, vocals, electric guitar), was born in Kyoto, and is Quruli's primary songwriter and leader of the band.[2]
- Masashi Satō (佐藤征史 Satō Masashi) (born February 1, 1977, bass guitar, was born in Kameoka, Kyoto. Besides his musical duties, he also serves as the president of Quruli's label, Noise McCartney Records. For most of his career, Satō used a Fender Jazz Bass, but during the recording of Quruli's Antenna album, switched to a Fender Precision Bass.[2]
Former members
- Nobuyuki Mori (森 信行 Mori Nobuyuki) (born June 20, 1975-, drums) 1996–2002[2]
- Christopher McGuire (born November 28, 1975, drums) 2003–2004[2]
- Tasshin Ohmura (大村 達身 Ōmura Tasshin) (born December 17, 1975), electric guitar), is from Hyōgo Prefecture. He uses a Flying-V guitar. It was announced on February 26, 2007 that Ohmura had quit the band.[2]
Supporting musicians
- Takefumi Tsujimura (guitar)
- Ahito Inazawa (drum set)
- Taro Dai (drum set, percussion)
- Hirohisa Horie (keyboards, guitar)
- Cliff Almond (drum set)
- Takashi Numazawa (drum set)
- Yuya Kikuchi (drum set)
- Soichiro Yamauchi (guitar)
- Satoshi Mishiba (piano)
- Yuko Araki (drum set)
- Carwyn Ellis (keyboards, guitar, banjo, bouzouki, piano)
- Ren Takada (guitar) (special guest during their Fuji Rock 2011 performance)
Discography
Album
- Moshimoshi (もしもし) (indies; November 21, 1997)
- Fandelier (ファンデリア Fanderia) (indies; May 15, 1998)
- Sayonara Stranger (さよならストレンジャー Sayonara Sutorenjā, "Goodbye Stranger") (April 21, 1999)
- Zukan (図鑑, "Picture Book") (January 21, 2000)
- Team Rock (February 21, 2001)
- The World Is Mine (March 20, 2002)
- Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (ジョゼと虎と魚たち Joze to tora to sakana tachi) (soundtrack; November 5, 2003)
- Antenna (アンテナ Antena) (March 10, 2004)
- Nikki (November 23, 2005)
- Best Of Quruli - Tower Of Music Lover (best album; July 26, 2006)
- Dancing the Waltz (ワルツを踊れ Warutsu o Odore) (June 27, 2007)
- Philharmonic or Die (live album; February 20, 2008)
- Tamashii no Yukue (魂のゆくえ, "Fate of the Spirit") (June 6, 2009)
- Boku no Sundeita Machi (僕の住んでいた街) (May 26, 2010) Coupling Best
- Kotoba ni Naranai, Egao o Misete Kure yo (言葉にならない、笑顔を見せてくれよ) (September 8, 2010)
Singles
- "Tokyo" (東京 Tōkyō) (1998)
- "Niji" (虹, "Rainbow") (1999)
- "Aoi Sora" (青い空, "Blue Sky") (1999)
- "Machi" (街, "City") (1999)
- "Harukaze" (春風, "Spring Wind") (2000)
- "Wandervogel" (ワンダーフォーゲル Wandāfōgeru) (2000)
- "Bara no Hana" (ばらの花, "Rose's Flower") (2001)
- "River" (リバー Ribā) (2001)
- "World's End Supernova" (ワールズエンド・スーパーノヴァ Wāruzuendo Sūpānova) (2002)
- "Otokonoko to Onnanoko" (男の子と女の子, "Boy and Girl") (2002)
- "How To Go" (2003)
- "Highway" (ハイウェイ Haiwei) (2003)
- "Rock & Roll" (ロックンロール Rokkunrōru) (2004)
- "Birthday" (2005)
- "Superstar" (2005)
- "Akai Densha" (赤い電車, "Red Train") (2005)
- "Baby I Love You" (2005)
- "Juice" (feat. Rip Slyme; 2006)
- "Jubilee" (2007)
- "Kotoba wa Sankaku Kokoro wa Shikaku" (言葉はさんかく こころは四角, "Words are Triangles, Hearts are Squares") (2007)
- "Sayonara Regret" (さよならリグレット Sayonara Riguretto) (2008)
- "Mikazuki" (三日月, "Crescent Moon") (2009)
- "Yukaina Peanuts" (愉快なピーナッツ Yukaina Pīnattsu, "Happy Peanuts") (2009)
- "Shatsu o Araeba" (シャツを洗えば) (2009) duet with Matsutoya Yumi
- "Maho no Jutan (魔法のじゅうたん) (2010)
- "Remember Me" (2013)
- "Last Merry Christmas" (2013)
- "There is always light/Liberty & Gravity" (2014)
- "Futatsu no Sekai" (2015)
References
External links
- Official website
- Quruli official MySpace page
- HMV Japan "Top 100 Japanese pops Artists" (in Japanese)
- Ambassade Orchester official website