purple SKY - A Japanese Music Collaboraitve

[press release] Tainted Reality Presents THE SOUND BEE HD’s US Debut at Nekocon 2010

July 29th, 2010 by Kathy Chee

July 27, 2010 – Visual kei industrial rockers THE SOUND BEE HD are set to make their American debut at Nekocon 2010. The band will be appearing to support their new album, Hachi, released through Starwave Records. Their appearance will include two full concerts, merchandise sales, autograph sessions, a Fan Q&A panel, and other surprises! Nekocon 2010 will take place on November 5th-7th at the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton, Virginia.

THE SOUND BEE HD Links:

http://thesoundbeehd.zombie.jp/

http://www.myspace.com/thesoundbeehd

Nekocon Links:

http://www.nekocon.com

http://www.myspace.com/nekocon

[press release] Tainted Reality presents DJ Takuya Angel At AnimeUSA 2010

July 29th, 2010 by Kathy Chee

July 27, 2010 – Tainted Reality is proud to announce that DJ Takuya Angel will be returning to America in November for AnimeUSA Nov. 12-14th 2010 in Arlington, Virginia, right outside of Washington D.C. Takuya Angel will be signing autographs, participating in Q&A sessions with fans, and performing full DJ sets. All fans must register for AnimeUSA 2010 in order to attend his activities. Fans can register for the convention at http://www.animeusa.org.

Takuya Angel Links:

http://web.mac.com/takuya_angel/Site/Welcome.html

http://www.myspace.com/takuyaangel

AnimeUSA Links:

http://www.animeusa.org/

http://www.myspace.com/animeusa1

[interview] D’espairsRay – Some Kind of Human-Clad Monster

July 20th, 2010 by Sarah

It’s been two years since D’espairsRay’s last appearance in North America, and they’re back with a fresh outlook and a sound that leans more towards the dance-beat side of music. But don’t worry; they’re still the dark visual kei band overseas fans have grown to love. Just before the release of their new album, MONSTERS, on July 28 and the start of their North American tour in August, the band gave purple SKY the lo-down on what it means to be the monster that is D’espairsRay.

pSKY: You’ve been together as a band for over ten years now. What do you attribute that longevity to?

HIZUMI: Is it usual to have member changes in the US? Japanese bands don’t really seem to change as much. I don’t think Japanese bands change it up that much anyway.

pSKY: You’re about to embark on your next US tour. Your first experience overseas was kind of unusual for Japanese bands, especially visual bands. Instead of playing anime conventions, you played at small live houses. Why did you decide to do smaller venues instead of a big convention that might attract many people?

Karyu: A convention has a lot of people for sure, but it’s mostly for people who just like Japanese culture. It doesn’t feel like rock music. We figured if we played with other rock bands, we’d attract a rock audience instead, and maybe get some new fans that wouldn’t have found us otherwise.

pSKY: Actually, it seems like the fans have a lot of respect for you guys for playing at sort of “real” rock venues.

All: Thanks!

Read the rest of this entry »

[press release] musicJAPANplus Presents SuG TV on USTREAM

July 19th, 2010 by Kathy Chee

Program Name:SuG TV
Airing Time:July 23rd at 10:00pm (Japanese Standard Time), 9am EST
Airing Place:MJP top page (http://www.musicjapanplus.jp/)

During SuG TV, the band members will discuss their current work in music and fashion, participate in a real-time Q&A with fans from all over the world and participate in a true or false quiz session.

MJP is currently looking for Questions towards the band members concerning the Q&A section as well as for the Quiz corner! Find more information here: http://www.musicjapanplus.jp/forums/topic.asp?topic_id=52

[press release] PUFFY AMIYUMI TO PERFORM AT FAR EAST TO EAST SHOWCASE AT NYAF

July 8th, 2010 by Kathy Chee

Duo To Headline Concert At NYC’s Irving Plaza

The New York Anime Festival (NYAF) and Superglorious today announced Puffy AmiYumi, an iconic Japanese girl rock band, will perform at the Far East To East Showcase (FETES) on Sunday, October 10, 2010. FETES is produced by Superglorious, a live event production firm responsible for orchestrating events with a very eclectic and exciting mix of artists. The New York Anime Festival, an anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture convention, will take place October 8-10, 2010 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in Manhattan. It is created by and co-located with the New York Comic Con. Puffy AmiYumi will be appearing at NYAF prior to their FETES performance. NYAF has already announced Japanese rock band VAMPS will appear as guests, and comics legends Stan Lee, John Romita, Sr., and John Romita, Jr. will headline the New York Comic Con.

FETES — going into its third year — is a night of music that brings together musical artists from both America and Japan, focusing on the borderlessness of song, and creating an evening appealing to anime fans, audiophiles, and casual New Yorkers interested in something new. Presented in Irving Plaza (East 15th Street, New York, NY) for the first time, FETES is proud to take place in this historic venue, and will be presenting a roster of performers fully befitting the concert hall.

“FETES has been a unique attraction at the New York Anime Festival since 2008,” NYAF and NYCC Show Manager Lance Fensterman said. “And, in 2010, we’re excited to welcome in a new year of FETES — with our biggest group of artists from both the US and Japan that we’ve seen yet.”

“I’m very happy to work with the renowned Puffy AmiYumi,” FETES Director Hayden Brereton said. “Their exceptional body of work and global appeal will promise a very exciting show for our audience.”

Puffy AmiYumi will be appearing at the New York Anime Festival and New York Comic Con throughout the weekend for panel discussions and autograph signings before taking the stage on Sunday night at Irving Plaza. Tickets are $22 in advance and $25 at the doors. Tickets can be ordered at Irving Plaza’s Box Office or via Ticketmaster from July 9th. FETES will be announcing further details and additional acts throughout the summer.

Tickets for NYAF or NYCC may be purchased at www.nyanimefestival.com or www.nycomiccon.com. Other information about the shows, as well as news about the Reed Pop Culture Group, which also organizes Star Wars Celebration, is available at Lance Fensterman’s blog, www.mediumatlarge.net.

[photo] Miyavi @ Irving Plaza NYC

July 2nd, 2010 by Kathy Chee

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[photo] Deatharmonic I @ Crash Mansion NYC

July 2nd, 2010 by Kathy Chee

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[press release] An Café Bassist and Video Game Producer kanon to Appear at Otakon 2010

June 29th, 2010 by Kathy Chee

Bassist kanon, one of the founders of the visual kei band An Cafe and currently a video game producer, will appear at Otakon. With a signature flamboyant style and Fender Jazz bass, kanon attracted a sizable fan base around the world as part of An Cafe. After a successful world tour and a big final show at Nippon Budokan in January, An Cafe went on hiatus.

Currently, kanon is producer for the recently released mobile phone game Pinky Distortion. Pinky Distortion features DIS;CODE, a visual kei band in search of a vocalist. The player takes the role of a young singer recruited as the band’s manager, who must find a way to keep the band together and lead them to their first successful live concert. The game emphasizes kanon’s belief that a group of passionate people can create something more amazing than any individual.

Kanon will participate in panels and autograph sessions during the weekend, and will be a guest DJ during the Otakurave, Otakon’s nightly dance party.

Otakon 2010 will be held July 30 – August 1 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland.

[interview] ZAMZA

June 28th, 2010 by Sarah

ZAMZA may take its name from the existentialist novella Metamorphosis, but don’t let that lull you into thinking this band has any similarities to your stuffy modern lit teacher. Taking members from the legendary pop-rock band JUDY AND MARY and the equally influential ECHOES, ZAMZA has played their distinctly high-octane shows across Europe and North America.

On the verge of the release of their latest album, Tsukizoku (Tribe of the Moon), guitarist Hiroki, drummer KOHTA, and keyboardist Toshimichi Isoe found some time to sit down with purple SKY.

pSKY: First, I’m not quite sure about your name. I’ve seen it written ZAMZA and ZAMZA N’ BANSHEE, so what is the difference between the two?

Hiroki: When we perform overseas, if we use the posthumous name ZAMZA N’ BANSHEE, no one will recognize it by just looking at it. It was too long for when we went overseas. That’s why we write it as ZAMZA. Read the rest of this entry »

[press release] Japan’s FAKE? is ‘Switching On’ International

June 28th, 2010 by Kathy Chee

Japanese rock band, FAKE?, releases Switching On X, the first international debut in their eight album history

The release of FAKE?’s Switching on X marks the first time the genre-defying band’s music is available anywhere outside of Japan.  With an eight year track record of success within their homeland, and a ravenous network of fans located all over the globe, FAKE? now partners with LA’s MusicTaste label to deliver the heavily anticipated Switching on X to its global audience.

Recorded in London, England, by acclaimed producer Martin Glover (Paul McCartney, The Verve, Dido) the album was birthed with an international identity.  Based in a foundation of rock, the album breathes overtones of electro meets alternative-industrial.  English lyrics and big, accessible, choruses – elements consistent with all of FAKE?’s music – are as present as ever in Switching on X.  Ranging from aggressive to beautiful, the avant-garde studio album can easily be recognized as the band’s most innovative, yet focused release to date.

With plans to invade the United States in late 2010 with a string of live performances in and around the anime community, FAKE? looks to expose their energetic live shows to a brand new American audience.  For many, FAKE?’s departure from Japan has been a long-time coming in regards to their musical and lyrical approach, having always been perceived as stylistically closer to acts from the US and the UK in comparison to their Japanese rock contemporaries.

When recently asked about a direction for the band, Lloyd stated, “We have the freedom to do whatever we want…’no direction’ is our direction.”  But make no mistake about it – Lloyd’s “no direction” plan is neither passive nor apathetic, but rather a calculated method to hold fast to the creative freedom that so many bands lose sight of when labeled with a concrete definition.

FAKE? (www.hedfuc.com)
Formed by Ken Lloyd of the already popular Oblivion Dust, and INORAN, guitarist of rock sensation Luna Sea, FAKE? was founded on the concept of having no boundaries.  Eight years later, FAKE? maintains success by staying true to that promise – offering engaging live performances, incorporating experimental musical elements, and singing lyrics in both English and Japanese.

MusicTaste (www.musictaste.com)
MusicTaste is an LA-based boutique record label housed within the Horipro Entertainment Group focused developing songwriters as artists, as well as exposing listeners to a wide variety of music from its global network of music publishers and record labels.

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