a conversation with chatmonchy - nt2099 · 2010-04-09 · j!-ent interviews chatmonchy april 2010 |...

B Y D E N N I S A . A M I T HPHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF KI/OON RECORDS & MAYUMI NASHIDA

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ChatmonchyA conversation with

チャットモンチー

J!-ENT interviews CHATMONCHY

2 J!-ENT | APRIL 2010

hatmonchy, the three-member all female rock band which consists of lead vocalist/guitarist Eriko Hashimoto, Akiko Fukuoka (Bass and back-up vocals) and Kumiko

Takahashi (drums and backup vo-cals) who hail from Shikoku, Japan. The three have been rocking Japan since 2000 and have gener-ated a worldwide following and what best to celebrate their music to their international fans in the U.S. by per-forming at the popular music festival SXSW in Austin, Texas and also a performance at the Bowery Ballroom in New York, The Independent in San Francisco and the Viper Room in Los Angeles. Also, their music has been re-leased digitally online courtesy of SIN (Sony Music Independent Network) in which fans can enjoy their full-length album “Kokuhaku” (Confession), “Miminari” (Ear Ring-ing) and “Seimeiryoku” (Life Force). The group which started back as early as 2000, received their big

CChatmonchy (photo L-R): Kumiko Takahashi (drums and backup vocals), lead vocalist/guitarist Eriko Hashimoto and Akiko Fukuoka (Bass and backup vocals). Image courtesy of Ki/oon Records.

break when Supercar producer Junji Ishiwatari produced their first mini-album “chatmonchy has come”. But it wasn’t until 2007, when the band had their first anime-related tie-in with the anime series “BLEACH” and their song “Daidai (Orange)” was used for the ending theme. Although previous singles have charted on the Oricon charts, the band would receive worldwide rec-ognition for that single and not long after, their major label album “Seimeiryoku” debuted at #2 on the Oricon Album Charts. Fans around the world have been following the band by purchasing the group’s CD’s, Blu-ray and DVD’s and also their photobook. Also, by visiting the group’s Facebook and MySpace website. With three successful and highly attended performances in the U.S. now under their belt, J!-ENT’s Den-nis A. Amith interviewed Chatmon-chy after their performance in Texas, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

J!-ENT: Before we get into questions about your music, let’s first learn about the group. How did the three of you come up with the name Chat-monchy?ERIKO: Actually there isn’t any meaning. We just chose the name from the way it looks on Katakana and also the sound of it.

J!-ENT: How did the three of you come together and create the band?CHATMONCHY: Eriko originally formed the band in high school and then Akiko joined the band who was in the same grade in school. Then Kumiko joined, who was in the same music club in col-lege.

J!-ENT: When you were younger and still in school, what career did you imagine yourself working in? AKIKO: Illustrator.ERIKO: Elementary school teacher.KUMIKO: Elementary school teacher.

J!-ENT: What was the moment in your life where you decided and you knew you would be pursuing music as a career?AKIKO: A year after I’ve joined Chat-monchy, when I was 19. ERIKO: Senior year in high school. KUMIKO: I was in college of education to become a teacher up until my final


APRIL 2010 | J!-ENT 3

Chatmonchy performing at the SXSW in Austin, Texas. Photo by Mayumi Nashida.

year, but then I’ve decided once I’ve officially joined Chatmonchy.

J!-ENT: What kind of students were you three in high school?AKIKO: I was always busy with my part-time job.ERIKO: I was always busy with my band. KUMIKO: I was always busy playing percussion in a brass band .

J!-ENT: Which artists or bands did you listen to a lot while growing up? And was there any artist that inspired you?AKIKO: I was listening to Supercar in middle school, and the first live show I saw was the Thee Michelle Gun El-ephant. ERIKO: I heard BONNIE PINK when I was in 9th grade, and that’s when I thought that I wanted to write my own music too. KUMIKO: I grew up listening to The Beatles from my mother’s influence.

J!-ENT: If I was to look into your MP3/CD player right now, which art-ists or song would you be listening to

at this time?AKIKO: Passion Pit, CSS and Phoenix. ERIKO: John Mayer.KUMIKO: Muse, Travis and Klaxons.

J!-ENT: Upon coming to America, was there a certain type of food that you wanted to eat or something you want-ed to experience for the first time?AKIKO: I wanted to see a film “The Runaways”.ERIKO: I wanted to eat the bread in America. The bagels in New York were especially very tasty. KUMIKO: I wanted to go to the local live venues and we were able to do that in San Francisco. It was interesting and fun to see a different type of venue and crowd which we don’t have in Japan.

J!-ENT: Were any of you aware that you had a strong following outside of Japan and you have many fans in the US and in Europe?CHATMONCHY: We weren’t aware of that at all, so it was unbelievable! Excel-lent!

J!-ENT: Let’s talk about your music. In 2006, you released your first single “Koi no Kemuri”. If there was a major difference between your music then and your music now, what difference would that be?CHATMONCHY: Basically I don’t think there is a major difference, but since our lyrics are very important for us, perhaps they’ve been influenced after we moved to Tokyo and in general from our experi-ence in life.

J!-ENT: For many Americans, their first introduction to Chatmonchy was from the CD single “Daidai” which was used for the ending theme of the anime “Bleach”. What was it like to have a song associated with a popular anime series?CHATMONCHY: After we came to America, we realized that it’s a great way for the American audience to get to know our music.

J!-ENT: On March 24th, your B-side collection album “Expression” will be released. What can your fans expect from this new release?



TOP PHOTO: Chatmonchy performing at the Cakeshop in New York. Photo by Mayumi Nashida. BOTTOM PHOTO: Chatmonchy striking a pose in Chinatown. Photo courtesy of Ki/oon Records Inc.



Chatmonchy performing at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC. Photo by Mayumi Nashida.

CHATMONCHY: The B-side songs didn’t get as much exposure as the A-sides, so we decided to create an album hoping that people could listen to them once more. We think that it’s a fun album for people who already know the songs, as well as for people who don’t.

J!-ENT: With five albums (a sixth coming out soon) and ten CD singles released thus far, if there was one song that was very close to your heart for each of you, what song would that be and why?AKIKO: It changes depending on my mood, but right now it’s “Renai Spirits”. Before coming to America, I thought that the lyrics were the key to this song, but it made me realize that music is a universal language after seeing a very positive reaction from the American audience. ERIKO: Shangri La KUMIKO: It changes depending on my mood, but “Hana no Yume” is special, because it’s our debut song which we wrote in our hometown in Tokushima, and we played it at the Budokan and we

were able to play it here in America too.

J!-ENT: What I enjoy about Chatmon-chy album releases are the covers. Most are very artistic and cool. Do you have input on the design of your covers or is that pretty much the label’s decision?CHATMONCHY: Yes, we always share ideas with the label and decide on the design.

J!-ENT: You performed in Austin, NY and LA. How was the experience of performing in front of an American audience and was it a big difference from performing in front of a Japanese audience?AKIKO: The American audience is more direct with their reaction, and they are also very friendly so it was very fun and interesting.

J!-ENT: Let’s talk about your live per-formances. On the “Chatmonchy Res-taurant Main Dish” DVD, it featured your performance at Nippon Budokan. Budokan is such an amazing place to

perform and very few get to perform there. What was it like to perform at Budokan? AKIKO: Many legendary artists includ-ing The Beatles have played their, and obviously Budokan is such a big and his-torical place, but we didn’t actually quite get why that was until we played their. We now understand that it’s a power spot for rock music.

J!-ENT: Before a performance, do any of you have a special routine or some-thing that you like to do hours before you hit the stage?ERIKO: Vocal exercise.

J!-ENT: Now having performed in America, what other countries would you love to perform at?KUMIKO: Europe, as I think people’s reaction would be different.

J!-ENT: Late last year, your book “Sannin no Idokoro Chatmonchy” was released. For fans who discover your music recently and now want to pur-chase this book, can you please tell us



PHOTO (Clockwise from Top Left): Kumiko Takahashi (drums and backup vocals), lead vocalist/guitarist Eriko Hashimoto and Akiko Fukuoka (Bass and backup vocals). Photos courtesy of Ki/oon Records Inc.



more about it?CHATMONCHY: It’s our first tour book. After the “Kokuhaku” album release, we went on a tour, and we documented and released it as a tour photo book. I think we were able to show our other side that our fans haven’t seen before.

J!-ENT: Outside of music, what other hobbies do you enjoy doing?KUMIKO: Studying the history of the end of Edo period. ERIKO: Eating great food AKIKO: Games, wrestling, and drinking

J!-ENT: If we had the chance to hang out with CHATMONCHY in Tokushima, what restaurant, store or area would you recommend in to visit?CHATMONCHY: We would definitely like you to see the Awa Odori (Awa Dance Festival). It’s really like a rave party, so I think anybody from any coun-try could enjoy. Although there are no drugs involved… (laughs)

J!-ENT: Have you ever sung your songs at karaoke bar and received a

perfect score?CHATMONCHY: We are always forced to sing our songs, but never received a perfect score.

J!-ENT: For every interview, we have a section called word play which I give you five words and you give me your definition for those words:

A. LOVEAKIKO: To forgive and to accept ERIKO: Life KUMIKO: World without war

B. SUCCESSAKIKO: Goal to live ERIKO: Smile KUMIKO: My mathematic exercise book from high school (laughs) It was really hard!

C. PAINAKIKO: Harsh ERIKO: BattleKUMIKO: Wisdom teeth. I’ve suffered a lot since coming to America.

D. FAMILYAKIKO: LoveERIKO: People that I’m always thinking about KUMIKO: One and only love

E. ROCK N’ ROLLAKIKO: Something that I yearn, but it can’t be imitated.ERIKO: Instrument KUMIKO: Something that my heart creates.

J!-ENT: What final words do you have for your fans worldwide?CHATMONCHY: Please enjoy our music. We think that music is a global language, so we are confident that you could enjoy it!

Chatmonchy performing live in concert in Japan. Photo courtesy of Ki/oon Records Inc.

For more information on CHATMONCHY, please visit their websites at:

http://www.chatmonchy.com/

http://www.myspace.com/chatmonchy

http://www.facebook.com/chatmonchy



TOP PHOTO: Chatmonchy performing at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC. Photo by Mayumi Nashida.BOTTOM PHOTO: Kumiko Takahashi (drums and backup vocals), lead vocalist/guitarist Eriko Hashimoto and Akiko Fukuoka (Bass and backup vocals).

Photos courtesy of Ki/oon Records Inc.

J!-ENT CHATMONCHY BIO.


laying raw, energy-infused melodic rock music, Eriko (guitar and vocals), Akiko (bass), and Kumiko (drums) have been making a buzz all across Japan since their 2005 major label debut. Now, with their latest Oricon chart-topping album “Kokuhaku” (Confession), they’re ready to infect North American fans with their catchy take on girl-rock power. SIN/

Sony Music Independent Network has released three of the band’s full-lengths, including 2009’s “Kokuhaku” (Confession), “Miminari” (Ear Ringing), and “Seimeiryoku” (Life Force). The albums are avail-able in a digital only format. Chatmonchy—whose name means absolutely nothing!—burst onto the scene without any label backing in 2004, quickly catching the ear of Sony Music Japan. The next year, Sony’s Ki/oon Records released their debut EP, “chatmonchy has come,” and the band set off on their first nation-wide tour of Japan in 2006. Inspiring fans with their feistiness and fire, Chatmonchy released their first full-length album, “Miminari” (Ear Ringing), in July of the same year. The album garnered a Top 10 spot on the national Oricon chart, and the girls were invited to perform at Japan’s most important summer festivals, including Summer Sonic, Rock In Japan Festival and the Nano-Mugen Festival. After the success of their summer festival dates, Eriko, Akiko, and Kumiko did a national tour in the Fall of 2006, then headed back to the studio to finish “Seimeiryoku” (Life Force), the album they had started writing the year before. The album, released in late 2007, hit #2 on the Oricon charts, and Chatmonchy played sold-out shows all around Japan —including a two-night solo concert at the Budokan in the Spring of 2008 in front of more than 16,000 fans. Following the first album, the rock-power girl trio released 4 singles that reached the Oricon Top 10, three that hit the Top 20, and 4 DVDs including music videos and passionate live performance foot-age. In addition, the single, “Dai Dai,” was featured as the theme song on the anime series, “Bleach”—their first step toward connecting to a worldwide audience. In 2010, the trio released their album “Expression” (only in Ja-pan) featuring the group’s B-tracks (coupling tracks) and also includes six remixed tracks and a second-disc featuring acoustic versions of self-cover tracks. For those in the U.S., the trio’s first three albums are now avail-able on iTunes and all digital retail outlets.

P Miminari

Seimeiryoku

Kokuhaku

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grooveworldJ!-ENT A J!-ENT MUSIC REVIEW

Chatmonchy returns with their second album “Seimeiryoku” featuring hit songs such as their third single “Shangri La”, their fourth single “Joshi tachi ni Asu wa Nai”, their fifth double A-sided single, “Tobiuo no Butterfly/Sekai ga Owaru Yoru ni” and the group’s sixth single “Daidai” (used as an ending theme for the anime series “Bleach”). “Seimeiryoku” benefits from better production and also, the trio experiment with a variety of musical styles such as the beach/surf style track “Tobiuo no Butterfly”, the upbeat spring-themed “Joshi tachi ni Asu wa Nai”, while Shangri La” and “Make Up! Make Up!” showcases an addictive bass line and overall catchy tune. For those who loved their music from “Miminari” will definitely enjoy tracks such as “Daidai” and for those who want something new will dig the vocal experimentation with songs such as “Mobile World” and the ballad “Sunao”. But there are also a couple of awesome non-single tracks that are really well-done such as the rock-driven “Mayonaka YuuenChi” and also upbeat, happy ballad “Bus Romance”. Overall, “Seimeiryoku” is a much different album than “Miminari” but the fact that the songs are more diverse and different makes “Seimeiryoku” an enjoyable, and much more improved second album. Definitely recommended!

— DENNIS A. AMITH

< CATCHY, FUN AND OVERALL, A WONDERFUL SECOND ALBUM FOR CHATMONCHY!

Click here to purchase “Seimeiryoku”

Click here to purchase “Miminari”

MiminariKi/oon RecordsKSCL-1003DURATION: 50:47RELEASE DATE: July 5, 2006

TRACKLIST:

1. Tokyo Hachimitsu Orchestra 2. Sayonara Good-bye 3. Weekend no Maboroshi 4. Hana no Yume 5. Donaru, Denwa, Doshaburi 6. Ittohsei ni Narenakatta Kimie 7. Otogi no Kuni no Kimi 8. Koi no Kemuri 9. Renai Spirits 10. Owarinaki BGM 11. Plasma 12. Message 13. Hitoridake

SeimeiryokuKi/oon RecordsKSCL-1120DURATION: 50:10RELEASE DATE: October 24, 2007

TRACKLIST:

1. Oyashirazu 2. Make Up! Make Up! 3. Shangri la 4. Sekai ga Owaru Yoruni 5. Tenonaru Houe 6. Tobiuo no Butterfly 7. Orange (Dai Dai)8. Sunao 9. Mayonaka Yu-enchi 10. Girl’s Will Not Have Tomorrow 11. Bus Romance 12. Mobile World 13. Mikazuki

The hot female rock trio known as Chatmonchy unleashed their first full-length album to the masses with “Miminari”. The album would contain the trio’s first two singles “Koi no Kemuri” and “Renai Spirits”. Outside of the single tracks, the first album

features solid tracks such as “Hana no Yume”, “Donaru, Denwa, Doshaburi”, “Ittousei Ni Nare Nakatta Kimi”. Overall, a wonderful full-length album from Chatmonchy and definitely a band to keep your

eyes on in the near future!

— DENNIS A. AMITH

grooveworldJ!-ENT A J!-ENT MUSIC REVIEW

With each album release, I feel there is a progression and maturity with the music of Chatmonchy. Production, recording and overall musical arrangement get better and better and with “Kokuhaku”, this third full-length album is probably the best album from Chatmonchy yet. The album features the band’s seventh through tenth singles: “Hira Hira Hiraku Himitsu no Tobira”, “Kaze Fukeba Koi”, “Somaru Yo” and “Last Love Letter”. Definitely one of my favorite songs from the group is “Hira Hira Hiraku” presented in an album mix. Just love the balance between vocals, guitars, bass and percussion. An enjoyable and solid CD single! And the same goes for “Kaze Fukeba Koi”, two solid rock tracks on the album. “Somaru Yo” features a pretty solid mellow track featuring strong bass from Akiko Fukuoka which gives the song a retro type of feel. A pretty cool track! “Last Love Letter” definitely showcasing Akiko’s bass playing and definitely love the intro as the bass works in tandem with Kumiko on drums. And you get some of those experimental tracks that were enjoyable in “Seimeiryoku”, you can find them on “Kokuhaku” with tracks such as the fun “LOVE is SOUP” and of course, a track such as “Hibiscus wa Fuyu ni Saku” with interesting transitions in an acoustic/samba, upbeat track. Also, love the dreamy track “Yasashisa” to end the album. Overall, “Kokuhaku” is definitely a well-balanced, well-produced album! If you enjoy Chatmonchy, this album is highly recommended! — DENNIS A. AMITH

< WELL-BALANCED, WELL-PERFORMED AND THE BEST CHATMONCHY ALBUM OUT THERE!

Click here to purchase “Kokuhaku”

Click here to purchase “Expression”

ExpressionKi/oon RecordsKSCL-1604US Release Date to be announced soon

TRACKLIST:

DISC 1:1. Tenonaka no Nokoribi 2. Yuge 3. Chiisana Kirakira 4. RPG 5. Real 6. Katamichi Kippu 7. Maymay Hitsuji 8. Kaze 9 Cosmo Town 10. Bus Romance 11. three sheep 12 .Y-shi no Yugata 13. Ai Suteta 14. Kimaranai Turn 15. Ikuji Ari 16. Doppelganger 17. Haru Natsu Aki 18. Good Luck My Sister!!

DISC 2:19. Suishin Ryoku 20. Hibiscus wa Fuyuni Saku21. Tsumasaki22. Bus Romance23. Renai Spirits24. Saraba Seishun

KokuhakuKi/oon RecordsKSCL-1303DURATION: 52:19RELEASE DATE: March 4, 2009

TRACKLIST:

1. 8cm no Heel 2. Hira Hira Hiraku Himitsu no Tobira 3. Umikara Deta Sakana 4. Somaruyo 5. Cat Walk 6. Yodan 7. Hibiscus wa Fuyuni Saku 8. Aimaina Kanjo 9. Nagai Mede Mite 10. Love Is Soup 11. Kaze Fukeba Koi 12. Last Love Letter 13. Yasashisa

Chatmonchy returns with an album featuring a collection of the band’s coupling tracks but also an album featuring remix versions of three songs plus a second disc containing acoustic versions of self-cover tracks. Chatmonchy tells J!-ENT about the album, “We think that it’s a fun album for people who already know the songs, as well as for people who doesn’t.”



TOP PHOTO: Chatmonchy performing live in concert in Japan. Photo courtesy of Ki/oon Records Inc.BOTTOM PHOTO: Chatmonchy’s Eriko Hashimoto performing at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC. Photo by Mayumi Nashida.

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L-R: SLASH and George Perez at LAYN ROCKS in Los Angeles. Photo by Nergene Arquelada, J!-ENT.

On November 22nd, celebrities and rock stars came together in support of LAYN ROCKS, an event hosted by actor/comedian George Lopez and a concert made possibly by musician SLASH and his friends for the Los Angeles Youth Network. BY DENNIS A. AMITHPHOTOS BY NERGENE ARQUELADA

n Los Angeles, actor/comedian George Lopez hosted an event known as LAYN ROCKS, an event benefitting the Los Angeles Youth Network (LAYN) and

a concert made possibly by rock musician SLASH and his friends. The concert was presented on Nov. 22nd at Avalon Hollywood and included Ozzy Osbourne, Perry Farrell, Tom Morello, Billy Idol, Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, Travis Barker, Andrew Stockdale of Wolf-mother and Dave Navarro. World renown musician SLASH is known for his involvement with helping the homeless. His wife Perla is a board mem-ber of LAYN and both are supporters of the non-profit organization. As for the one night rock event, according to SLASH, getting friends involved with the event was simple and just required a phone

call. And one of the more exciting parts of having LAYN ROCKS is that everything is thrown all together and with this type of event, things are spontaneous and you never know what’s going to happen. But the event is all for a good cause and that is to help keep the doors open for the Los Angeles Youth Network. In Los Angeles, more than 10,000 youth sleep on the streets and are sleeping in aban-doned buildings under freeways and living without food, water and the basic medical service. Many of the youth are either thrown out or abandoned on the street and among the 12-17 year old runaways that LAYN has seen, most of their parents never report them missing. LAYN was founded in 1984 and is a non-profit agency with a mission to help end the

homelessness one kid at a time by providing shelter, food and counseling for the abuse, neglected and abandoned. Their mission is to also help homeless adolescents become self-sufficient by pro-viding street outreach, food, emergency shelter and transitional living programs with a professional caring staff in a nurturing and safe environment. The goals for each child is to successfully complete the permanent transition away from street life to a safe and secure living environment, so they can participate in so-ciety. If you want to donate or be involved with the Los Angeles Youth Network, please click on the following link below:

http://www.layn.org

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a conversation with chatmonchy - nt2099 · 2010-04-09 · j!-ent interviews chatmonchy april 2010 |...

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