purple SKY - A Japanese Music Collaborative (Jrock, Jpop and Visual Kei)

[live report] fade –You Can’t Compare Apples and Fried Chicken

Sarah — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:27:46 +0000

I have to make a promise upfront; I will not compare fade’s vocalist Jon to his alter ego in YELLOW FRIED CHICKENz. Still,there is bound to be some overlap in the melodies at the very least. After all, they are the same person. Maybe I can’t exactly promise that. Perhaps a more reasonable pledge here is [...]

[review] By My Side – Hemenway

Kathy Chee — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:20:02 +0000

“By My Side” starts out as a very generic pop-rock song. While it’s catchy, you kinda cruise through the first 2 minutes of the new NARUTO Shippuden end theme by Hemenway. But there’s a little hint of something great in the chorus, a sweet falsetto at the end. And then you get to the [...]

[press release] ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION Greatest Hits Album

Kathy Chee — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:09:43 +0000

ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION will be releasing their very first greatest hits album consisting 17 songs from their 6 full albums and 2 mini albums, added with their brand new song “Marching Band”. Concurrently with the Japan release, the album is now available in the US through iTunes and Amazon. Not only in Japan, ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION has [...]

[review] Sun Burns Down – Jin Akanishi

Kathy Chee — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:50:42 +0000

Jin Akanishi is hitting his stride with a fabulous new single, “Sun Burns Down.” It’s upbeat techno-pop ala Kaskade, the lyrics hinting at some sexy time, but never wandering outside of radio-pop friendly. The driving chorus, where Jin urges his listeners to “make love until the sun burns down,” is fist-pumpingly catchy. The simple beats [...]

[press release] Hemenway to Release NARUTO Ending Theme Song on Jan 24, 2012

Kathy Chee — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:18:35 +0000

Making a meteoric major debut in November 2011, 4-piece band Hemenway’s new song has been chosen as the new ending theme to TV animation series NARUTO Shippuden. This latest single “By My Side” will be digitally released in the US on January 24, 2012 through iTunes and Amazon. By My Side Ending theme song to NARUTO Shippuden January 24 (Tue) Release [...]

[live report] ViViD – When Good Looks Come in Handy

Sarah — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:39:15 +0000

Some bands have the skills. Some bands have the attitude. Some bands have the drive. Other bands are just plain nice to look at. I’m not saying a band like ViViD doesn’t have the talent or enthusiasm to make a great concert. I am saying, however, that in front of the steady vocals and melodic metal [...]

[interview] Nenna Yvonne – More Than a Human Vocaloid

Sarah — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:16:56 +0000

Place all your My Little Ponies, Lisa Frank stationary, and Barbie shoes in a blender, add a dash of MikuHatsune the vocaloid, and puree. What do you get? Something only half as cute and colorful as Nenna Yvonne, the Nigerian-American singer-songwriter who came to Tokyo in October for an uber-trendy performance. Donning a wig that [...]

[interview] YELLOW FRIED CHICKENz Won’t Forget

Sarah — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:09:43 +0000

Pop quiz: What are YELLOW FRIED CHICKENZ? a) The Colonel’s new yet somehow original recipe. b) Mega-triple threat GACKT’s slightly satirical project. c) A surprisingly sensitive band that just wants to instill some charitable thoughts in their audience’s brains. If you answered b) and c), you’re correct. When I sat down with GACKT and the gang on October 23, 2011 during V-ROCK [...]

[press release] exist†trace 2012 USA Tour – Special VIP-only Boston show added!

Kathy Chee — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 02:47:49 +0000

December 15, 2011 – exist†trace has added a special VIP-only show to their first American tour. The all-female Japanese visual kei band will perform a limited-ticket 200-person VIP show on March 15, 2012 at The Middle East in Boston, MA. A special event for the first show of the tour, fans will be able to welcome exist†trace back to America [...]

[press release] exist†trace 2012 USA Tour – New York and Philadelphia dates announced!

Kathy Chee — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:41:19 +0000

December 8, 2011 – All-female Japanese visual kei band exist†trace announced tour dates today for their first USA East Coast appearance! exist†trace will perform their indie hits plus songs from their major-label releases “TRUE” and “THE LAST DAYBREAK.” General admission and VIP tickets go on sale December 14. Sunday, March 18 – New York, NY @ Hiro [...]