Urbangarde Members Launch Book and TV Projects for 2016
January 19, 2016 -- Just one month after the release of their alternate-future album Showa 902 URBANGARDE members have revealed even more artistic projects for the start of 2016.
URBANGARDE vocalist Yōko Hamasaki will release her first book of prose titled Bara Iro No Jinsei (“Rose-Colored Life”) on February 23, 2016. The book will collect her essays from Tokyo's ROOFTOP magazine, with topics of her personal past from her youth leading to her experiences with URBANGARDE.
Yoko speaks candidly in 40 essays, some written specifically for this edition, about her love for classical ballet, her childhood belief in Santa Claus, traumas from her personal life, and her fascination with mysteries and ghosts. Bara Iro No Jinsei will also chronicle the history of URBANGARDE from her unique point of view and a selection of exclusive photos.
URBANGARDE's co-vocalist Temma Matsunaga recently starred in an episode of NHK BS Premium's Edogawa Rampo Tanpenshu, an anthology series featuring the works of noted Japanese mystery writer Edogawa Rampo. Temma stars alongside Hikari Mitsushima (Gomen ne Seishun!, Moteki, Woman) in a story about a bookstore murder. Temma recently released his own book, Jisatsushatachi (“Selfie People”), a compilation of short stories, essays, and poems about the dark sides of modern life in Tokyo.
URBANGARDE is currently touring Japan in support of Showa 90, with stops in all major cities planned through May 2016.
URBANGARDE Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urbangarde
URBANGARDE Official Homepage: http://urbangarde.net
URBANGARDE – Showa 90 on iTunes: http://smarturl.it/Showa90_iTunes
URBANGARDE – Showa 90 on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/Showa90_Spotify
URBANGARDE – Showa 90 on Google Play: http://smarturl.it/Showa90_GooglePlay
URBANGARDE – Showa 90 on Amazon Mp3: http://smarturl.it/Showa90_AmazonMP3
URBANGARDE PROFILE
Vocals: Yōko Hamasaki
Vocals: Temma Matsunaga
Guitar: Shin Zeze
Keyboard: Ohkubo Kei
URBANGARDE is a self-described “Trauma Techno Pop” band, mixing male and female vocals, outrageous performance-art visuals, and daring social commentary. After completing three independent albums, they released their major debut singles “Skirt Kakumei” and “Tokimeki ni Shisu” from Universal Music Japan in 2011, followed by their first major-label album release Mental Hells. URBANGARDE's 2012 album Geiger Counter Culture achieved the number 10 position on the daily Oricon chart in Japan and made the top 25 on its weekly chart.
In 2012, URBANGARDE ranked in the top 5 J-Pop artists on the French TV program “Japan in Motion” (NOLIFE TV) and made their French live performance debut at Toulouse Game Show (TGS). URBANGARDE returned to France in 2013 for Japan Expo and released their greatest hits compilation Koi to Kakumei to URBANGARDE, featuring the song “Tokai no Alice.”
URBANGARDE's Utsukushii Kuni was released in June 2014 by Tokuma Japan Communications, featuring artwork by renowned Japanese painter Aida Makoto. The same year URBANGARDE released music videos for “Sakura Memento” and “One-Piece Shinjuu”. In 2015, URBANGARDE released the single “Coin Locker babies” and made their USA debut at A-Kon in Dallas, TX.
URBANGARDE's latest album, Showa 90, was released on December 9, 2015, featuring the anti-war song “Kuchibiru Democracy”.
URBANGARDE vocalist Yōko Hamasaki will release her first book of prose titled Bara Iro No Jinsei (“Rose-Colored Life”) on February 23, 2016. The book will collect her essays from Tokyo's ROOFTOP magazine, with topics of her personal past from her youth leading to her experiences with URBANGARDE.
Yoko speaks candidly in 40 essays, some written specifically for this edition, about her love for classical ballet, her childhood belief in Santa Claus, traumas from her personal life, and her fascination with mysteries and ghosts. Bara Iro No Jinsei will also chronicle the history of URBANGARDE from her unique point of view and a selection of exclusive photos.
URBANGARDE's co-vocalist Temma Matsunaga recently starred in an episode of NHK BS Premium's Edogawa Rampo Tanpenshu, an anthology series featuring the works of noted Japanese mystery writer Edogawa Rampo. Temma stars alongside Hikari Mitsushima (Gomen ne Seishun!, Moteki, Woman) in a story about a bookstore murder. Temma recently released his own book, Jisatsushatachi (“Selfie People”), a compilation of short stories, essays, and poems about the dark sides of modern life in Tokyo.
URBANGARDE is currently touring Japan in support of Showa 90, with stops in all major cities planned through May 2016.
URBANGARDE Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urbangarde
URBANGARDE Official Homepage: http://urbangarde.net
URBANGARDE – Showa 90 on iTunes: http://smarturl.it/Showa90_iTunes
URBANGARDE – Showa 90 on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/Showa90_Spotify
URBANGARDE – Showa 90 on Google Play: http://smarturl.it/Showa90_GooglePlay
URBANGARDE – Showa 90 on Amazon Mp3: http://smarturl.it/Showa90_AmazonMP3
URBANGARDE PROFILE
Vocals: Yōko Hamasaki
Vocals: Temma Matsunaga
Guitar: Shin Zeze
Keyboard: Ohkubo Kei
URBANGARDE is a self-described “Trauma Techno Pop” band, mixing male and female vocals, outrageous performance-art visuals, and daring social commentary. After completing three independent albums, they released their major debut singles “Skirt Kakumei” and “Tokimeki ni Shisu” from Universal Music Japan in 2011, followed by their first major-label album release Mental Hells. URBANGARDE's 2012 album Geiger Counter Culture achieved the number 10 position on the daily Oricon chart in Japan and made the top 25 on its weekly chart.
In 2012, URBANGARDE ranked in the top 5 J-Pop artists on the French TV program “Japan in Motion” (NOLIFE TV) and made their French live performance debut at Toulouse Game Show (TGS). URBANGARDE returned to France in 2013 for Japan Expo and released their greatest hits compilation Koi to Kakumei to URBANGARDE, featuring the song “Tokai no Alice.”
URBANGARDE's Utsukushii Kuni was released in June 2014 by Tokuma Japan Communications, featuring artwork by renowned Japanese painter Aida Makoto. The same year URBANGARDE released music videos for “Sakura Memento” and “One-Piece Shinjuu”. In 2015, URBANGARDE released the single “Coin Locker babies” and made their USA debut at A-Kon in Dallas, TX.
URBANGARDE's latest album, Showa 90, was released on December 9, 2015, featuring the anti-war song “Kuchibiru Democracy”.
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