Spyair

Last updated
Spyair
Spyair.jpg
Spyair in September 2013
Left to right: Momiken, Ike, UZ, Kenta
Background information
Origin Nagoya, Japan
Genres
Years active2005present
Labels
MembersUZ (guitar, programming)
Momiken (bass guitar, leader)
Kenta (drums)
Yosuke (vocals)
Past membersIke (vocals)
Enzel☆ (DJ)
Website www.spyair.net

Spyair (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese rock band from Nagoya, formed in 2005. The band consists of Yuji "UZ" Nakai (guitar, programming), Kenji "Momiken" Momiyama (bass guitar, leader), Kenta Sasabe (drums) and Yosuke (vocals). [4] [5] The band's name was determined in one shot by the members, which came from the word spyware, a type of computer virus. [5]

Contents

History

The band was formed in 2005 and produced and released a number of materials themselves up until 2009 when they signed with the indie label U-Project. While with U-Project, they released the singles "Japanication" and "Kanjō Discord" before signing a major record deal with Sony Music in 2010. Their major debut single, "Liar," was released on August 11 and was used as the theme song for the drama Hammer Session! . [6] Their second major single, "Last Moment," was released on December 1 and was used as the 25th ending song for the anime Bleach . [7]

Spyair's indies debut single "Japanication" was re-released on March 16, 2011, followed by their fourth major single, "Samurai Heart (Some Like It Hot!!)," on June 8, which was used as the 17th ending song to the anime Gin Tama . [8] In early 2012, the single "My World" was used as the second ending song for Mobile Suit Gundam AGE . [9] The single "0 Game (Love Game)" was used as an official soundtrack for the 2012 film The Amazing Spider-Man in Japan. [10] They also provided the theme song for the second Gin Tama movie, "Genjō Destruction". [11] Their eighth major single "Naked" was released on September 5 [12] and was followed by the announcement of the band's second album, Just Do It, which features 12 tracks including their last three singles. [13]

In October, DJ Enzel☆ announced that he would be leaving the band after their Nippon Budokan concert on December 18. [14] The single "Wendy: It's You" was used as the theme song for the drama Koi Suru Hae Onna, which started airing in November. [15] On December 18, the band successfully held their first live concert at the Nippon Budokan, performing a total of 21 songs including their latest singles. This concert was Enzel's last performance with the group. After the concert, they announced a new single, "Sakura Mitsutsuki," set for release on March 13, 2013. It was used as the 13th opening song for Gin Tama for the month of January. [16]

Spyair's third studio album, Million, was released on August 7. On September 23, it was released by JPU Records in Europe, where the CD only version included three bonus tracks: "Last Moment," "Samurai Heart (Some Like It Hot!!)" and "My World." In October, the single "Just One Life" was used as the first opening song of the anime Samurai Flamenco . [17] Their next single "Imagination" was released on April 30, 2014, and served as the first opening song of the anime Haikyū!! . [18] The single "Firestarter," released on July 22, 2015, was used as the theme song for the drama The Last Cop . [19] In October, Spyair contributed with the first opening song of the second season of Haikyū!!, "I'm a Believer", [20] and a year later, their single "Rage of Dust" was used as the opening song of the second season of Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans . [21]

On March 31, 2022, it was announced that Ike would be leaving the band due to struggles with ulcerative colitis. [22] On April 13, 2023, Ike's replacement was announced to be 24 year old Yosuke.

Musical style and influences

The members of the band have cited their musical influences to be Korn, [23] Linkin Park, [23] [24] and Michael Jackson. [23] [25] SPYAIR combines elements of rock, pop and electronic music.

Band members

Former member

Timeline

Spyair

Discography

Albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
JPN
Oricon

[27]
JPN
Billboard
KOR
Gaon

[28]
Alive
Rockin' the World88 [29] 67
Just Do It
  • Released: September 19, 2012
  • Label: Sony Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download
2025 [30] 44
Million
  • Released: August 7, 2013
  • Label: Sony Music, JPU Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
22 [31] 34
Best
  • Released: November 26, 2014
  • Label: Sony Music, JPU Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
36 [32] 36
4
  • Released: November 18, 2015
  • Label: Sony Music, JPU Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
67 [33] 66
Kingdom
  • Released: October 11, 2017
  • Label: Sony Music, JPU Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
55 [34] 61
Unite
  • Released: March 31, 2021
  • Label: Sony Music, JPU Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsSales Certifications NotesAlbum
JPN
Oricon

[35]
JPN
Billboard

[36]
KOR
Gaon

[28]
"Japanication"200984Released under the label, U-ProjectNon-album singles
"Kanjō Discord"
"Liar"20105526 [37] Spyair's major debut single, used as Hammer Session! theme songRockin' the World
"Last Moment"4395 [38] Bleach 25th ending song
"Japanication"2011Re-released
"Samurai Heart (Some Like It Hot!!)"1840 [39]
  • JPN: 250,000+
Gin Tama 17th ending song
"Beautiful Days"3467 [41] Don Quixote theme song
"My World"20122131 Mobile Suit Gundam AGE second ending songJust Do It
"0 Game"1510 The Amazing Spider-Man Japanese theme song
"Naked"4722 [42]
"Rock This Way"52 [43] Collaboration with Japanese hip-hop artist Seamo Non-album single
"Wendy: It's You"2926 [44] Koi Suru Hae Onna theme songBest
"Sakura Mitsutsuki"2013108
  • JPN: 100,000+
Gin Tama 13th opening songMillion
"Niji"2024 [45] Sennyu Tantei Tokage theme song
"Genjō Destruction"65 [46]
  • JPN: 100,000+
Gintama: The Movie: The Final Chapter: Be Forever Yorozuya theme song
"Just One Life"2315 [47] Samurai Flamenco opening songBest
"Imagination"201493
  • JPN: 100,000+
Haikyū!! opening song
"Glory"
"Rockin' Out"20151117504
"Firestarter"1826 The Last Cop theme song
"I'm a Believer"95
  • JPN: 100,000+
Haikyū!! Season 2 opening song
"This Is How We Rock"201681759Kingdom
"Rage of Dust"10764
  • JPN: 100,000+
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Season 2 opening song
"Be With" [48] 2017123455
"Midnight"2065Utsubokazura no Yume theme song
"I Wanna Be..."20182624 [50] Gintama 21st Opening songUnite
"We'll Never Die"digital single
"B-the One"2019 2018–19 B.League season theme song [51]
"Pride of Lions"
"Inside of Me"2020digital single
"One Day" Haikyu!! To the Top 2nd ending song
"Wadachi"2021 Gintama: The Final theme song
"iris"digital single
"All I Need"digital singleNon-album single
"Orange"2024128 [52] Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle themeOrange

Music videos

YearSongDirector(s)
[53]
2012"ジャパニケーション"

(Japanication)

Takahide Ishii
"0 Game"Kensaku Kakimoto
"Liar"Wataru Saito
"Last Moment"Takuya Tada
"Beautiful Days"Tatsuya Murakami
"My World"
"サムライハート(Some Like It Hot!!)"

(Samurai Heart (Some Like It Hot!!))

"Naked"Masakazu Fukatsu
"Wendy ~It's You~"
"Movin' On"Dan Nishi
2013"サクラミツツキ"

(Sakura Mitsutsuki)

Masakazu Fukatsu
"虹"

(Niji, Rainbow)

"現状ディストラクション"

(Genjō Destruction)

"Just One Life"Hideaki Sugawara
2014"イマジネーション"

(Imagination)

Masakazu Fukatsu
"Glory"Masahiko Tsuruo
2015"Rockin' Out"Masakazu Fukatsu
"ファイアスターター"

(Firestarter)

"アイム・ア・ビリーバー"

(I'm a Believer)

2016"This is How We Rock"Wataru Saito
2017"Be with"Yamado Yuki
"Midnight"Masakazu Fukatsu
2018"I Wanna Be…"

Awards and nominations

Billboard Japan Music Awards
YearNominee / workAwardResult
2012SpyairAnimation Artist of the Year [54] Nominated
2013SpyairAnimation Artist of the Year [55] Nominated
JpopAsia Music Awards
YearNominee / workAwardResult
2013"Niji"Best Single [56] Nominated [57]
Ike (Spyair)Best Use of Social Media [56] Nominated [57]
Neo Awards
YearNominee / workAwardResult
2016SpyairBest Musical Act [58] Nominated

See also

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References

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