Studio Apartment (band)

Last updated
Studio Apartment
Origin Japan
Genres
Years active2000–present
Labels
Members
  • Masanori Morita
  • Noboru Abe
Past membersShinji Sato
Website studioapartment.jp

Studio Apartment is a Japanese electronic music duo, formed in 2000 by DJ and music producer Masanori Morita, and keyboardist Noboru Abe. [1]

Contents

Biography

Studio Apartment initially began as a three-member group including a bassist, focusing on a Brazilian bossa crossover style. [2] They released their debut album Paraiso Terrestre in April 2002. [3]

With the release of their 2004 album World Line, the band gained considerable recognition not only in the Japanese dance music scene, but also internationally. Their song “Flight” featuring Monique Bingham on vocals became a worldwide hit, and from there, they continued to produce house tracks. Over time, noted house music singers like Kenny Bobien, Stephanie Cooke, Kimara Lovelace, and AK helped solidify SA's support worldwide. [2]

In 2006, they established their own dance music labels, Apt. and Apt. International. Through these labels, they have released works by Japanese artists such as Daishi Dance and Hideo Kobayashi. They have also released works from global house music icons such as Dennis Ferrer, Kerri Chandler, and Jerome Sydenham, [4] helping introduce world-standard dance music to Japanese audiences. They have released music through international labels such as Defected Records in the United Kingdom, and King Street Sounds in the United States. [5]

In 2007, they crossed over to the mainstream Japanese pop scene, after being commissioned to remix "Rock The Party" by Double, [6] "Bubble Strip" by Anna Tsuchiya, [7] in addition to producing Ami Suzuki's song "Bitter..." for her album Dolce . [8]

In 2012, they signed a deal with EMI Music Japan (currently Universal Music Japan) to release their album Nihon no Uta, which solidified their intentions to go mainstream, as they included songs aimed mainly at J-pop listeners, [2] featuring appearances by Su from Rip Slyme, Meisa Kuroki, Kishidan, May J., TRF, and Miyavi, among others. [9]

In 2014, they composed and produced the song "Hohoemi Mode" by Japanese voice actress Kana Hanazawa. [10]

In 2020, the duo released 2020~, their first studio album in eight years. [11]

Solo projects

In 2015, Noboru Abe participated as sound creator on Ai Otsuka's album Love Tricky , where he also co-wrote all its songs. [12]

In 2021, Abe began his solo side project under the name roiro. [13]

Discography

Studio albums

References

  1. "Studio Apartment". AllMusic. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "新展開を迎えたSTUDIO APARTMENTの過去と現在、そして……". Bounce (in Japanese). Tower Records. February 29, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  3. "スタジオ・アパートメント". CDJournal (in Japanese). Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  4. "Studio Apartment - Biography". Universal Music Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  5. "スタアパ3年ぶりアルバム完成、先行シングルはfeat.福原美穂". Natalie (in Japanese). March 24, 2010. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  6. "DOUBLE「Reflex」2枚組リミックス集登場". Natalie (in Japanese). August 29, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  7. "土屋アンナ 秋の大学キャンパスで熱狂ライブ". Natalie (in Japanese). September 4, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  8. "鈴木亜美、"join"第2弾アルバムで豪華コラボ". Natalie (in Japanese). December 18, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  9. "スタアパ新作にRIP、メイサ、雅、氣志團、SEEDAら参加". Natalie (in Japanese). January 25, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  10. "花澤香菜、スタアパ楽曲でソロ第3期を幕開け". Natalie (in Japanese). August 20, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  11. "STUDIO APARTMENT - 2020~". Traxsource. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  12. "大塚愛、新アルバムはスタアパ阿部と全曲共作". Natalie (in Japanese). March 13, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  13. "阿部 登 ソロユニット 『roiro』始動". Ameba Ownd (in Japanese). June 22, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2025.