The Watanabes | |
|---|---|
 The Watanabes performing live in Tokyo, 2011. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Japan |
| Genres | Indie pop |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels | Babyboom Records Japan |
| Members | Duncan Walsh Selwyn Walsh Ayumi Sato Tomoyuki Yamada |
| Past members | Flavio Jerome Ashley Davies Stefan Samuelsson Tadashi Yoshikawa Yoko Osawa Matt Hogan |
| Website | thewatanabes.com |
The Watanabes are a 1960s-influenced British indie pop rock band based in Tokyo whose lyrics are often inspired by life in Japan. [1] [2] [3]
The band's jangly alt pop sound [4] has drawn comparisons to melody driven indie acts such as Belle and Sebastian, [3] [5] [6] [7] Teenage Fan Club, [5] Crowded House [8] [9] and 1980's Liverpool band The Pale Fountains, [10] while their lyrics often touch upon their experiences in Japan. [3] Time Out have portrayed them as "Tokyo's answer to The Smiths" [11] [12] although their soft acoustic melodies and retro sound make an easier comparison to musical acts from the 1960s such as Simon and Garfunkel, [3] [13] The Beatles, [1] [14] or The Kooks. [11] [15]
The band are fronted by British brothers Duncan and Selwyn Walsh on vocals and guitar. [9] The Walsh brothers come from the small village of Swanton Novers in Norfolk. [16] [17] [18] New Zealander Ashley Davies and Belgian Flavio Jerome were also founding members and co-songwriters but have since left the group. [19] Since their formation in 2005, a number of other musicians have made contributions to the band including Ayumi Sato on bass, Tomoyuki Yamada on drums, and Lensei Nishizawa on piano. [3]
The Watanabes formed during the summer of 2005 in the rural prefecture of Ehime in Japan, [20] [21] where Duncan Walsh and Ashley Davies were working as ALTs on the JET Programme. [14] Watanabe is a common surname in this region of Japan, and the group used the name in order to ingratiate themselves with the locals, whilst also alluding to British band The Smiths. [22] It was initially inspired however by Toru Watanabe, the slightly troubled and over nostalgic protagonist in Haruki Murakami's novel, Norwegian Wood. [23]
In April 2007 they sent off their first demo to the Fuji Rock Festival, and were selected alongside bands such as The Bawdies and Avengers in Sci-Fi in the top 50 nominees for the Rookie a go stage. [24] In August of the same year they moved to Tokyo where they began work on their debut album, Independent Social Power. [25] Recorded at KRH Studios [26] in Harajuku, the album was independently released in association with Manchester based record label BabyBoom Records. [27]
After releasing their debut album, the band hijacked their way on to Japanese national TV channel Nihon TV [29] [30] [31] before featuring in several of Japan's English speaking publications including The Japan Times, [32] Metropolis, [33] [5] [9] Japanzine, [34] [20] [23] Tokyo Weekender, [35] [36] [37] and Time Out. [11] [12] [38] [39] This publicity brought them to the attention of Glaswegian music producer Dave Naughton, [1] who had just moved to Japan to become a producer in his own right after working alongside Steve Power in London [31] [40] and Tony Doogan [41] in Glasgow with bands such as Belle and Sebastian and Teenage Fan Club. [9] They began work together on The Watanabes' second album, You're Dancing I'm Absorbed, which was released in February 2011. [42] It included guest appearances from American singer songwriter Kate Sikora and British multi-instrumentalist Nick Duffy of The Lilac Time. [43] In December 2011 two tracks from the album, "True Romantics" and "Concerned With You", were used in a TV advertising campaign for Triumph Motorcycles. [44] An instrumental version of "True Romantics" was also adopted by Western Union as a theme tune to advertise their services. [45]
Another track from the album, acoustic green lullaby "Whales Can Sing" was championed by Ric O'Barry, [46] star of the Academy Award winning documentary The Cove, as well as race car driver and environmental activist Leilani Munter. [47] On August 29, 2013, The Watanabes performed live in Tokyo with former Guns N' Roses drummer Matt Sorum at an event organized by Ric O'Barry's Dolphin Project. [48] Other foreign artists to have shared the stage with The Watanabes while touring Japan include Stu Larsen, [49] Die! Die! Die!, [50] Lisa Crawley [51] and former Voxtrot frontman Ramesh Srivastava. [36]
The band have received praise for their fundraising efforts, particularly in aid of Tohoku following the Tohoku earthquake. [52] In 2014 they released a collaborative music video with NPO Playground of Hope. [35] [14]
Despite performing and recording primarily in Japan, The Watanabes have featured regularly on the BBC Introducing Series in the UK. [53] [54] [55] [56] [57] [58] In October 2017 they performed live from Tokyo as part of BBC Introducing's 10th Anniversary celebrations. [59]
In the autumn of 2014 The Watanabes released a 5 track EP entitled Draw What You Like. [38] [42] Three tracks from the record were adopted by CNN International for a documentary on food in Japan. [60] Their fourth record, a four track EP entitled Spoiled and Nostalgic, was released digitally on November 25, 2016. [61] The title was taken from an unflattering review by Japanzine of their first album (Independent Social Power), which described The Watanabes as “spoiled and nostalgic in 21st century Tokyo.” [31] [62] A year later, the band joined forces with Japanese indie label Musipl, combining the two EPs to release a full 9 track album of the same name. [63] [64] In September 2016, BBC Radio Norfolk made "Hummingbird" Track of the Week, [65] [58] and soon after, another track from the album, "Tonight", was included in Tom Robinson's BBC Mixtape, aired on BBC Radio 6. [54] The album has also become a favourite of InterFM DJ Guy Perryman (MBE), who invited the band to perform live on his radio show, [66] [67] as well as fellow InterFM DJ and producer Mike Rogers who likens the band to Belle and Sebastian [6] [68] and included "Over Romantic" in his top 50 songs of 2016. [6]
In early 2020 InterFM DJ Guy Perryman (MBE) approached The Watanabes to ask whether they would be willing to rework one of their previously released tracks, "Hummingbird". [69] After becoming a fan of the track and playing the song on his Christmas radio show, [70] Guy sensed that with a few simple lyrical adjustments and some musical alterations, the song could be re-released as a festive single. [71] Inspired by Guy's vision and assisted by the additional collaborative efforts of producer David Naughton and Australian composer Nicholas Buc, The Watanabes released "Christmas Hummingbird" on November 2, 2020. [69] The animated music video accompanying the track was premiered by the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan at the 2020 British Business Awards. [72] [73]
The Watanabes' Japan influenced lyrics and reputation as local favourites with the international community in Tokyo [22] [68] [51] [37] [39] [36] [34] may explain their presence in the German rainbow romance novel Geborgenheit sucht Reisepartner by Lili B. Wilms, in which the main character Kieran, a self-proclaimed fan of the band, visits Japan to watch them perform live at a Tokyo music venue. [74] On the front cover of the novel, an illustrated character is also depicted wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with The Watanabes logo displaying artwork reminiscent of their second album, You're Dancing I'm Absorbed. [75]
Music by The Watanabes also features in Danny Goes Aum, a movie directed by Indian film maker Sandeep Mohan. [76] The film's chief protagonist, a burned out British video editor called Danny, listens to "Yuriko Yuriko" while drinking a beer and watching the sun set at a beach-side café in Goa. [77]
Independent Social Power (2009)
There Are Ghosts Around Here EP (2009)
You're Dancing I'm Absorbed (2011)
Draw What You Like EP (2014)
Spoiled and Nostalgic EP (2016)
Spoiled and Nostalgic (2017)
Christmas Hummingbird (2020)
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Originally from Norfolk, the brothers have teamed up with... Glaswegian music producer David Naughton. Walsh describes the band's sound as British-influenced pop rock "with lyrics often inspired by our experiences in Japan"."The music is pretty mellow, and a bit folky at times", Walsh said. "We grew up listening to Brit-pop and bands such as Belle & Sebastian and The Smiths, but when our parents weren't listening to Radio 4, they had 60s legends on the stereo: The Beatles, Cat Stevens, Simon and Garfunkel. I think it rubbed off on us".
60年代と90年代のイギリス音楽の影響と、日本での生活、出身地（イギリス、ベルギー、ニュージーランド）での生活等のさまざまな影響が音になっている、ギターポップ！！
Active in the music scene since 2005, the Watanabes are an indie folk band who blend Simon and Garfunkel-esque melodies with the Japanese experience. It's as if Belle and Sebastion were airlifted out of Scotland and dropped in the center of Tokyo. The brothers are often joined by Ayumi Sato on bass, Tomoyuki Yamada on drums and Lensei Nishizawa on piano.
The light, carefree 'There's Something Wrong' has a familiar guitar hook and establishes the band's classic jangly alt-pop aura.
Unlike the pleasant but rambling Independent Social Power, the tracks on You're Dancing reflect the band's newfound maturity and balance. While The Watanabes have definitely found their voice, producer Dave Naughton's experiences working with Belle and Sebastian and Teenage Fanclub are apparent.
The Watanabes are two brothers who are Japan's answer to Belle & Sebastian. One day, Christopher from the Routes said to me, "I love that band, the Watanabes... If I were in Tokyo, I'd want to be their manager!" Seriously heavy rotation in November and December.
The SmithやBelle and Sebastianに影響を受けたサウンドと、彼らの特異なバックグラウンドを表現した歌詞が混じりあい、ネオ・フォークと形容すべきオリジナリティを確立。タイトな演奏と美しいコーラスが特徴的なライブパフォーマンスは、多くのライブイベントで評判を呼ぶ。
The Watanabes play obsessively unobtrusive indie rock, but with skills and hooks that make you want to listen closer. Many of their compositions cast a mood similar to that of Neil Finn and Crowded House, or the gentle side of John Lennon, while their lyrics focus on the poetic side of everyday domestic scenes, à la Death Cab for Cutie.
Tokyo-based alt-rockers The Watanabes lean toward the folk-rock end of the genre, à la Crowded House—and like the Aussie group, The Watanabes are fronted by two brothers: Duncan and Selwyn Walsh. ...Producer David Naughton, who has worked with the likes of Belle and Sebastian and Teenage Fan Club—as well as The Watanabes on their second album, You're Dancing I'm Absorbed—stretched the band's sound by including new instrumentation such as sax and cello.
さらにケンカの弱そうなペイル・ファウンテンズ、とでも言おうか。。。1980年代当時、魂だけで歌っていたギター・ポップ・バンドだけが紡ぐことのできたグッド・メロディを体現する、数少ない東京バンドだ。
It might be said that The Watanabes are Tokyo's answer to The Smiths (it's a name thing), or possibly The Kinks (it's a brotherly thing). Either way, they've developed a style that finds comfort in nostalgia; a style that seems to suit the fleeting loneliness of life in a vast, occasionally numbing metropolis.
One for shipwrecked foreigners all over the country (and anyone who likes bands that sound a bit like The Smiths).
The harmonies are wonderfully, beautifully, Simon-and-Garfunkelly perfect.
ダンカンさんとデイヴィスさんは愛媛県でＡＬＴをしていた仲間で、グループ名も同県に多い姓「渡辺」にちなんでいる。ダンカンさんは「日本での生活は新鮮で、インスピレーションを得られる」と話す。「愛媛」の漢字を英語に置き換えた「ラブ プリンセス」は、トイレや箸の使い方などのカルチャーショックがテーマの曲。「カツドン」では、カツ丼を作ってくれた恋人への思いを歌う。ビートルズをほうふつとさせる優しい曲調で、いずれも歌詞は英語。これまでアルバム２枚を発表し、大手ＣＤ店「タワーレコード」などでも販売されている。
The band have been described as Japan's answer to The Smiths, however their soft poppy rock acoustic melodies make an easier comparison to the likes of other British bands such as Mcfly, The Beatles and at times, The Kooks.
Interestingly, Practical Lovers' lead singer Jack Wiles hails from the very same English hamlet of Swanton Novers, UK, as The Watanabes' Duncan and Selwyn. To quote them: 'I suppose you could say we'll be bringing the Swanton Novers' village indie scene to Tokyo.'
The Walsh brothers are best known in Norfolk for their involvement in the indie-rock group The Watanabes and are regularly played on new music radio show BBC Introducing in Norfolk.They started the band when Duncan moved from Swanton Novers, near Melton Constable, to Japan in 2004. They were due to release their new album You're Dancing, I'm Absorbed on 12 March, before heading on a tour around the country, but all plans have been put on hold.
The Walsh brothers are best known in Norfolk for being in the indie-rock group The Watanabes. They were due to release their new album You're Dancing, I'm Absorbed, on Saturday before heading on a tour around the country, but all plans have been put on hold.
2011年にベースのAshが脱退したんだ。彼はバンドの初期からずっと一緒だったし、僕たちの歴史や音楽面でも、Ashはとっても重要だった.
Duncan Walsh arrived in Ehime Prefecture more than three years ago and, with the miserablist wit of a nascent Morrissey, set about turning the barren landscape to his advantage. Siding himself with an international collective that called themselves The Watanabes, Walsh began depicting the deflated life of a rural gaijin with the kind of self-depracating humor that comes natural to many British men.
2005年に日本の愛媛で結成、活動を開始したイギリス人らによる日本で活動する"洋楽"５人組ファースト・アルバム。ザ・スミスのような爽やかなネオ・アコースティック系ギター・バンドで、リリカルなアコギの響きと押しの強さのない奥ゆかしいメロディが印象的
One of the biggest names on the live circuit here are The Watanabes, so named because it is a common surname in the wilds of Ehime Prefecture, where brothers Selwyn and Duncan Walsh originally taught on the JET programme."We chose The Watanabes because we wanted to ingratiate ourselves with the locals, while alluding to one of our favourite bands, The Smiths", Duncan Walsh told BCCJ ACUMEN.
Some confusion surrounds their name which they attribute to the slightly troubled and overly nostalgic protagonist Toru Watanabe in Haruki Murakami's novel, Norwegian Wood. The name also seems to be an allegorical reference to The Smiths.
The largest British festival in Japan gives visitors a taste of England and all things British during the three-day event... The arena will be filled with music from... The Watanabes, Julia Mascetti, Abraham Funk Train and more.
...We got our band advertised on primetime TV...
In addition, the band have appeared on Nihon TV's Zoom in Saturday programme.
The Watanabes talk TV show hijacks, superstar gigs and breaking into the Tokyo music scene... The Watanabe's third full-length album, Spoiled and Nostalgic, is a compilation of two earlier EPs, released in 2014 and 2016. The title is taken from an unflattering review by Japanzine of their first album (Independent Social Power), which described the Watanabes as "spoiled and nostalgic in 21st century Tokyo." The full pulled quote can be found on the inside jacket of the new album, with Japanzine appropriately credited. The cheeky title choice, if not the words themselves, is emblematic of the Watanabes style that pervades their sound: humble, playful and emphatically earnest.
Like Jimmy Binks and The Shakehorns, The Watanabes are a folk rock band fronted by two British brothers, an American keyboardist, and a Japanese drummer and bassist. Also, like The Shakehorns, The Watanabes have received song placements and airplay on the BBC.
More than just a bunch of foreign rockers living in Japan, The Watanabes style themselves as "a genuine gaijin band," one whose music has been shaped by their experiences as expats. Perhaps for this reason, debut album Independent Social Power has found itself featured at Tower Records, while the band's folksy guitar pop and chronicles of their mishaps in rural Ehime Prefecture have earned them a spot in the BBC Introducing Series.
You've heard of The Watanabes, surely? Everyone has!
Local favorites The Watanabes are donating their lively performance for a good cause: join the rest of the crowd to raise funds for Playground of Hope, a charity that builds playgrounds in communities affected by the tsunami and nuclear accident. The indie band has just released a new EP called Draw What You Like, which includes a song called "Make Things Better". The song was inspired by the idea of helping others and making a positive difference. The event has no cover charge, and all donations will go to Playground of Hope and the children and families they support.
Coming all the way from Austin, Texas, American indie pop four-piece Ramesh will be kicking off their two week Japan tour at What The Dickens in Ebisu on Friday November 10. The band will be joined by local folk rocking favorites The Watanabes.
Ask any independent musician in Tokyo—or those aspiring to perform—and they will admit you haven't "made the scene" until you have played at What the Dickens. "The Dickens is our home turf, as I'm sure it is for many bands," says Duncan Walsh, of local indie favorites the Watanabes.
The third album of Tokyo-based band The Watanabes hits Japanese record stores this autumn, but you can get your hands on a copy of the CD a little earlier if you join them for their launch party at What the Dickens.Their new record was produced by Glaswegian David Naughton and features a guest appearance by British indie godfather Nick Duffy of The Lilac Time. And even though they're enjoying attention beyond Japan (they've had some nationwide airplay in the UK), The Watanabes are still not charging anything for you to come and watch them play. 'Cause they're nice like that.
They are joined by The Watanabes who play regularly at What the Dickens and will be celebrating their 10th anniversary on the night.
Credits: Recorded by Tony Doogan. Assisted by Dave Naughton
ユー・アー・ダンシング・アイム・アブソーブド The Watanabes 国内 CD 発売日 2011年02月16日 Draw What You Like The Watanabes 国内 CD 発売日2014年09月27日
またゲストミュージシャンとして、ここ日本でも活動を行う女性SSW、Kate Sikora (The Loyal We) や、カナダでのライブも好評を博した東京のインディーバンド、「グーミ」 の小畑亮吾 (バイオリン)、UK出身のマルチプレイヤー、Nick Duffy (アコーディオン/オルガン) が参加。ギターポップやThe Smithsにも通じるシニカルな歌詞とメロディーを前作から引き継ぎつつ、前述のゲストミュージシャンや、M2/M7などで大胆に採用されたホーンセクション、兄弟でもあるフロントマン、Walsh兄弟のコーラスワークにより、今まで以上に鮮やかな色彩をまとった作品。映画 「The Cove」 に触発されて制作されたアコースティック (M6)、日本での生活を歌うM1/M12は日本人よりも日本人らしさを感じさせる楽曲。
While I spoke and answered questions, a lot of the evening was just fun. We had the Welsh duo of Duncan & Selwyn Walsh of the band The Watanabes singing up a storm, including their great song "Whales Can Sing" about Taiji and the Cove – a favorite of mine that you can hear here...
Video of Leilani's Sept 2010 journey to join dolphin hero Ric O'Barry (of the Oscar winning documentary The Cove) in the fight to end the dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan. Featuring the song "Whales Can Sing" by The Watanabes.
Ric O'Barry and the Dolphin Project Team began the weekend's events in Japan, marking the beginning of the dolphin slaughter on Sept. 1st, with a party at the Pink Cow, the eclectic bar and restaurant. Matt Sorum, the legendary drummer and founding member of both Guns & Roses and the Kings of Chaos, joined the popular Tokyo band The Watanabes in a musical set that included a rocking version of Rod Stewart's Maggie Mae and The Watanabes' own composition about the Cove, Whales Can Sing.
As part of Japan Music Week Gamuso presents a distinctly international flavour for your aural pleasure. Tokyo legends The Watanabes return to woo you with their sunny indie delights, Flying in from Singapore we have the sultry and whimsical sounds of MONSTER CAT, popping over from Australia we have the delicate and beautiful acoustic styling's of Stu Larsen and local rock goddess the wonder, the unique the hardcore Mana Hardcore.
～DIE! DIE! DIE! JAPAN TOUR2011～2011.06.24(金) @新宿 JAM OPEN 18:30 / START 19:00 , DOOR ¥2,500 W/Flyer ¥2,000 (いずれも 1 ドリンク付) w/The Watanabes,thatta,THEEE BAT
Close out your Monday with indie tunes at Akasaka's friendly Crawfish, where local favourites The Watanabes will be joined by a guest from New Zealand. Lisa Crawley is a major name in her native country, having opened for the likes of Simply Red, John Mayer and Jools Holland on their respective tours of Kiwiland.
They've been called Tokyo's least assuming band (by us), so it's no surprise they're more heart than ego. The Watanabes have just launched their latest album, 'Draw What You Like', and with it they're about to launch their latest music video for their single 'Make Things Better' – a song inspired by the idea of helping others and making a positive difference.
If you thought that the Japanese only went for our hard rock and heavy metal exports, think again. The Watanabes are pure Indie, with floating verses and catchy choruses.
This week's free downloadable BBC Introducing Mixtape features tunes from...The Watanabes... handpicked by Tom Robinson
Music: The Watanabes: "There's Something Wrong","28 Years (Instrumental)","Make Things Better"
This & That Café at Roppongi's SuperDeluxe marks its 30th edition with a celebration of Spoiled and Nostalgic, the new EP from local alt-rock outfit The Watanabes. In addition to these Tokyoites' infectiously catchy tunes, you can look forward to music by art pop band Entrada, soulful singer-songwriter Kate Beck and melodic country rockers Jimmy Binks & The Shakehorns.
Frankly, I feel our esteemed previous editor's Smiths references are off base, though; despite the regional references, offhand delivery and the general melancholic bent of the lyrics, The Watanabes are not flambuoyant and gay in early 80s London: they are slightly spoiled and nostalgic in 21st century Tokyo.
Musiplレーベル第1弾アーチストとして11月17日にアルバムをリリースすることになったThe Watanabes。イギリス人兄弟によるフォークポップユニットの彼ら。その特異なスタンスで活動を続ける姿はまさにmusiplレーベルの第1弾アーチストとして相応しいバンドだ。彼らに音楽への想いを聞いてみた。
発売日 2017年11月17日 規格品番 MSPL-00001 レーベル musipl SKU 4946583700011
On Sunday October 19, 2014 British brothers Duncan and Selwyn from the Tokyo band The Watanabes joined DJ Guy Perryman and performed a couple of songs live at Brew Dog Bar, Roppongi. They also selected their top 10 favourite 80's tunes!!
And last but not least are one of Tokyo's favorite bands, The Watanabes. I was thinking about putting a Belle & Sebastian song in here, but then I changed my mind. Everyone already knows Belle & Sebastian and if you like them, you'll definitely like The Watanabes.
Guy started spinning Hummingbird every December thinking the song had a Christmas feel and in early 2020 approached The Watanabes with the remix idea – adding festive flourishes, tweaking the lyrics and re-releasing as a Christmas season tune.The brothers agreed and asked their regular studio collaborator and producer David Naughton to re-work the track and "Christmas Hummingbird" was on its way.Guy brought in composer Nicholas Buc, who has conducted for many major international symphony orchestras, to write the string arrangement...
ゲストには「Christmas Hummingbird」をGPSでヘビロテしたThe Watanabesがリモートで登場！この曲は、数年前The Watanabesがリリースした"Hummingbird"を聴くたびにクリスマスの雰囲気を感じていたGUYの声がけにより、制作チームが再集結してクリスマスバージョンとしてリミックスした楽曲となっています
Radio broadcaster and frequent ACUMEN contributor Guy Perryman MBE has noted the song's Christmas feel since its release and approached The Watanabes in early 2020 with the idea of remixing it.
...The awards segment of the evening concluded with the world premiere of the music video for "Christmas Hummingbird," by Tokyo-based band The Watanabes....
Closing out the event, British Indie-Pop duo, The Watanabes shared a final message and played the premiere of their new song, Christmas Hummingbird, with the stunning video visuals produced by Adorkable!
Ein Plakat vorsichtig an den Rand der Tür drapiert kündigte an, dass The Watanabes an diesen Abend zu Gast sein würden... Auf die Bühnen waren die vier Bandmitglieder und sangen und spielten den angenehmen Indie-Pop.
Danny Goes Aum: Director and Producer: Sandeep Mohan. A spiritual and emotional journey of a burned-out British video editor Danny, as he travels to the same beach town in Goa (India) where his hippie parents had met back in the 70s.
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