Suchmos

Suchmos is a Japanese rock group formed in 2013. Suchmos was inspired by black music such as rock, jazz, and hip-hop. The band's name, Suchmos, is adapted from a jazz musician Louis Armstrong’s nickname, “Satchmo”.[1][2]

Suchmos
OriginKanagawa, Japan
Genres
Years active2013–present
LabelsSpace Shower Music (2015–2017)
F.C.L.S. (2017–present)
Websitesuchmos.com
MembersYonce (Vocals)
Taiking (Guitar)
Hsu (Bass)
OK (Drums)
Kcee (DJ)
Taihei (Keyboards)
Past membersAyustat (Guitar)

History

2013: Formation and earlier days

Yonce, Taiking, Hsu, OK, Kcee, and Taihei were playmates. OK and Kcee are brothers. OK, Taiking, and Hsu are childhood friends from elementary school. Kcee and Yonce are acquaintances from high school days; Taihei is Hsu's junior at college. They gathered at OK's and Kcee's house at night and watching YouTube, singing, dancing, and playing.

In January 2013, OK formed Suchmos with Yonce, Hsu, Ayustat, and a support member, Taihei. Kcee accompanied the band as a video group.[3] The band's name, Suchmos, comes from a jazz musician Louis Armstrong’s nickname, “Satchmo”. The first live appearance was decided prior to deciding the band's name. While Yonce was suffering at the rehearsal studio of Tokyo University at that time, pictures of Armstrong flowed to the monitor there. Hsu who was studying jazz music saw it and said that Louis Armstrong is "Satchmo". They liked the sound and adopted it as the band's name.[4]

2014–2016: The Bay

On April 8, 2015, Space Shower Music released the band's debut EP Essence.[5] From this work, the music video of "Fallin" which directed by Kcee was released.[6] In the same year, the guitarist Ayustat left the band,[7] then Kcee and Taiking joined as new members.[8] Taihei who was a support member became an official member.

On July 8, 2015, the band's first studio album The Bay was released. It peaked at 26th on the Oricon weekly chart[9] and 16th on Billboard Japan Top Albums.[10] The lead single "YMM" from the album peaked at 44th on Billboard Japan Hot 100 and 2nd on J-Wave Tokio Hot 100.[11] In December 2015, they won Best New Artist for the annual feature project "Apple Music Best of 2015".[12] On December 12, 2015, their first independent event "Suchmos the Blow Your Mind vol.1" was held at Roppongi Super Deluxe.[13] It is a voluntary event which was held regularly by inviting artists respected by Suchmos. Sol & Pimp Sessions appeared as the first guest.

On January 17, 2016, they released the second EP Love&Vice.[14] It reached Top 15th on the Oricon chart,[15] and peaked at 1st on the iTunes General Album chart. The EP's lead song "Stay Tune" won the first place at J-Wave Tokio Hot 100.[11] In September 2016, it was used as a commercial song of Honda Motor's compact SUV "Vezel".[16] On the Billboard Japan Hot 100, it reached the top ten rankings, played the first major music chart top 10 through albums and singles.[17]

From April 2 to April 23, 2016, their first nationwide live tour Tour Love&Vice was held. On July 6, 2016, they released the third EP Mint Condition.[18] The music video of lead song "Mint" (directed by maxilla) was produced collaborating with Levi's and won The Best New Artist Video of the 15th MTV Video Music Awards Japan.[19] The song "Mint" peaked at 16th on Billboard Japan Hot 100.[20]

From October 16 to October 29, 2016, the band's first one-man tour Tour Mint Condition was held. An additional performance entitled Tour Mint Condition Extra Show was held on November 11, 2016.[21]

2017–present: The Kids, The Ashtray, and The Anymal

On January 25, 2017, Suchmos released their second studio album The Kids. On Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales chart, it peaked at the second place.[22] Through a single album, they reached the first Oricon chart Top 3 entry.[23]

In March 2017, they participated in Petroz's tribute album Where, Who, What Is Petrolz? and covered "Rain".[24]

On June 20, 2018, they released their first mini-album The Ashtray featuring the lead single 808.

On March 27, 2019, they released their third studio album The Anymal, an album showcasing their biggest musical change in direction since their formation.

Musical style

Suchmos' music includes elements such as rock, soul, jazz, hip-hop and so on. Former editor-in-chief of Tower Record's free paper "bounce", Daisaku Nishio points out that Suchmos's music has a great influence from black music such as 1970's soul and funk, acid jazz, and 1990's R&B. They are digesting the influences from various genres of jazz, alternative rock, hip-hop, neo soul, and the current Western music scene.[25]

Band members
Current members
  • Yonce (Kasai Yosuke, born August 28, 1991) — vocals (2013–present)
  • Taiking (Totsuka Taiki, born May 1990) — guitar[26] (2015–present)
  • Hsu (Kosugi Hayata, born 1989) — bass (2013–present)
  • OK (Ohara Kento, Kcee's brother, born August 27, 1990) — drums, DJ (2013–present)
  • Kcee (Ohara Kaiki, born September 18, 1992) — DJ[26] (2015–present)
  • Taihei (Sakurauchi Taihei, born July 1992) — keyboards (2013–present)
Former members
  • Ayustat — guitar (2013–2015)

Discography

Studio albums
Year Title Peak charts Sales[27]
Oricon[28] Billboard Japan Top Album TWN
East Asia
2015 The Bay 26 16[10]
  • JPN: 76,126
2017 The Kids
  • 2nd studio album
  • Released: January 25, 2017
  • Label: Space Shower Music
 2 1[29]
  • JPN: 157,211
2018 The Ashtray
  • 3rd studio album
  • Released: June 20, 2018
  • Label: F.C.L.S.
 2 2
2019 The Anymal
  • 4th studio album
  • Released: March 27, 2019
  • Label: F.C.L.S.
 4 2 1[30]

EPs
Year Title Peak charts
Oricon[32] Billboard Japan Top Album
2014 Essence 84 —
2016 Love&Vice
  • Released: January 27, 2015
  • Label: Space Shower Music
 15[15] —
Mint Condition
  • Released: July 6, 2016
  • Label: Space Shower Music
 14 —

Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015 Suchmos Apple Music Best of 2015 — Best New Artist [33] Won
2016 The Bay CD Shop Awards — 関東ブロック賞 (Kanto Block Prize)[34] Won
Mint MTV Video Music Awards Japan — Best New Artist Video [19] Won
2017 Suchmos Space Shower Music AWARDS — Best Breakthrough Artist [35] Won
gollark: Done.
gollark: I'll inform our apiologistic apiarists.
gollark: Come up with a story of having an Apple device of some sort.
gollark: Imagine it abstractly/verbally?
gollark: Besides, this is what imagination offload is for.

References
  1. "biography". August 8, 2015.
  2. Yompool, Warut (2015-08-21). "Suchmos "The Bay"". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2016-10-22.
  3. "音楽と映画のフリーペーパー FLYING POSTMAN PRESS（フライング・ポストマン・プレス）". flying-postman.com.
  4. "Suchmos バンド名で仲間割れ？ 決着は半年後か | J-WAVE NEWS". news.j-wave.fm.
  5. "横浜発のスケーター4人組バンドSuchmos、デビューシングルは『Essence』". CINRA.NET.
  6. "Suchmos、デビューシングル『Essence』より「Fallin'」MV公開＆リリパにAunbeatz、DATS". March 20, 2015.
  7. "Suchmos、新作EP『LOVE&VICE』をハイレゾ配信＆インタヴュー公開!". ototoy.jp.
  9. "THE BAY | Suchmos". ORICON NEWS.
  10. "THE BAY / Suchmos | CHART insight". Billboard JAPAN.
  11. "J-WAVE WEBSITE : TOKIO HOT100". www.j-wave.co.jp.
  13. "Suchmos、初自主企画のゲストにSOIL&"PIMP" SESSIONS". BARKS.
  14. "Suchmos、2nd EP『LOVE＆VICE』リリース＆初の全国ツアー開催決定". December 12, 2015.
  15. "LOVE&VICE | Suchmos". ORICON NEWS.
  16. "Suchmos「STAY TUNE」が Honda「VEZEL」新CM曲に決定！ (2016.09.09) | SPACE SHOWER MUSIC". SPACE SHOWER MUSIC （スペースシャワーミュージック）.
  17. "Billboard Japan Hot 100 | Charts". Billboard JAPAN.
  18. "Suchmos、待望の新作『MINT CONDITION』リリース決定！". Qetic. April 23, 2016.
  19. "MTV VMAJ 2016 最優秀邦楽新人アーティストビデオ賞にSuchmos「MINT」のMVが受賞！ (2016.10.03) | SPACE SHOWER MUSIC". SPACE SHOWER MUSIC （スペースシャワーミュージック）.
  20. "MINT / Suchmos | CHART insight". Billboard JAPAN.
  21. Department, Skream! Editorial. "Suchmos、ワンマン・ツアー"TOUR MINT CONDITION"追加公演を11/1に横浜Bay Hallにて開催決定". Skream! 邦楽ロック・洋楽ロック ポータルサイト.
  22. "【ビルボード】AKB48『サムネイル』674,033枚を売り上げアルバム・セールス1位に | Daily News". Billboard JAPAN.
  23. "【オリコン】AKB48、7作目のアルバム首位 初週60万枚超え". ORICON NEWS.
  24. Inc, Natasha. "ペトロールズのトリビュート盤にオリラブ、Suchmos、SOIL、デリコNAOKIら". 音楽ナタリー.
  25. "CMで話題、サチモスの音楽がただただカッコイイ 洋楽と同じ地平で音を鳴らす新進バンドたち | JBpress（Japan Business Press）". JBpress（日本ビジネスプレス）.
  26. "Suchmosに新メンバー2人加入＆7月に初のフルアルバム - 音楽ナタリー". Natalie.mu. Retrieved 2016-10-22.
  27. オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」　－CD・ブルーレイ・DVD・書籍・コミック－. Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  28. "Suchmosのアルバム売上ランキング". ORICON NEWS.
  29. "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts". Billboard JAPAN.
  30. "風雲榜:玫瑰大眾購物網". web.archive.org. 2019-04-25. Archived from the original on 2019-04-25. Retrieved 2019-09-16.
  31. 週間 CDアルバムランキング 2019年04月08日付 [Weekly CD Album Ranking on April 8, 2019]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  32. "Suchmosのシングル売上ランキング". ORICON NEWS.
  33. "Suchmosが「Apple Music Best of 2015」のベストニューアーティストに選出！ (2015.12.10) | SPACE SHOWER MUSIC". SPACE SHOWER MUSIC （スペースシャワーミュージック）.
  34. Department, Skream! Editorial. "第8回CDショップ大賞2016、大賞は星野源『YELLOW DANCER』に決定。水曜日のカンパネラ、back number、米津玄師、夜の本気ダンス、Suchmosら各受賞作品も発表". Skream! 邦楽ロック・洋楽ロック ポータルサイト.
  35. "「SPACE SHOWER MUSIC AWARDS」24部門の受賞結果発表。最優秀アーティストはRADWIMPS". BARKS.
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