Atsushi Matsuura
Encyclopedia
Atsushi Matsuura is a Japan
ese guitarist
born in Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture
. He currently resides in the Philippines
.
, an exclusive school for children of Japanese expatriate
s in the Philippines at that time. He went back to his home country for senior high. He transferred to the International School in Manila
a year after, where he graduated in 1986. He again returned to Japan and attended Sophia University
in Tokyo
for college.
Music came naturally to Matsuura. His grandfather played violin
and his mom, the piano
. He took piano lessons at the age of 7, attending ELECTONE (Yamaha Electric Organ) classes until 11 years of age. Just a lesson away from course completion, he shifted his interest to guitars. At age 12, he would own his very first electric guitar. He stuck to playing the instrument even after taking drum lessons.
In 1989, Atsushi would officially join The Dawn
, one of the most popular local rock bands of that period, having spawned hits such as "Enveloped Ideas" and "I Stand With You".
He left the music scene from 1990-1999. During this period, he set up two companies providing business assistance and information technology consultancy mainly to Japanese individuals and companies in Manila. He rejoined the The Dawn in late 1999 when the band reunited, playing in key cities in the Philippines, a 8-city concert tour in the United States
and a music festival in Ho Chi Minh City
, Vietnam
. Atsushi quit the band in the last quarter of 2004, after three studio albums and a live album.
Also in 2004, Atsushi joined “Mah’tiggahz” band (which means “Matigas” or “Hard”)
Mah’tiggahz is composed of Atsushi Matsuura on guitars, Mon Legaspi (of Wolfgang
and The Dawn
) on bass, Bennii Obaña on drums, Jeremy Aguado on lead vocals and Perf de Castro (of Rivermaya
and TriAxis) also on guitars.
), Gary Moore
, Yngwie Malmsteen and John Norum
his musical influences. Rock, however, has not prevented him from liking a variety of genres. He also listens to pop music M2M
, pop opera Sarah Brightman
, trance Paul Van Dyke
, Jazz Hiromi
and Japanese pop singer Aiko
, among many others.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
born in Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture
Nagano Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...
. He currently resides in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
Early life
He attended primary school at the Manila Japanese SchoolManila Japanese School
The Manila Japanese School is an international school catering mainly to Japanese people who are residing in Taguig City, Philippines.-Location:...
, an exclusive school for children of Japanese expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
s in the Philippines at that time. He went back to his home country for senior high. He transferred to the International School in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
a year after, where he graduated in 1986. He again returned to Japan and attended Sophia University
Sophia University
There are several rankings below related to Sophia University.-General Rankings:The university was ranked 61st in 2010 in the ranking Truly Strong Universities by Toyo Keizai...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
for college.
Music came naturally to Matsuura. His grandfather played violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and his mom, the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. He took piano lessons at the age of 7, attending ELECTONE (Yamaha Electric Organ) classes until 11 years of age. Just a lesson away from course completion, he shifted his interest to guitars. At age 12, he would own his very first electric guitar. He stuck to playing the instrument even after taking drum lessons.
Career
In December 1988, he went back to the Philippines for vacation. Earlier that year, he released a solo album entitled "INCUBUS", which was distributed by Ivory Records. While doing some gigs in connection with the solo album, he was introduced to a band which had lost its founding guitarist Teddy Diaz, who was murdered.In 1989, Atsushi would officially join The Dawn
The Dawn (band)
The Dawn is a Filipino rock band which first achieved commercial success during the late 1980s in the Philippines. The band broke up in 1995 with lead vocalist Jett Pangan forming another band, the Jett Pangan Group. The Dawn reunited in late 1999...
, one of the most popular local rock bands of that period, having spawned hits such as "Enveloped Ideas" and "I Stand With You".
He left the music scene from 1990-1999. During this period, he set up two companies providing business assistance and information technology consultancy mainly to Japanese individuals and companies in Manila. He rejoined the The Dawn in late 1999 when the band reunited, playing in key cities in the Philippines, a 8-city concert tour in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and a music festival in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. Atsushi quit the band in the last quarter of 2004, after three studio albums and a live album.
Also in 2004, Atsushi joined “Mah’tiggahz” band (which means “Matigas” or “Hard”)
Mah’tiggahz is composed of Atsushi Matsuura on guitars, Mon Legaspi (of Wolfgang
Wolfgang (Filipino band)
Wolfgang is a Filipino heavy metal, hard rock and grunge band formed around 1992 in Manila, Philippines. Wolfgang is notable for being the only Filipino rock band to release albums in Japan and the United States and for realizing Platinum record sales in their home country...
and The Dawn
The Dawn (band)
The Dawn is a Filipino rock band which first achieved commercial success during the late 1980s in the Philippines. The band broke up in 1995 with lead vocalist Jett Pangan forming another band, the Jett Pangan Group. The Dawn reunited in late 1999...
) on bass, Bennii Obaña on drums, Jeremy Aguado on lead vocals and Perf de Castro (of Rivermaya
Rivermaya
Rivermaya is one of the most influential, critically acclaimed and significant Filipino rock band formed in 1993. They are one of the several bands who spearheads the 90s Philippine alternative rock explosion...
and TriAxis) also on guitars.
Influences and musical preferences
He considers Shinichiro Ishihara (guitarist of the Japanese band, EarthshakerEarthshaker (band)
is a Japanese heavy metal band that was formed in 1978 in Osaka. Their earlier music was very similar in style to countrymen Loudness and Anthem, but the band steered toward a poppier sound on later albums and dropped from worldwide view, preferring to record and tour in their home country...
), Gary Moore
Gary Moore
Robert William Gary Moore , better known simply as Gary Moore, was a Northern Irish musician from Belfast, best recognised as a blues rock guitarist and singer....
, Yngwie Malmsteen and John Norum
John Norum
John Norum is a rock music guitarist and founder of the Swedish band Europe . Concurrent to his role with Europe, he also maintains a side solo project...
his musical influences. Rock, however, has not prevented him from liking a variety of genres. He also listens to pop music M2M
M2M (band)
M2M was a pop music duo formed by two Norwegians, Marion Elise Raven and Marit Elisabeth Larsen. They released three albums under Atlantic Records and Warner Music: Shades of Purple, The Big Room, and The Day You Went Away: The Best of M2M, a greatest hits album released by their record label after...
, pop opera Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman is an English classical crossover soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is famous for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves and singing in the whistle register...
, trance Paul Van Dyke
Paul Van Dyke
Paul Van Dyke was an American historian, brother of Henry Van Dyke. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, graduated from Princeton in 1881 and from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1884, and studied at Berlin in 1884–85. He was a Presbyterian minister at Geneva, N. Y...
, Jazz Hiromi
Hiromi
Hiromi Uehara , known as Hiromi, is a jazz composer and pianist born in Hamamatsu, Japan. She is known for her virtuosic technique, energetic live performances and blend of musical genres such as jazz, progressive rock, classical and fusion in her compositions.- History :Hiromi started learning...
and Japanese pop singer Aiko
Aiko (singer)
Aiko is a J-Pop singer-songwriter and vocalist. She studied popular music vocals at the Osaka College of Music, and after graduating in 1996, she became a DJ on FM Osaka...
, among many others.
Discography
- Incubus / Ivory Records (1988)
- Beyond the Bend / Octoarts EMI (1989)
- Prodigal Sun / Sony Music Philippines (2000)
- Harapin / Warner Philippines (2004)
- Tulad ng Dati / Warner Philippines (2006)