Schwarz Stein
Encyclopedia
Schwarz Stein was a Japan
ese visual kei
electronic music duo formed by Hora (洞) and Kaya (迦夜)
in 2001 (as "Rudolf Steiner") and disbanded in 2004.
on vocals (ex-Isola) and Hora (ex-Velvet Eden) as keyboardist and programmer. The two originally worked together under the alias Rudolf Steiner until their signing to ex-Malice Mizer
guitarist Mana
's record label Midi:Nette. Upon their 're-formation', Mana discarded the name Rudolf Steiner and christened the duo "Schwarz Stein" (pseudo-German for "Black Stone").
Prior to their name change, two demo tapes (Queen of Decadence and Perfect Garden) had been released. A re-worked version of Perfect Garden was later created as their Midi:Nette debut single. Schwarz Stein went on to release their first full album New Vogue Children in June 2003, the single Current in November of the same year, and then their final album Artificial Hallucination in February 2004. They opened for Moi dix Mois
on several occasions, played at various events, and also made a number solo appearances as well.
Following their last performance on March 29, 2004, Schwarz Stein officially disbanded due to creative differences between its two members. The band was briefly reunited for the "Dis Inferno III: Last Year Party" event on December 15, 2004, hosted by their former label Midi:Nette.
A collaboration CD, Another Cell, was released in April 2006, limited to 1000 copies and only available for order through Kaya's official site. This limited edition CD features re-mixed/re-worked versions of Rudolf Steiner's "Kuro Ageha" as well as several songs from Hora's first CD Inner Universe, making up three of the eight total tracks.
In April 2011, both members announced on their respective web sites that Schwarz Stein would reunite for a single show on July 31 at Takadanobaba Area, to celebrate their 10th anniversary of working together. Tickets were also made available to overseas fans via CD Japan. A new mini-album, Recurrence of Hallucination, was also announced.
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 visual kei
Visual Kei
is a movement among Japanese musicians, that is characterized by the use of make-up, elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics. Some sources state that visual kei refers to a music genre, or to a sub-genre of Japanese rock, with its...
electronic music duo formed by Hora (洞) and Kaya (迦夜)
Kaya (Japanese musician)
is a Japanese visual kei musician, who was vocalist of the now defunct electro/darkwave duo Schwarz Stein , and also Meties and Isola under the alias of Hime. Originally on Mana's record label, Midi:Nette, Kaya recently signed to , and the label's name was changed to Kaya is also known for his...
in 2001 (as "Rudolf Steiner") and disbanded in 2004.
History
During its three years of activity, the group consisted of KayaKaya (Japanese musician)
is a Japanese visual kei musician, who was vocalist of the now defunct electro/darkwave duo Schwarz Stein , and also Meties and Isola under the alias of Hime. Originally on Mana's record label, Midi:Nette, Kaya recently signed to , and the label's name was changed to Kaya is also known for his...
on vocals (ex-Isola) and Hora (ex-Velvet Eden) as keyboardist and programmer. The two originally worked together under the alias Rudolf Steiner until their signing to ex-Malice Mizer
Malice Mizer
Malice Mizer was a visual kei rock band from Japan. They were active from August 1992 to December 2001. Formed by Mana and Közi, the band's name stands for "malice and misery", extracted from "nothing but a being of malice and misery" — their reply to the question "what is human?"...
guitarist Mana
Mana (musician)
Mana is a Japanese musician and fashion designer, best known for his role as leader and guitarist of the visual kei band Malice Mizer. His clothing label, Moi-même-Moitié, helped popularize Japan's Gothic Lolita fashion movement. Mana is currently working on his solo project Moi dix...
's record label Midi:Nette. Upon their 're-formation', Mana discarded the name Rudolf Steiner and christened the duo "Schwarz Stein" (pseudo-German for "Black Stone").
Prior to their name change, two demo tapes (Queen of Decadence and Perfect Garden) had been released. A re-worked version of Perfect Garden was later created as their Midi:Nette debut single. Schwarz Stein went on to release their first full album New Vogue Children in June 2003, the single Current in November of the same year, and then their final album Artificial Hallucination in February 2004. They opened for Moi dix Mois
Moi dix Mois
Moi dix Mois is a musical project founded by Japanese musician and fashion designer Mana in 2002 after his previous band, Malice Mizer, paused activities.- History :...
on several occasions, played at various events, and also made a number solo appearances as well.
Following their last performance on March 29, 2004, Schwarz Stein officially disbanded due to creative differences between its two members. The band was briefly reunited for the "Dis Inferno III: Last Year Party" event on December 15, 2004, hosted by their former label Midi:Nette.
A collaboration CD, Another Cell, was released in April 2006, limited to 1000 copies and only available for order through Kaya's official site. This limited edition CD features re-mixed/re-worked versions of Rudolf Steiner's "Kuro Ageha" as well as several songs from Hora's first CD Inner Universe, making up three of the eight total tracks.
In April 2011, both members announced on their respective web sites that Schwarz Stein would reunite for a single show on July 31 at Takadanobaba Area, to celebrate their 10th anniversary of working together. Tickets were also made available to overseas fans via CD Japan. A new mini-album, Recurrence of Hallucination, was also announced.
Members
- KayaKaya (Japanese musician)is a Japanese visual kei musician, who was vocalist of the now defunct electro/darkwave duo Schwarz Stein , and also Meties and Isola under the alias of Hime. Originally on Mana's record label, Midi:Nette, Kaya recently signed to , and the label's name was changed to Kaya is also known for his...
- Vocals, lyricsLyricistA lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:... - Hora - KeyboardsKeyboardistA keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
, programmingProgramming (music)Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...
as Rudolf Steiner
- Queen of Decadence (DemoDemo (music)A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
) (June 1, 2001) - Perfect Garden (DemoDemo (music)A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
) (November 12, 2001)
Singles
- Perfect GardenPerfect Garden"Perfect Garden" is the first single by Japanese band Schwarz Stein, released in 2002.-Track listing:#"Perfect Garden" – 3:47#"Beautiful the Virgin" – 4:13-Personnel:* Kaya - Vocals, lyrics...
(SingleSingle (music)In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
) - (July 31, 2002) - CurrentCurrent (single)"Current" is the second and last single by Japanese band Schwarz Stein, released in 2003.The first print of the single came with a limited poster and a special "Message CD" with spoken message from the band.-Track listing:...
(SingleSingle (music)In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
) - (November 17, 2003)
Albums
- New vogue childrenNew vogue childrenNew vogue children is the first album by Japanese band Schwarz Stein, released in 2003.The first print of the album came with a limited poster and a special "Message CD" with spoken message from the band.-Track listing:...
- (June 30, 2003) - Artificial HallucinationArtificial HallucinationArtificial Hallucination is the second and last album by Japanese band Schwarz Stein, released in 2004.The first print of the album came with a limited poster and a special "Message CD" with spoken message from the band.-Track listing:...
- (February 25, 2004) - Recurrence of Hallucination - (July 20, 2011) [limited to 1000 copies]
as another cell
- another cell (April 1, 2006) [limited to 1000 copies]
Kaya's solo
- Kaleidoscope (SingleSingle (music)In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
) - (June 28, 2006) [limited to 1000 copies] - MasqueradeMasquerade (Kaya album)Masquerade is the second single by Kaya released on September 6th, 2006. The single peaked at 13th on the Oricon Indies charts during the first week of its release....
(SingleSingle (music)In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
) - (September 6, 2006) - GlitterGlitter (Kaya album)Glitter is the debut album of ex-Schwarz Stein vocalist Kaya, released on December 27, 2006.Glitter contains remixes Kaya's first two singles "Kaleidoscope" and "Masquerade", as well as "Psycho Butterfly", the B-side of "Masquerade"...
- (December 27, 2006) [limited to 1000 copies] - 桜花繚乱Ouka ryouran"桜花繚乱" is the third single by Kaya , released on April 4, 2007.With a 「桜」 theme present in both songs, the single appropriately heralds the beginning of spring....
(SingleSingle (music)In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
) - (April 4, 2007) - 百鬼夜行Hyakki Yagyouis the first mini-album by Kaya, released on July 11, 2007.Hyakki Yagyou contains five tracks, all of which share the theme of「夜」. The title is derived from the Japanese folk belief of demons parading the streets during summer evenings...
- (July 11, 2007) - Carmilla - (October 31, 2007)
- ショコラChocolat (Kaya Single)is the fifth single and major label debut of Kaya, released on April 23, 2008.The title track, "Chocolat," is composed by Hora...
- (April 23, 2008) - Last Snow - (2008)
- Ophelia - (2009)
- Kaya Remix vol.1 - (2010)
- Awilda - (2010)
- マダムローザの娼館 - (2010)
Hora's solo
- Inner Universe (2005)
- The World (2005)
- Prominence (2006)
- Venom (2007)
- Icebound (2007)
- Reign (2008)
- domiNATE (2009)
- WISDOM (2010)