Tomo Yasuda
Encyclopedia
Tomo Yasuda is a Japan
ese-American
electronic music
ian, who is based out of San Francisco. He has recorded as a solo artist, and as a member of the bands The Boy Explodes, hey willpower
, and Tussle
.
Tomo's first recorded release was "Death Rock Booty Call" (2003), with his band The Boy Explodes. This project included singer Shane Frink and drummer Ryan Brundage, and was described by the San Francisco Bay Guardian as "gloomy", "melancholic", "disco punk", "screamo
", "dark, emotional music", "reverbed-out ghosts of Bauhaus
, the Cure
, and Joy Division
, as well as Gary Numan
and even Devo
", belied by a colorful, even cheerful physical appearance.
Next came two recordings with Will Schwartz
and their dance pop group hey willpower
; "hey willpower" (2005) and "PDA" (2006). (See main article
.)
In 2006 Tomo released a solo record called Too Many Birthdays, from his own label called The Daft Alliance. Collaborators included Nathan Burazer (of Tussle
), Nathan Berlinguette (of Creation is Crucifixion
), Colter Jacobsen
(Devendra Banhart
collaborator), and Window Window.
The label states that:
In 2007 Tomo joined psychedelic
/visual
/neo-thrash band Tussle
, playing bass guitar
. Tussle has been described as "Re-igniting the flame of experimentalism, Californian four-piece Tussle have emerged as pioneers of a new Krautrock-infused rhythmrock hybrid. Putting a pair of drummers at the forefront of their songs, the San Francisco based band has breathed new life into postpsychedelic art rock."
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-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
ian, who is based out of San Francisco. He has recorded as a solo artist, and as a member of the bands The Boy Explodes, hey willpower
Hey willpower
Hey Willpower is an American pop band, led by vocalist Will Schwartz and electronic musician Tomo Yasuda , with rotating collaborators including musicians and dancers.-History:...
, and Tussle
Tussle
Tussle is a four-piece band from San Francisco, USA, formed in 2001. The band released its first album, Kling Klang, in 2004 on Troubleman Unlimited records.- Discography :* Frisco Styles, compilation , 2003...
.
Tomo's first recorded release was "Death Rock Booty Call" (2003), with his band The Boy Explodes. This project included singer Shane Frink and drummer Ryan Brundage, and was described by the San Francisco Bay Guardian as "gloomy", "melancholic", "disco punk", "screamo
Screamo
Screamo, though used loosely to generally describe music that features screamed vocals, is actually a musical subgenre of hardcore punk which predominantly evolved from emo, among other genres, in the early 1990s...
", "dark, emotional music", "reverbed-out ghosts of Bauhaus
Bauhaus (band)
Bauhaus was an English rock band formed in Northampton in 1978. The group consisted of Peter Murphy , Daniel Ash , Kevin Haskins and David J . The band was originally Bauhaus 1919 before they dropped the numerical portion within a year of formation...
, the Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
, and Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
, as well as Gary Numan
Gary Numan
Gary Numan is an English singer, composer, and musician, most widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars". His signature sound consisted of heavy synthesizer hooks fed through guitar effects pedals.Numan is considered a pioneer of commercial electronic music...
and even Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
", belied by a colorful, even cheerful physical appearance.
Next came two recordings with Will Schwartz
Will Schwartz
Will Schwartz is an American pop musician, and a member of the band Imperial Teen, whose debut album Seasick was released in 1996.Of the "queer alt-rockers Imperial Teen," one New York Times reviewer wrote that "though every song on the album is good, the best are the ones about homosexuality ,...
and their dance pop group hey willpower
Hey willpower
Hey Willpower is an American pop band, led by vocalist Will Schwartz and electronic musician Tomo Yasuda , with rotating collaborators including musicians and dancers.-History:...
; "hey willpower" (2005) and "PDA" (2006). (See main article
Hey willpower
Hey Willpower is an American pop band, led by vocalist Will Schwartz and electronic musician Tomo Yasuda , with rotating collaborators including musicians and dancers.-History:...
.)
In 2006 Tomo released a solo record called Too Many Birthdays, from his own label called The Daft Alliance. Collaborators included Nathan Burazer (of Tussle
Tussle
Tussle is a four-piece band from San Francisco, USA, formed in 2001. The band released its first album, Kling Klang, in 2004 on Troubleman Unlimited records.- Discography :* Frisco Styles, compilation , 2003...
), Nathan Berlinguette (of Creation is Crucifixion
Creation Is Crucifixion
Creation Is Crucifixion is a mathcore band that was formed in early 1997 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The band was known for its complicated sound, which varied from ambient noise to more complex pieces...
), Colter Jacobsen
Colter Jacobsen
Colter Jacobsen is an American artist based in San Francisco. His work includes drawings, paintings and installations.-Life:Jacobsen was born in Ramona, California and had a Mormon upbringing there. He later moved to San Francisco and studied at the San Francisco Art Institute...
(Devendra Banhart
Devendra Banhart
Devendra Obi Banhart is a singer-songwriter and visual artist. Banhart was born in Houston, Texas and was raised by his mother in Venezuela, until he moved to California as a teenager. He began to study at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1998, but dropped out to perform music in Europe, San...
collaborator), and Window Window.
The label states that:
In 2007 Tomo joined psychedelic
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
/visual
Visual music
Visual music, sometimes called "colour music," refers to the use of musical structures in visual imagery, which can also include silent films or silent Lumia work. It also refers to methods or devices which can translate sounds or music into a related visual presentation...
/neo-thrash band Tussle
Tussle
Tussle is a four-piece band from San Francisco, USA, formed in 2001. The band released its first album, Kling Klang, in 2004 on Troubleman Unlimited records.- Discography :* Frisco Styles, compilation , 2003...
, playing bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
. Tussle has been described as "Re-igniting the flame of experimentalism, Californian four-piece Tussle have emerged as pioneers of a new Krautrock-infused rhythmrock hybrid. Putting a pair of drummers at the forefront of their songs, the San Francisco based band has breathed new life into postpsychedelic art rock."