Towa Tei
Encyclopedia
is a DJ, artist
and record producer
(born Dong-hwa Chung, on September 7, 1964) in Yokahoma, Japan.
Tōwa debuted as a member of Deee-Lite
, from the U.S.
label
Elektra Records
in 1990, and shot to fame via their international hit single
, "Groove Is In the Heart
". His solo was with his album Future Listening!
in 1994 and he has since relocated back from New York to rural Nagano prefecture
in Japan
His concept party, "Hotel H", started in 2009 as a social spot for music industry people in Tokyo.
. While studying at Musashino Art University
Junior College of Art and Design he sent his tape to a radio program of Ryuichi Sakamoto
titled "Sound Street".
In 1987 Towa moved to the US to study graphic design and joined house act Deee-Lite
, a trio with Super DJ Dmitri and Lady Miss Kier
, enjoying almost instant success after debuting in 1990 with their album World Clique
and the single "Groove Is In the Heart
".
In 1994 Towa returned to Japan after seven years in New York. He hinted in a 2011 interview that his time with Deee-Lite
made him ill, though he didn't expand on the reasons why. Towa debuted as a solo act with Future Listening!
that same year, incorporating an array of musical styles, including electronic, bossa nova, house, jazz and pop. It featured collaborations with Joi Cardwell
, Bebel Gilberto
, MC Kinky, Hiroshi Takano
, Ryuichi Sakamoto
, Haruomi Hosono
, Toshihiko Mori, Satoshi Tomiie
, Yuichi Oki of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
and Pizzicato Five
vocalist Maki Nomiya
.
Sound Museum
followed in 1997, then Last Century Modern
in 1999. 2002 brought the album Towa Tei, under the pseudonym Sweet Robots Against the Machine
. Flash surfaced in 2005 by which time Towa was DJing regularly in Japan. He has admitted though, that he doesn't enjoy performing and prefers producing and using computers.
Big Fun, featuring Verbal
and Mademoiselle Yulia
was released in 2009 and was the third album to feature the artwork of San Franciscan painter and graffiti artist Barry McGee
.. For the album, Towa utilized MySpace
to collaborate with artists from around the world even if he didn't know them, such as with German act Taprikk Sweezee. Another collaborator he worked with for Big Fun was Miho Hatori
of Cibo Matto
, though they also only met on MySpace
.
Towa has also established his own creative company, hug inc, which among other things, manufacturers his trademark sunglasses.
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
(born Dong-hwa Chung, on September 7, 1964) in Yokahoma, Japan.
Tōwa debuted as a member of Deee-Lite
Deee-Lite
Deee-Lite was an American house and club/dance group, formed in New York City, United States. The group's best-known single was "Groove Is in the Heart", from their 1990 debut album, World Clique. However, Deee-Lite achieved longer lasting success on the U.S...
, from the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
in 1990, and shot to fame via their international hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
, "Groove Is In the Heart
Groove Is in the Heart
"Groove Is in the Heart" is a song by dance music band Deee-Lite from their debut album, World Clique. Released as a single in late 1990, it was a hit in many countries, including in Australia where it was a number-one hit.-Background:...
". His solo was with his album Future Listening!
Future Listening!
Future Listening! is the debut solo album from Japanese electronic musician Towa Tei. It was Tei's first release after his departure from dance music act Deee-Lite....
in 1994 and he has since relocated back from New York to rural 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...
in Japan
His concept party, "Hotel H", started in 2009 as a social spot for music industry people in Tokyo.
Biography
Towa began making demo tapes at the age of 16 having bought his first synthesizer, a Korg MS-10Korg MS-10
Korg MS-10 is an analogue synthesizer created by Korg in the mid to late 1970s. Unlike its bigger brother , the MS-10 only has one VCO per voice.The MS-10 is well known for its huge sounding electro bass sounds....
. While studying at Musashino Art University
Musashino Art University
is a university in Kodaira, western Tokyo founded in 1962 and has roots going back to 1929.Teikoku Art School was founded in 1929; in 1948 it became Musashino Art School , and in 1962 it became Musashino Art University...
Junior College of Art and Design he sent his tape to a radio program of Ryuichi Sakamoto
Ryuichi Sakamoto
After working as a session musician with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi in 1977, the trio formed the internationally successful electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1978. Known for their seminal influence on electronic music, the group helped pioneer electronic genres such as...
titled "Sound Street".
In 1987 Towa moved to the US to study graphic design and joined house act Deee-Lite
Deee-Lite
Deee-Lite was an American house and club/dance group, formed in New York City, United States. The group's best-known single was "Groove Is in the Heart", from their 1990 debut album, World Clique. However, Deee-Lite achieved longer lasting success on the U.S...
, a trio with Super DJ Dmitri and Lady Miss Kier
Lady Miss Kier
Kierin Magenta Kirby , better known by her professional name Lady Miss Kier, is an American singer and DJ.-Personal life:Kirby was born in Youngstown, Ohio and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, enjoying almost instant success after debuting in 1990 with their album World Clique
World Clique
World Clique is the first and best-known album by the dance-music band Deee-Lite, which was released in 1990. The album's first single, "Groove is in the Heart", was a top-five success on both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart as well as a number-one hit on the U.S. Hot Dance Club...
and the single "Groove Is In the Heart
Groove Is in the Heart
"Groove Is in the Heart" is a song by dance music band Deee-Lite from their debut album, World Clique. Released as a single in late 1990, it was a hit in many countries, including in Australia where it was a number-one hit.-Background:...
".
In 1994 Towa returned to Japan after seven years in New York. He hinted in a 2011 interview that his time with Deee-Lite
Deee-Lite
Deee-Lite was an American house and club/dance group, formed in New York City, United States. The group's best-known single was "Groove Is in the Heart", from their 1990 debut album, World Clique. However, Deee-Lite achieved longer lasting success on the U.S...
made him ill, though he didn't expand on the reasons why. Towa debuted as a solo act with Future Listening!
Future Listening!
Future Listening! is the debut solo album from Japanese electronic musician Towa Tei. It was Tei's first release after his departure from dance music act Deee-Lite....
that same year, incorporating an array of musical styles, including electronic, bossa nova, house, jazz and pop. It featured collaborations with Joi Cardwell
Joi Cardwell
Joi Cardwell is a female Biracial Club/Dance, House music and R&B music singer-songwriter.-Career:She has had major success on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, where she placed eight songs in the top ten between 1995 to 2007...
, Bebel Gilberto
Bebel Gilberto
Bebel Gilberto is a Brazilian popular singer often associated with bossa nova. She is the daughter of João Gilberto and singer Miúcha. Her uncle is singer/composer Chico Buarque...
, MC Kinky, Hiroshi Takano
Hiroshi Takano
is a Japanese singer, composer, lyricist, music arranger, guitarist and producer. In the end of 1980s and early 1990s, he succeeded by some records which produced by Todd Rundgren...
, Ryuichi Sakamoto
Ryuichi Sakamoto
After working as a session musician with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi in 1977, the trio formed the internationally successful electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1978. Known for their seminal influence on electronic music, the group helped pioneer electronic genres such as...
, Haruomi Hosono
Haruomi Hosono
, also known as Harry Hosono, is a Japanese popular musician, best known internationally as a key member of the rock band Happy End and the pioneering electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra.-Biography:...
, Toshihiko Mori, Satoshi Tomiie
Satoshi Tomiie
Satoshi Tomiie is a Japanese house-music producer and DJ. He has written music for numerous soundtracks, including for the Animatrix soundtrack and remixed many artists including the Future Sound of London.-History:...
, Yuichi Oki of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
, commonly abbreviated by fans as Skapara or TSPO, is a Japanese ska and jazz band officially formed in 1988 by the percussionist Asa-Chang, and initially composed of over 10 veterans of Tokyo's underground scene...
and Pizzicato Five
Pizzicato Five
Pizzicato Five was a Japanese pop group best known to audiences in the West in their later incarnation as a duo of Maki Nomiya and Yasuharu Konishi...
vocalist Maki Nomiya
Maki Nomiya
is a Japanese singer and musician. She released her first solo album in 1981, and worked through the 1980s as the lead vocalist of the New Wave band Portable Rock. In 1991 she became the lead singer of the band Pizzicato Five. When the group disbanded in 2001 she embarked on a solo career...
.
Sound Museum
Sound Museum
Sound Museum is the second solo album from Japanese electronic musician Towa Tei, released in 1998.Similar to his debut album Future Listening!, Sound Museum incorporates a variety of musical genres, including electronic, hip-hop and jazz. Also included is a bossa nova cover version of Daryl Hall...
followed in 1997, then Last Century Modern
Last Century Modern
Last Century Modern is the fourth solo album from Japanese electronic musician Towa Tei. It is Tei's third album to be released in English-speaking markets, as his previous album Sweet Robots Against the Machine was issued in Japan only....
in 1999. 2002 brought the album Towa Tei, under the pseudonym Sweet Robots Against the Machine
Sweet Robots Against the Machine
Sweet Robots Against the Machine is the third solo album from Japanese electronic musician Towa Tei, released in 1999 in Japan only on EastWest Records...
. Flash surfaced in 2005 by which time Towa was DJing regularly in Japan. He has admitted though, that he doesn't enjoy performing and prefers producing and using computers.
Big Fun, featuring Verbal
Verbal (rapper)
Verbal is a Japanese third generation Zainichi Korean hip-hop MC, who debuted in 1998 as a member of the J-Pop hip-hop duo m-flo....
and Mademoiselle Yulia
Mademoiselle Yulia
is a Japanese DJ and musician, associated with Tokyo electro scene. She debuted in 2008 as a DJ, and in 2011 as a singer, with her debut album Mademoworld.- Biography :...
was released in 2009 and was the third album to feature the artwork of San Franciscan painter and graffiti artist Barry McGee
Barry McGee
Barry McGee is a painter and graffiti artist. He is also known by monikers such as Ray Fong, Lydia Fong, Bernon Vernon, P.Kin, Ray Virgil, Twist and further variations of Twist, such as Twister, Twisty, Twisto and others.-Life and career:McGee graduated from El Camino High School in South...
.. For the album, Towa utilized MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
to collaborate with artists from around the world even if he didn't know them, such as with German act Taprikk Sweezee. Another collaborator he worked with for Big Fun was Miho Hatori
Miho Hatori
is a singer, songwriter, and musician. She is primarily known as the vocalist of the New York City group Cibo Matto, and the first person to provide the voice of Gorillaz member Noodle.-Biography:...
of Cibo Matto
Cibo Matto
Cibo Matto are a New York City-based band formed by two Japanese women, Yuka Honda and Miho Hatori, in 1994...
, though they also only met on MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
.
Towa has also established his own creative company, hug inc, which among other things, manufacturers his trademark sunglasses.
Studio albums
- 1995 Future Listening!Future Listening!Future Listening! is the debut solo album from Japanese electronic musician Towa Tei. It was Tei's first release after his departure from dance music act Deee-Lite....
- 1998 Sound MuseumSound MuseumSound Museum is the second solo album from Japanese electronic musician Towa Tei, released in 1998.Similar to his debut album Future Listening!, Sound Museum incorporates a variety of musical genres, including electronic, hip-hop and jazz. Also included is a bossa nova cover version of Daryl Hall...
- 1999 Last Century ModernLast Century ModernLast Century Modern is the fourth solo album from Japanese electronic musician Towa Tei. It is Tei's third album to be released in English-speaking markets, as his previous album Sweet Robots Against the Machine was issued in Japan only....
- 2002 Tōwa Tei (as Sweet Robots Against the MachineSweet Robots Against the MachineSweet Robots Against the Machine is the third solo album from Japanese electronic musician Towa Tei, released in 1999 in Japan only on EastWest Records...
) - 2005 Flash
- 2009 Big FunBig Fun (Towa Tei album)Big Fun is the sixth full-length release from Towa Tei released in 2009. The music stays in the same electronic style as his previous work, Flash.-Track listing:# Y.O.R.# Taste of You# Out of My Addiction of Love# Lyricist...
- 2011 SunnySunny (Towa Tei album)Sunny is the seventh full-length release from Towa Tei released in 2011. The music stays in the same electronic style as his previous work, Big Fun.-Track listing:# Alpha# Marvelous# Cloud# The Burning Plain# Melancholic Sunshine...
DJ compilation albums
- 2004 Motivation-Songs for Make Up
- 2004 Motivation-Driving Sweets
- 2005 Motivation3
- 2005 Motivation4 -Dusty Dance Halls
- 2007 Motivation Five
- 2008 Motivation 7
Singles and EPs
- 1995 "Technova"
- 1995 "Luv Connection"
- 1997
- 1997 "Intro"
- 1998 "GBI: German Bold ItalicGBI: German Bold Italic"GBI: German Bold Italic" was a single from Towa Tei's 1998 album Sound Museum. The song is a collaboration with Australian singer Kylie Minogue...
" feat. Kylie MinogueKylie MinogueKylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
- UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#63 - 1998 "ButterflyButterfly (Towa Tei song)-Track listing:# "Chrysalis" - 1:18# "Butterfly" - 3:44# "Moth " - 6:26# "Why" - 3:42# "Reprise" - 1:07...
" feat. Ayumi Tanabe - 1999 "Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)"Funkin' for Jamaica " is a 1980 single by jazz trumpeter, Tom Browne. The single -- a memoir of the neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens where Browne was born and raised -- is from his second solo album, Love Approach. The vocals for the single were provided by Tonni Smith, who also...
" - 1999 "A Ring"
- 1999 "Let Me KnowLet Me Know (Towa Tei song)Let Me Know is a song by Japanese electronic musician Towa Tei, featuring singer Chara on vocals. It was released as the fourth single from his album Last Century Modern on , a month before the album's release. It debuted at #34 on the Japanese Oricon album charts, and charted for four weeks...
" feat. CharaChara (singer), better known by her stage name Chara, is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actress and video jockey. She debuted in 1991 with the single Heaven... - 2000 feat. Ikuko Harada (ClammbonClammbonis a Japanese musical trio, consisting of vocalist/keyboardist Ikuko Harada, bassist Mito and drummer Itou Daisuke. The group, originally formed in 1996 when the three were students at Tokyo Music and Media Arts Shogi, made their major label debut on Warner Music Japan three years later...
) - 2001 "Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)"Funkin' for Jamaica " is a 1980 single by jazz trumpeter, Tom Browne. The single -- a memoir of the neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens where Browne was born and raised -- is from his second solo album, Love Approach. The vocals for the single were provided by Tonni Smith, who also...
" (re-release) - 2005 "Sometime SamuraiSometime Samurai"Sometime Samurai" is a dance–pop song written and performed by Japanese musician Towa Tei and Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue for Tei's album Flash . The song was produced by Towa Tei and received a positive reception from music critics...
" feat. Kylie MinogueKylie MinogueKylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing... - 2006
- 2008 "N705i"
Digital singles
- 2008 "A.O.R." feat. Lina Ohta
- 2009 "Mind Wall" feat. Miho HatoriMiho Hatoriis a singer, songwriter, and musician. She is primarily known as the vocalist of the New York City group Cibo Matto, and the first person to provide the voice of Gorillaz member Noodle.-Biography:...
- 2009 "Taste of You" feat. Taprikk Sweezee
- 2009 "Taste of You" (Zickzack Remix) (BIG FUN Remix)
- 2009 "Lyricist" (ajapai Remix) (BIG FUN Remix)
- 2009 "Taste of You" (Michael Fakesch Remix) (BIG FUN Remix)
- 2009 "Mind Wall" (SO TT Remix) (BIG FUN Remix)
- 2009 "Taste of You" (Atom TM Remix) (BIG FUN Remix)
Remix albums
- 1994 Future Recall!
- 1995 Future Recall 2
- 1997 Stupid Fresh
- 2000 Lost Control MixLost Control MixLost Control Mix is a 1999 Towa Tei remix album. Original versions of all the remixes appear on the album Last Century Modern.-Track listing:# "Last Century Modern " - 3:17# "Butterfly " - 4:07...
- 2000 Lost Control Mix 2
- 2003 Re: Tōwa Tei (as Sweet Robots Against the Machine)
- 2006 Flasher