Wyolica
Encyclopedia
Wyolica is a two-piece folk-pop group from Japan
. They consist of Azumi (vocals) and So-To (guitar) and debuted in 1999. The band's name is a neologism defined as “people of the grass fields.”
and he cut his teeth in an Earth, Wind & Fire
tribute band during his college days. Azumi cites her main influences as Ella Fitzgerald
and Keith Jarrett
.
They released their debut single on 21 May 2009 titled Kanashii Wagamama (悲しいわがまま), produced by one of Japan's leading producers, Shinichi Osawa.
Their debut album, Who Said La La? was released in February 2000 and the group, who dubbed their music "Funky Soul," followed it up with two more albums by the end of 2003.
In 2003 Azumi left Wyolica to get married and moved to the United States, living in California. She returned as a solo artist in 2005, releasing three singles, Kick Up Kiss, Snowflake and Fly.
So-To went on to produce for artists such as Kou Shibasaki
and Kousuke Atari
.
The duo resumed in 2007 with acoustic live shows and released Balcony in 2009, followed by a digital-only single Boku wa Wasurenai on HearJapan. Feeling the need to celebrate a ten-year anniversary, the duo stepped up their activities with live dates in Osaka and Tokyo in June 2009. The duo have stated that their goal is a performance on UK music TV show Later... with Jools Holland.
Wyolica's latest album, Castle of Wind, appeared in September 2010.
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...
. They consist of Azumi (vocals) and So-To (guitar) and debuted in 1999. The band's name is a neologism defined as “people of the grass fields.”
Biography
Wyolica formed in 1997 when guitarist So-to met Azumi at a Sony audition. So-To has said his influences were Nick Heyward from Haircut One Hundred and Brian McKnightBrian McKnight
Brian McKnight is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, and R&B/Pop musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays nine instruments: piano, guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussions, trombone, tuba, flugelhorn and trumpet....
and he cut his teeth in an Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...
tribute band during his college days. Azumi cites her main influences as Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
and Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett is an American pianist and composer who performs both jazz and classical music.Jarrett started his career with Art Blakey, moving on to play with Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis. Since the early 1970s he has enjoyed a great deal of success in jazz, jazz fusion, and classical music; as...
.
They released their debut single on 21 May 2009 titled Kanashii Wagamama (悲しいわがまま), produced by one of Japan's leading producers, Shinichi Osawa.
Their debut album, Who Said La La? was released in February 2000 and the group, who dubbed their music "Funky Soul," followed it up with two more albums by the end of 2003.
In 2003 Azumi left Wyolica to get married and moved to the United States, living in California. She returned as a solo artist in 2005, releasing three singles, Kick Up Kiss, Snowflake and Fly.
So-To went on to produce for artists such as Kou Shibasaki
Kou Shibasaki
, born Yukie Yamamura, on August 5, 1981 in Toshima, Tokyo, Japan is a Japanese singer and actress.-Music career:Shibasaki made her debut in the music industry in 2002 with her first single Trust My Feelings, but she became recognized for her second single Tsuki no shizuku which was used for the...
and Kousuke Atari
Kousuke Atari
Kousuke Atari is a J-Pop artist, born July 13, 1980, on Amami island, Japan. Hailing from Amami-Oshima in southern Japan, Atari Kousuke is a folk singer currently signed to Epic Records Japan...
.
The duo resumed in 2007 with acoustic live shows and released Balcony in 2009, followed by a digital-only single Boku wa Wasurenai on HearJapan. Feeling the need to celebrate a ten-year anniversary, the duo stepped up their activities with live dates in Osaka and Tokyo in June 2009. The duo have stated that their goal is a performance on UK music TV show Later... with Jools Holland.
Wyolica's latest album, Castle of Wind, appeared in September 2010.
Studio albums
- 2000: Who said "La La..."?
- 2001: Almost Blues
- 2002: Folky Soul (mini-album)
- 2003: Fruits & Roots
- 2009: Balcony (mini-album)
- 2010: Castle of Wind