Friends (Japanese band)
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Friends フレンズ | |
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| Origin | Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres | Rock, J-Pop |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Labels | Sony Music Entertainment Japan |
| Members |
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| Past members | Hirose Hirose (keyboard, vocals) |
| Website | friends-jpn |
Friends (フレンズ) is a Japanese rock band from Tokyo which is signed to Sony Music Entertainment Japan.[1] It began activities in 2015 after members Hirose Hirose and Emi Okamoto made a collaboration; they would later be joined by bassist Ryōhei Nagashima, guitarist Tarō Miura, and drummer Rui Sekiguchi; Hirose would later leave the band in 2021. The band's music has been featured in movies, TV dramas, and anime series such as Hori-san to Miyamura-kun.
History
[edit]The band's activities began in 2015 when Hirose Hirose, a member of the band Nicoten, decided to hold a live performance to celebrate his 25th birthday. He wanted to form a band with a female lead vocalist for the occasion, and decided to collaborate with musician Emi Okamoto, who at the time was a member of the band The Love Ningen and someone whom he had collaborated with previously.[2][3] Needing a bassist, Hirose invited a friend, Ryōhei Nagashima of the band The Telephones, to join the band; Nagashima in turn invited Louie Sakaguchi to serve as the band's drummer. The band debuted on June 8, 2015, as a highlight of Hirose's birthday live.[2] The band's name came after Okamoto saw a bar named Philippine Pub Friends and sent photos of it to the other band members, who decided that the word Friends would make a good band name.[3] In 2016, Tarō Miura, formerly of the band Holidays of Seventeen, joined Friends.[2]
Many of the band's early releases were only released at their live performances or by mail order, although their first mini-album Show-Time sold over 3,000 copies.[2] Their first full album Baby Tanjō! (ベビー誕生!) was released on April 5, 2017.[4] Their next release was the mini-album Petit Town (プチタウン) on November 22, 2017.[4] This was followed by the extended play Bedside Music (ベッドサイドミュージック) on March 21, 2018.[4] They released their second album Conparch! (コン・パーチ!) on August 1, 2018.[4]
The band released the single "Tanoshimou/I o You" (楽しもう/iをyou) on June 26, 2019; "Tanoshimou" was used as the theme song to the film Bento Harassment, while "I o You" was used as the ending theme to the television drama What Did You Eat Yesterday?.[4]
In December 2020, it was announced that Hirose would suspend activities with the band and would not appear in their upcoming performances;[5] he would ultimately leave the band in April 2021 after his contract was canceled over unspecified issues.[6] The band released the single "Yakusoku" (約束) on March 17, 2021;[4] the title song was used as the ending theme to the anime television series Horimiya.[7] They released their third album Solar on August 4, 2021.[4]
Members
[edit]Current members
[edit]- Emi Okamoto (おかもと えみ, Okamoto Emi, born November 10, 1990)[8]
- Okamoto serves as the band's lead vocalist. She is also active as a solo musician.[9]
- Ryōhei Nagashima (長島 涼平, Nagashima Ryōhei, born May 18, 1984)[10]
- Nagashima serves as the band's leader and bassist. He also serves as bassist of the rock band The Telephones.[10] He was chosen to be the leader after a game of Uno.[11]
- Tarō Miura (三浦 太郎, Miura Tarō)
- Miura serves as the band's guitarist, replacing an earlier temporary member.[2]
- Louie Sakaguchi (関口 塁, Sakaguchi Rui)
- Sakaguchi, formerly of the band The Mirraz, serves as the band's drummer.[2]
Former members
[edit]- Hirose Hirose (ひろせ ひろせ, Hirose Hirose, born June 8, 1990)[2]
- Hirose served as the band's keyboardist, composer, and secondary vocalist, before leaving in April 2021.[6]
Discography
[edit]Singles
[edit]- "Tanoshimou/I o You" (楽しもう/iをyou) (Release date: June 26, 2019)[4]
- "Akubi o Sureba" (あくびをすれば) (Release date: June 17, 2020)[4]
- "Yakusoku" (約束) (Release date: March 17, 2021)[4]
Extended plays
[edit]- Bedside Music (ベッドサイドミュージック) (Release date: March 21, 2018)[4]
Albums
[edit]- Baby Tanjō! (ベビー誕生!) (Release date: April 5, 2017)[4]
- Conparch! (コン・パーチ!) (Release date: August 1, 2018)[4]
- Solar (Release date: August 4, 2021)[4]
Mini-albums
[edit]- Petit Town (プチタウン) (Release date: November 22, 2017)[4]
References
[edit]- ^ "フレンズ | ソニーミュージックオフィシャルサイト" (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g "フレンズ「ベビー誕生！」インタビュー｜東京ドーム目指す"神泉系"バンド、誕生の経緯と叶えたい夢" (in Japanese). Natalie. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ a b "グッドメロディ、グッドミュージック!!! 誰もが楽しめる音楽を発信する男女5人組バンド、フレンズが 初のワンマンツアーを前に、充実した自身の活動について 結成から未来を語るインタビュー＆動画コメント" (in Japanese). PIA Corporation. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "フレンズの作品" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ "「Infinity Live FES 2020」ひろせひろせの出演見合わせに関するお知らせ". Friends official website (in Japanese). 12 December 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ a b "【ご報告】フレンズから大切なお知らせ". Friends official website (in Japanese). April 30, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ "Horimiya TV Anime's Promo Video Unveils Theme Songs". Anime News Network. December 21, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ Okamoto, Emi [@okp_emi] (November 10, 2021). "誕生日！！！！！！いつもありがとう😍 いつも関わってくれる皆様に感謝❤️ありがとー！ありがとー！！！！ 31歳は楽しく生きて、好きなものをとことん好きになって、音楽頑張ってまだ見ぬ最高の景色目指すぞー！みんなで見るぞー！オー！" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved December 2, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Emi Okamoto official website" (in Japanese). Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ a b "Interview – 長島涼平［the telephones］" (in Japanese). Rittor Music, Inc. December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ "フレンズが明かす、ハイクオリティなJ-POPが生まれる源泉 「最初の5秒に魔法をかけたい」" (in Japanese). Real Sound. April 5, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
External links
[edit]- Official website (in Japanese)