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Stereogirl

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Stereogirl
ステレオガール
Stereogirl at South by Southwest in 2019
Background information
OriginTokyo, Japan
GenresAlternative rock
Years active2014 (2014)–present
LabelsChigakushitsu Records
MembersAnju Mouri
Usami Riko
Kanako Yoshida
Riku Otsuka
Yuka Tachizaki

Stereogirl (Japanese: ステレオガール, Hepburn: Sutereogāru) is a Japanese alternative rock band from Tokyo, Japan. It consists of lead vocalist Anju Mouri, guitarists Usami Riko and Kanako Yoshida, bassist Riku Otsuka, and drummer Yuka Tachizaki. Formed in a high school music club in 2014, the band started band activities in 2018 with the release of their debut mini-LP, Baby, Bokura wa L.S.D., which saw considerable success.

The band would later release their debut album, Pink Fog in 2019. The band continued to release music, including their second album, Spirit & Opportunity, in 2022. Originally an all-girl band, Riku Otsuka later joined as the bassist, transitioning the lineup to include both male and female members. The band's music has been described as blending shoegaze, pop-punk, and alternative rock influences, drawing inspiration from American and British bands.

History

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Stereogirl performing in 2019.

Stereogirl was formed within a high school music club, featuring Anju Mohri on vocals and Kanako Yoshida on guitar. After experiencing their classmate Yuka Tachizaki's drumming, they decided to invite her to join the band. Tachizaki agreed on the condition that her friend, Riko "Chamicot" Usami, could join as well. Originally an all-girl band, Riku Otsuka later joined as the bassist after the original bassist quit.[1] Otsuka was a fan and friend of the members before officially becoming part of the band.[2]

On June 1, 2018, they released their debut mini-LP titled Baby, Bokura wa L.S.D., which was repeatedly sold out and restocked at record shops and online stores.[3][4] On December 3, 2019, the band released the single "Oyasumi Goodnight," their first to be released digitally on streaming services.[5] They released their second mini-LP, NADA, on February 20, 2019.[6][7]

In March 2020, the band was chosen by Tower Records as a recommended and top pick for the month of April, and on June 3, 2020, the band released their first album, "Pink Fog," which included a remix of "Oyasumi Goodnight."[8] The release was postponed from April 15, and a planned release event in Tokyo was canceled.[9][10] On February 16, 2022, they released their second album, Spirit & Opportunity, two years after their previous album, Pink Fog.[11][12] On February 17, 2021, and March 17, they released the songs "Scooter" and "Angel, Here We Come."[13] These releases were their first new singles since the release of Pink Fog and were described as having an alternative rock vibe.[14][15] In April, they held their first solo concert in Tokyo and Osaka to commemorate the release of their second album.[16]

Musical style and influences

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Next Music from Tokyo organizer Steven Tanaka described Stereogirl for the Vancouver Sun as having a "shoegaze-tinged pop-punk sound" that was influenced by American and British bands such as Pavement, The Smiths, and The Stone Roses. He added that they were "writing incredibly catchy, heartfelt songs and are light years ahead of most bands in terms of stage presence."[17] Ed Cunningham of the Tokyo Weekender stated that they combine "punk rock simplicity with the melodic elements of indie rock, spun through a punch of thick, alt-rock layering and shoegaze-esque feedback."[18] Author Ed Cunningham for The Glow described them as "lay[ing] their influences on their sleeve, specializing in catchy, familiar few-chord indie anthems."[19]

Band members

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  • Anju Mouri (毛利 安寿) – vocals
  • Usami Riko (宇佐 美莉子) – guitar
  • Kanako Yoshida (吉田 奏子) – guitar
  • Riku Otsuka (大塚 理玖) – bass
  • Yuka Tachizaki (立崎 ゆか) – drums

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums with chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions (JP)
Albums Indie Albums
Pink Fog
  • Released: June 3, 2020
  • Label: Chigakushitsu Records
  • Format: CD, streaming
 98 9
Spirit & Opportunity
  • Released: February 16, 2022
  • Label: Chigakushitsu Records
  • Format: CD, streaming
 — —

References

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  1. ^ "ステレオガール (Stereogirl)". Next Music from Tokyo.
  2. ^ Stewart, Taylor (September 25, 2020). "STEREOGIRL Is All Grown Up". Metropolis Japan.
  3. ^ "都内を中心に活動する5人組バンド ステレオガール、1stミニ・アルバム『ベイビー、ぼくらはL.S.D』より「ぼくらはわかくてうつくしい」MV公開". Skream.jp (in Japanese). November 2, 2018.
  4. ^ "サマソニやOTODAMAにも出演、1stミニ『ベイビー、ぼくらはL.S.D』が話題のステレオガールに動画インタビュー". Rock Is (in Japanese). August 14, 2018.
  5. ^ "ステレオガール初の配信シングル「おやすみグッドナイト」MVはクラシックカーで疾走". Natalie (in Japanese). December 3, 2019.
  6. ^ "都内を中心に活動する5人組バンド ステレオガール、2/20リリースの2ndミニ・アルバム『NADA』より「あいわな」MV公開". Skream.jp (in Japanese). January 25, 2019.
  7. ^ "【NEWS】ステレオガール　2ndミニアルバム『NADA』を2019年2/20にリリース & 東京・大阪でリリースライブ開催". IndieGrab (in Japanese). December 18, 2018.
  8. ^ "ステレオガールは一体化を拒み、自由をめざす。〈好きに踊りたいだけ〉な5人が『Pink Fog』で歌うもの". Mikiki (in Japanese). June 12, 2020.
  9. ^ "ステレオガール、1stフルアルバム「Pink Fog」リリース". Natalie (in Japanese).
  10. ^ "ステレオガールの新曲「春眠」MV公開、アルバム『Pink Fog』収録曲". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). March 18, 2020.
  11. ^ "ステレオガールの2ndフルAL『Spirit&Opportunity』2月リリース＆東京と大阪でワンマン開催". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). January 13, 2022.
  12. ^ "ステレオガール｜ニューアルバム『Spirit & Opportunity』2月16日発売". Tower Records Japan (in Japanese). January 25, 2022.
  13. ^ "ステレオガールの新曲「Angel,Here We Come」配信、小島央大によるMV公開". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). March 18, 2021.
  14. ^ "ステレオガール、90'sオルタナ突き詰めた2曲を連続配信". Natalie. February 10, 2021.
  15. ^ "<ステレオガールの新曲"スクーター""Angel,Here We Come"2か月連続リリース". Cinra (in Japanese). February 10, 2021.
  16. ^ Aoki, Risa (May 14, 2022). "ステレオガール、初のワンマン。殻を破り、一歩踏み出した夜のこと". Ongakutohito (in Japanese).
  17. ^ Conner, Shawn (May 15, 2019). "Five reasons to check out Next Music from Tokyo Vol. 14". Vancouver Sun.
  18. ^ Cunningham, Ed (June 4, 2020). "Ed's Picks: Top 5 Japanese Albums of June 2020". Tokyo Weekender.
  19. ^ Cunningham, Ed (January 13, 2021). "On File: Stereogirl". The Glow.
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