J-Pop Artist of the Week #75 [J-rock/Alternative] - Monkey Majik (Oct. 21st - Oct. 27th)

[Mandilinn]

The J-Pop Artist of the Week threads are back and suggestions are open! Please PM me if you have an artist you'd like to see featured next week or in the future!

 

All spaces are full for 2014! Thanks to everyone who recommended artists! Requests will reopen towards the end of December so you may request artists for January/February 2015.

 

AOTW will now be posted on OH's new blog as well! Please check it out and leave a comment here!

 

This Week's Artist:

Monkey Majik

 

 

MONKEY MAJIK is a pop band based in Sendai and signed to binyl records. The band consists of four members, two of which are Japanese and two who are brothers from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Vocalist Maynard Plant became interested in Japan after his drama teacher suggested an exchange program, but he ultimately was late handing in the registration form and ended up not going on the trip. He moved to Shichinohe, Aomori Prefecture in 1997 as an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) and met bassist Urushizaka Misao. Together they started the band with two fellow ALTs. The name was proposed by one of their members, an ALT from England named Tom. He grew up watching the TV show Monkey, which was the English dub of the 1970s drama Saiyuki. The theme song was "Monkey Magic" and they agreed to adopt that name. After six months, Tom and the other ALT were forced to leave Japan due to their ALT contracts expiring. Maynard and Urushizaka moved to Sendai and invited Maynard's brother Blaise over to Japan to join the band.  The band released their first full album SPADE in 2003, exclusive to Sendai Tower Records. It charted for 13 weeks, and became the best local-selling album of the year. They released their second album two years later and landed at #8 on the Oricon indie chart. Afterwords, Urushizaka left the band, and DICK joined as the new bassist.

 

The band debuted under Avex in 2006 with "Fly" and the song recieved heavy rotation on radio stations, becoming the most-played songs for four straight weeks. In 2008, they were named  the "Goodwill Ambassadors for the 80th anniversary of Japan's embassy in Canada. The following year they were appointed again for the 80th anniversary of Canada's embassy in Japan.

 

Music

 

Around the World

Futari

Monkey Majik x Monkey Magic

Akari

Tada, Arigatou

Aishiteru

Nijiiro no Sakana

Sunshine

Fast Forward

 

Recent Releases

 

[single] You Are Not Alone

Release Date: September 10th, 2014

Editions: CD+DVD, CD-Only

 

 

 

1. You Are Not Alone

2.Written in the Stars

3. You Are Not Alone (Instrumental)

Please remember to purchase their music if you enjoy it!

 

Upcoming Releases

 

[Album] Colour by Number

Release Date: February 4th, 2015

Editions: Unknown

 

Websites and Social Media

 

Official Website

______________________________________________________________

 

If you like this, please visit K-Pop Artist of the Week and the C-Pop Artist of the Week!

[Leifz]

I love their new Tittle track

[Ryusenkai]

Great band with a great attitude, and probably one of the best mixed-language groups Japan has ever had.  

[GambytW]

Wow, I love them. Thanks for introducing them, would never of heard of them before this. ^.^

[KQI88]

Just my favorite band of all times. I'm following this guys since 2006 when a ex girlfriend introduced me to their work. The relationship with her didn't last but my appreciation and admiration for their music continues since them. 8 years and strong hahaha

[RE!]

   

My sister made me watched their Aishiteru PV years ago, love them since then 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGr3QaXxJlo

 

 

[panduzz]

Headlight

I love them ♥

[Sana Muñequita Linda]

 

This track of theirs gives me life <333 (yeah, it's "feat. Monkey Majik", I know)

[mickio]

Their songs are awesome! One of my favorite Japanese bands.