OCEANLANE-- a melody maker Japan is proud to present
Hajime's crystal clear voice, and Kay's pop sense, absorbing the essence of contemporary music and digesting into his very own.
Ultimate melodies created by two talents shake the world
OCEANLANE's 5th full length album "Urban Sonnet" pushes the envelope of their sublime melody.
Not just beautiful. Not just luscious. Not just blistering. Not just raw. All songs maintain fine balance and emphasis, as they all lead up to the climax of the album
In April 2001, OCEANLANE was formed by vocalist / guitarist Hajime Takei, and vocalist / guitarist Kay Naoe who went through the same junior high school in Tokyo. In April 2003, they released a self-financed 1st demo CDEP “Everlasting Scene”, primarily sold through online hc/emo mailorder websites, establishing a quickly growing fanbase in the underground music lovers, which led to them opening for the first time supporting an int’l act ELLIOTT on their Japan trip in July that same year. The two never had commiting drummers and bassists, but began recording their first full-length album with supporting members for the recording. Prior to the album release, they turned their killer tune “Sign” into a single sold only at select shops. Being chosen for the supporting act for THE ALL AMERICAN REJECTS led to hitting #1 on top sales chart of those shops that carried the “Sign” EP. It didn’t take long for their reputation to spread widely among music fans in such a short span.
In 2004, they made their appearance on VANS WARPED TOUR ‘04 in Japan. Their fanbase continued to grow through massive push of their “Sign” video clip on a Japanese satellite music channel. February 2004 finally saw the release of the long-awaited first full-length album “On My Way Back Home” from Handicraft Recordings. The album hit #1 on indies hit chart everywhere, resulting in massive additional orders from the shops, which led to 2 weeks of shortage. At the end of the day, additional orders from all shops reckoned 10 times more than their initial preorders!!
Their first gig from the album release was a slot for an opener for Sweden’s LAST DAYS OF APRIL and THE GET UP KIDS on their Japan tours respectively. A 3-song EP “Out Of Reason” followed in August that same year. OCEANLANE then was offered a performance from the biggest music festival in Japan called SUMMER SONIC ‘04. Despite of their rather short musical career, they put on an incredible set, displaying a solid performance. They continued to open for more int’l artists such as THE STILLS, HOPE OF THE STATES, etc. OCEANLANE ended their year with their first ever Japan tour, which needless to say ended a success.
OCEANLANE began 2005 focusing on writing new material for their next album, while bringing over TOKYO ROSE to Japan in March, headlining their own show. The Hajime and Kay finally settled with full time members, Takeshi Horikoshi (HENRYTENNIS, ex-BUNGEE JUMP FESTIVAL) and Masashi Shimada (BUDDHISTSON, KAMOMEKAMOME) as their bassist and drummer respectively. In April, they toured with JIMMY EAT WORLD for all dates on their Japan tour. In July, OCEANLANE organized their first of the periodical tour series “Lighting Up Our Cities Vol.1″, touring with COPELAND and BRANDTSON over Tokyo (sold out), Nagoya, and Osaka. After making way to FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL ‘05, they began recording material for the second full length album “Kiss & Kill” in studios in Tokyo and Okinawa, with a producer Pelle Gunnerfeldt (THE HIVES, LAST DAYS OF APRIL, REFUSED, STARMARKET) who is also the guitarist of FIRESIDE, one of the most important bands of Sweden, as the man behind the board. “Kiss & Kill” was released in November, with iTunes’ release prior to the CD. The response was overwhelming, keeping the release on the top indie chart for a long time. Their massive touring in support of their new release was a great success, with their final solo show at Shibuya CLUB QUATTRO which sold out with ease. This led to a live DVD “Flamingo Flies North Tour” (with bonus live CD) release from Handicraft Recordings.
In April 2007, OCEANLANE once again hit the studio to record their third full-length album. Prior to the album, they released a 4-song EP “Walk Along” in July, which made #1 on the Indies Chart of Oricon (a Japan equivalent of Billboard), amongst many other great rankings in various music hit charts.
In September, OCEANLANE released their third full-length album “Castle in the Air”. With the musicality embodied on the album it proved that OCEANLANE is about evolution, and is one of the brightest melody makers of Japan. There is beauty, there is vulnerability, and there is brilliant sense of pop music found in all tracks.
In December, OCEANLANE appeared as the guest band for ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION’s tour, in Tokyo, Sendai, and Sapporo. In the midst of it all, they hit the studio to begin recording their 4 song EP “Twisted Colors”, containing four distinct types of songs; the lead track with crystalline harmony “I May Be”, speedy rock tune “Better Believe Me”, essentially pop tune accompanying a contrasting lyrics “Falling In Love With TV Stars”, and a beautiful acoustic number “Tomo’s Lullaby”. These four totally distinct colors intricately intertwine with each other to stand out among themselves which ultimately in fact endorses the core essence of OCEANLANE. This EP was released in March 2008, to coincide with their live DVD “Castle In The Air Tour Final @ AX” release that captured their solo show of their final date of their tour held at the AX in Shibuya. Upon the release of the EP, the band embarked on a Japan tour playing at 20 cities nationwide, with the final date in Tokyo (at Ebisu Liquid Room) was sold out.
Their endeavors don’t stop here, as they were already beginning on making new recording in the midst of their tight schedule. They made a mini album which simply and entirely consists of covers, which are “Norwegian Wood” by The Beatles, “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder, “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne, “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals, and “Smooth Operator” by Sade. Sure enough, these numbers are very unlikely considering the band’s musical style, however with Hajime and Kay’s talent in arrangement and musical expression, they reinvented the well known songs into something completely OCEANLANE, giving the songs new life. The mini album was released in early August, being talked about everywhere.
The band continued on with their studiowork all the while they kept being on the road, finally completing their 4th studio album. Prior to its release, they first released the “Look Inside The Mirror” EP, then embarking on a national tour playing 20 dates around the country, until their final date at O-East on Dec. 10.
Jan. 7, 2009, their brand new album “Crossroad” was released, an year and a half since their previous album. Contrary to their previous work expressed a feel of dream and fantasy, the new album consists of bright and brilliant colors, as if one is pulled back into reality. “Crossroad” is an album that can be abstractly related to the various vivid colors filling your eyes in the wake from a dream in the morning sunlight. The colors composed for this album have extended their maturity in every respective moods and styles nurtured by their exquisite sense like blooming flowers. Released in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore, and getting rave reviews was indeed a natural process. The band toured all over the nation, going around 30 dates in support of the album, finalized the tour in Tokyo's Akasaka Blitz and filled the room with their loyal fans.
2010 certainly was a busy year for OCEANLANE; they pursued their music career through producing film music, offering a previously unreleased track "Chain of Hatred" to a PIZZA OF DEATH label compilation "The Very Best Of PIZZA OF DEATH", being a part of Walt Disney's rock tune cover album "Disney Rocks II", going on tour in Japan with their previous tourmates COPELAND prior to their disbandment, while writing new material for the forthcoming new full length album.
Where is OCEANLANE destined to go? Will they ever stop to mature? These are in fact the questions that the members wanted to find out themselves. They sat down and wrote numerous material, and did their studiowork through trial and error for a good half year. They wanted something more than the previous OCEANLANE. Something greater. Something simpler taking down all the fat. Something denser with melody. Repetitive effort of composing and breaking it down. Massive time and energy had been put into the songwriting, to polish each gem of songs into their utmost forms that the songs themselves wanted to become.
And hence, the long awaited new album "Urban Sonnet" was given birth. It contains various emotions that arise from the urban daily life, concentrated into 14 gems. The melodies created after hours and hours of work, are formed into the songs that stand on their own Pop songs incorporating more brilliance, melancholic melodies touching deeper into the hearts, fast tempo songs endorsing more rock feel, beautiful melodies refined than ever… All the songs were not lost from being more stylish and perfected than perfect. 14 lines of sonnets come together into one album in harmony. One can be determined to think that this in fact is what draws a fine line between them and the rest that could only hope to achieve.
“Urban Sonnet” is merely a new beginning for OCEANLANE, as well as being a show of gratitude and respect to the fans supporting the band ever since day one
