Hanabie.
花冷え。
Hanabie. at Secret Base music festival in 2023
Hanabie. at Secret Base music festival in 2023
Background information
OriginKichijōji, Tokyo, Japan
Genres
Years active2015–present
LabelsEpic Records Japan
Members
  • Yukina
  • Matsuri
  • Hettsu
  • Chika
Past members
  • Kaede
  • Boa
  • Sae
WebsiteOfficial website

Hanabie. (Japanese: 花冷え。Stylized: HANABIE.) is a Japanese metalcore[1] band from Tokyo, formed in 2015.[2][3] The band consists of vocalist Yukina, guitarist Matsuri, bassist Hettsu and drummer Chika. They are known for combining loud and heavy music with contrasting Harajuku aesthetics[4] in a style self-described as "Harajuku-core".[5] Their songs incorporate elements of metalcore, hardcore punk, and nu metal, with a blend of hip hop and electronica.[6]

The band was formed by four high school friends due to their shared admiration of Maximum the Hormone, as a part of their light music club activities.[7] Initially a cover band, they soon transitioned into writing original music, self-producing their first single in 2016.[8] After a period as an independent band, during which they released an album and an EP, they were signed by Epic Records Japan, a subsidiary of Sony Music Japan in 2023.[9] In the same year, their second album Reborn Superstar! was released, ranking 24th on Billboard Japan's weekly album charts.[10] The success of the album led to international recognition and appearances at various music festivals outside Japan.[11]

The band name Hanabie. (花冷え。, "chilly spring weather"[12]), is a reference to the birthdays of the four founding members, all of whom were born during either in winter or spring months. The "。" signifies progress and was adopted from the name of another band the members were fans of during their middle school years.[13]

History

2015–2016: Formation and early years

Yukina, Matsuri and Hettsu all met while attending the same middle school. Around this time Yukina and Matsuri became fans of Maximum the Hormone.[7][14] They introduced the band to Hettsu who was initially surprised that "cute and clear" Yukina listened to such "indecent songs".[13] During their first year of high school Yukina decided to form a Maximum the Hormone cover band with her friends after watching an upperclassman perform. Together with Matsuri and Hettsu she recruited another classmate Kaede and the four of them formed Hanabie. in June 2015.[14][8] Matsuri assumed the role of guitarist as she already played guitar since childhood. Hettsu decided to play the bass as she had never played the instrument before while Kaede opted for drums. Yukina chose to be the vocalist as it was the only role left. The band name Hanabie. (花冷え。, "chilly spring weather",[12]) is a Japanese word for the spring day on which the coldness of winter returns.[12] It is a reference to the birthdays of founding members were born in either spring or winter months; Matsuri, Hettsu, and Kaede were all born in December, and Yukina was born in April.[13] The choice of a Japanese word for the band was deliberate as they felt that English band names were too common.[13] The "。" at the end is a nod to the band Cocoa Otoko of which Yukina and Hettsu were fans of during middle school.[13]

They soon moved on from covering Maximum the Hormone songs and started writing original music.[15] In October 2016, the band released their first songs, "Crash Over" and "Sweet Killer". In December 2016, Kaede left the band to focus on her studies.[8]

2017–2019: First mini album, band contests, indie career

Hanabie. performing in 2017 with former drummer Boa

After discovering that high school students could perform at live houses, they reached out to the manager of Tachikawa Babel and made arrangements to perform there.[16] Subsequently, they started performing regularly at various venues across Tokyo.[8] Due to Kaede's departure, the band continued their activities with various support drummers.[8] They released their third song, "Envy," in June 2017, which was sold exclusively at their live performances as a part of the "Crash Over" demo CD. In July 2017, Boa officially joined the band, having previously performed as a support drummer.[8] In August, they took part in the national band competition called "School Out,", where they finished as national runners-up.[17][18] During the competition they caught the attention of Crystal Lake drummer Gaku Taura. Upon learning that they were searching for a recording studio, Taura offered to record their album at his studio.[16]

In January 2018, they participated in their first three-man live event with Oshamegane and Wacality at "Shinjuku Antiknock.".[8] In August, the band entered the Japan Expo Rock contest and made it to the finals, becoming the only teenage band to do so.[8][18] During this period, they contemplated quitting music due to uncertainty about their future, but Taura convinced them otherwise, believing that "these kids could be big in the future."[16] On October 17, the band announced the release of their debut mini album, "Cherry Blossoms Are Blooming," along with an accompanying tour.[19]

Boa decided to depart from the band in September 2018, leading them to continue their live performances with the assistance of various support drummers.[8] In November, they embarked on the "Flowering Declaration" release tour, which included shows in Shinjuku, Nagano, Osaka, Nagoya, Shizuoka, Kyoto, and Tachikawa.[20] They also performed at "Ro Jack for Countdown Japan 18/19".[20] Their single "L.C.G" was released in November 2019 on digital platforms, accompanied by a music video on YouTube.[8]

2020–2022: Girls Reform Manifest and indie success

Hanabie. frequently performed at live houses in Tokyo

The band made an appearance at "Ro Jack for Rock in Japan 2020" in June 2020.[8] In August 2020, they released "Sentimental Heroine" on different music streaming platforms, accompanied by a lyric video on YouTube.[8] During the same month, they also announced a crowdfunding campaign to support their upcoming album.[21] Backers were offered various rewards, with the highest tier receiving a new customized song written by the band based on their requests.

In September 2020, the band introduced Sae as their new drummer, who had previously been active in the local underground scene. In that same month, they unveiled the song "Reiwa Matching Generation". Their breakthrough came with the release of "We Love Sweets" in January 2021, which garnered over a million views on YouTube.[22] The success of the song led to more opportunities to perform at different musical events and increased attendance at their shows.[15] They also participated in two-man and three-man shows with bands like C-Gate and Oshamagane.[8]

Due to the band members still being university students, they had to balance their studies, part-time jobs, and recording sessions while continuing to perform at live houses.[15][16] They squeezed in shows during holidays or whenever they had time off.[16] In 2021, the band members graduated from university. Later that year their first full album, "Girls Reform Manifest" was released on 14th January 2021.[23] A "New album release party" concert was held in the same month.[8] In April 2022, they unveiled the single "Love♡ Ranbu", followed by "Neet Game" in August 2022, the latter of which also received a music video. They had successfully established themselves in the indie scene of Tokyo. Throughout 2022, they performed at various venues in Shimokitazawa, Shibuya, Nagoya, and Shinjuku.[20]

2023–present: Reborn Superstar!, international recognition and major record deal

Hettsu (left) and Yukina performing during Hanabie's US tour in 2023

In January 2023, they released a new single "Pardon Me, I Have to Go Now" (お先に失礼します。). The success of the song attracted the attention of international promoters, with the band receiving invitations to perform at MetalDays,[24] Leyendas del Rock,[25] Dynamo Metalfest,[26] Blue Ridge Rock Festival,[27] Louder than Life,[28] and Aftershock.[29] Their performance at MetalDays was cancelled after severe rainfall and flooding.[30]

After a period of absence from live performances, it was announced in April Sae would be leaving the band for personal reasons. The band went back to performing with support drummers. In May, they performed at the event "Spring Great Liberation Festival 2023" where, during the encore, Chika was announced as the band's new drummer.[31] In the same month the band announced their European tour, and in June an American tour was announced. Also in June, the band performed at the Japanese music festival Satanic Carnival.[32] During the show, the band announced that they have signed with Epic Records Japan, a subsidiary of Sony Music Japan.[32] Their first album with the new label, Reborn Superstar! was announced at the same time as their record deal and released on July 26, 2023. In July 2023 the band was featured in the 14th volume of Metal Hammer Japan magazine.[33] In the same month a promotional event "Orihime Who Ran Away" was held in Tokyo.[34] On July 14, 2023, the single "This Is the Year to Be a Gal" (early summer version) was released, along with a music video.

On November 2, 2023 it was announced that Hanabie. would perform at Rock am Ring and Rock im Park in Germany as well as at Greenfield Festival in Switzerland in 2024.[35][36]

On November 7th 2023, it was also announced that they would be performing at Download Festival, in the UK in 2024.

Musical style and influences

Musical style

"Our style is inspired by melodic hardcore, loud rock, and metalcore. We are all huge fans of Maximum the Hormone, so we decided to form a copy band. We all have different musical roots and mixed them, which became our current music style."

Hanabie. on their origins and influences[7]

Hanabie.'s music can be broadly classified as metalcore albeit with influences from various musical styles.[37][38][39] Their tongue-in-cheek lyricism and genre defying compositions is akin to Maximum the Hormone, whom they used to cover in their early days, and the band often incorporates elements from a wide array of genre including hip-hop, hardcore punk, nu metal and electronica.[40][41] Most of the band's songs have a backdrop of heavy power chord based riffs and feature a breakdown, but usually lack a guitar solo, with "Envy" and "Be the GAL" being the only songs to have one. Some of their songs follow non-traditional, non-linear structures with no repeating verse or chorus. Vocals alternate between screaming and cleans. They have been called Bring Me the Horizon-esque by knotfest.com.[41] Metal Hammer magazine has compared their music to Maximum the Hormone, Enter Shikari and Crossfaith.[42]

Songwriting

Hanabie. songs are mostly written by Matsuri and Yukina. Matsuri is the band's primary music composer and is also involved in arrangement.[16] The lyrical theme of each song is made by Yukina based on Matsuri's instrumental demos. Yukina and Matsuri write melodies and lyrics for their respective vocal parts.[16] Hettsu usually only writes the bass lines but has also occasionally written lyrics. Drum sections have been composed by Matsuri during the absence of a permanent drummer.[16] Being the sole guitarist, Matsuri switches between rhythm and lead parts which she loosely writes in a 2:1 ratio.[43] Screaming and clean vocals constitute roughly equal portions of their songs.[15]

Influences

Yukina cites Maximum the Hormone, A Crowd of Rebellion, Hysteric Panic, and Ellegarden as her influences.[13] Matsuri has stated her musical tastes were influenced by her parents, both of whom are fans of rock and metal music.[15] She cites Maximum the Hormone, Hi-Standard, Hysteric Panic, SiM, and Coldrain as her influences. Hettsu cites anisongs as her biggest influence.[7] Vocaloid and electronic music popular on Nico Nico Douga have also been cited as influences by the band members.[15] All of the members have admitted to being fans of anime and video games, influences of which can be seen in their music, album covers and music videos.[40]

Image

Hettsu (pictured in 2023) performing in a Harajuku street fashion inspired outfit.

Hanabie. have been noted for their Gen-Z image of "authenticity, relaxation and messiness" by Metal Hammer magazine.[4] Harajuku street fashion is an important part of the band's image. The term 'Harajuku-core' (Harajuku fashion + metalcore) has been used by the band to define themselves.[33] The term is often used on their merchandises. The band's stage outfits are mostly inspired by 'Harajuku aesthetics'. Hettsu, the band's bassist, stated during a concert that the band's stage clothes were designed and hand-made by her.[44] Anime imagery has also been frequently used by the band and features on all of their album covers as well as much of their merchandise. Before the release of "L.C.G", the band had a more casual dressed-down look similar to 2000s hardcore bands, which was seemingly inspired by bands like Maximum the Hormone.

Members

Current members

  • Yukina – harsh vocals, clean vocals (2015–present)
  • Matsuri – guitar, clean vocals (2015–present)
  • Hettsu – bass, backing vocals (2015–present)
  • Chika – drums (2023–present)

Past members

  • Kaede – drums (2015–2016)
  • Boa – drums (2017–2018)
  • Sae – drums (2020–2023)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Mini albums

Singles

List of singles
Title Year Album
"Crash Over" 2016 Non-album single
"L.C.G." 2019 Girl's Reform Manifest
"Love Ranbu" (Love乱舞) 2022 Non-album single
"Neet Game" Reborn Superstar!
"Osaki ni Shitsurei Shimasu" 2023
"Run Away" (Tousou)
"This Is the Year to Be a Gal" (Early Summer version)
"Believer - Cover" Non-album single

Tours

Japan

  • "I've Kept You Waiting! First One-Man Tour for the 8th Anniversary of Our Formation!!" (2023)[46]
  • "Hajimete no Lovely Legend 2-man Japan Tour" (2024)[47]

Overseas

  • Hanabie. EU Tour (2023)[48]
  • Hanabie. US Tour (2023)[48]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Hanabie - discography, line-up, biography, interviews, photos". www.spirit-of-metal.com. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  2. ↑ Gonzales, Ramon (2023-01-13). "Hanabie fuse JPop and metalcore on the infectious new single お先に失礼します。(Pardon Me, I Have to Go Now)". Knotfest. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  3. ↑ "Hanabie – Otome kaikaku". JaME. 2021-12-13. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  4. 1 2 Goodman, Eleanor (2023-08-16). "Videogames, office rage and, erm, sweets: inside the wild and colourful world of Hanabie, Japan's next metal superstars in waiting". louder. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  5. ↑ "花冷え。が世界へ叫ぶ原宿コア". Big Up!zine (in Japanese). 2022-04-30. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  6. ↑ Aldersladepublished, Merlin (2023-01-12). "New Hanabie single お先に失礼します。(Pardon Me, I Have to Go Now) is the colourful, crazy burst of Japanese metal you've been waiting for". louder. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Interview with Hanabie". jrocknroll.com. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Profile". Hanabie Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  9. 1 2 "花冷え。が「来世は偉人！」でソニーからメジャーデビュー". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  10. ↑ "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  11. ↑ "世界が萌えている！…美貌のガールズ・メタルコアバンド 『花冷え。』に「浴衣姿を独占撮」妖艶写真（Friday）". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  12. 1 2 3 花冷え - English translation – Linguee, retrieved 2023-06-24
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 [EngSubs] #HANABIE Questions from fans | 16th Apr 2021, retrieved 2023-06-23
  14. 1 2 "Interview with Hanabie。". Hallyu+. 2021-03-18. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "（前編）花冷え。のリーダー、マツリに単独インタビュー！ 「"ヴォーカルとして歌っている上でギターを弾く"っていうことにすごく憧れてました」". Young Guitar (in Japanese). 2022-06-06. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Department, Gekirock Editorial. "花冷え。× 田浦 楽| 激ロック インタビュー". 激ロック ラウドロック・ポータル. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  17. ↑ "BIOGRAPHY". 花冷え。OFFICIAL WEB SITE (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  18. 1 2 "吉祥寺発ラウド・ロックバンド『花冷え。』プロデューサーに田浦楽"Gaku Taura"を迎えての初のミニアルバムリリース決定！ – 316.rocks" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  19. 1 2 花冷え。 - 開花宣言 / Cherry Blossoms Are Blooming (in Japanese), 2018-10-17, retrieved 2023-06-23
  20. 1 2 3 "Past Live". Hanabie Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-07-12.
  21. ↑ "新メンバー加入！新体制！ 花冷え。史上最強のアルバムとMVを制作したい！". camp-fire.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-11-14.
  22. ↑ "世界が萌えている！…美貌のガールズ・メタルコアバンド 『花冷え。』に「浴衣姿を独占撮」妖艶写真（FRIDAY）". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-11-14.
  23. ↑ "Amazon.co.jp: 乙女改革 : 花冷え。: Digital Music". www.amazon.co.jp. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  24. ↑ "Home". MetalDays. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  25. ↑ "Line Up". Leyendas del Rock 2023 - XVI Edición (in Spanish). 2021-07-27. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  26. ↑ "Loud Noise | We like it loud!". www.dynamo-metalfest.nl. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  27. ↑ "2023 Lineup". Blue Ridge Rock Fest. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  28. ↑ "Louder Than Life 2023 | September 21–24 | Louisville, KY". Louder Than Life 2023 | September 21–24 | Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  29. ↑ "Aftershock 2023 | October 5–8 | Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA". Aftershock 2023 | October 5–8 | Discovery Park. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  30. ↑ "MetalDays 2023 in Slovenia canceled due to severe flooding on final day". Lambgoat.com. August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  31. ↑ @HA_NA_BIE_ (May 28, 2023). "【💥YouTube📢】 「春の大解放祭2023」にて発表された チカ正式加入ドラマを公開しました🔥 会場に来られなかった方もお楽しみください🌟 📹Video Shooting by. @chanmei_camera https://youtu.be/mCtlLjN2V1c" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  32. 1 2 "Satanic Carnival 2023 (サタニックカーニバル2023) 幕張メッセ 国際展示場 9-11ホール 2023年6月17日(土)、18日(日) | Satanic Ent" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  33. 1 2 metalhammer (2023-06-18). "キラキラ＆ゴリゴリのエクストリーム・ロック・バンド［花冷え。］がメジャー・デビュー！ 最新作『来世は偉人！』から「Tousou」を配信！". Metal Hammer Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  34. ↑ "花冷え。メジャーデビュー飾る「来世は偉人！」詳細発表、メンバーは七夕に都内を逃走". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-07-12.
  35. ↑ Chris (2023-11-02). "Rock im Park & Rock am Ring 2024: Komplettes Line-Up veröffentlicht". Museek.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-11-02.
  36. ↑ Adrien (2023-11-02). "Le Greenfield Festival annonce la première salve de groupes pour son édition 2024". Metalzone.fr (in French). Retrieved 2023-11-02.
  37. ↑ "花冷え。が語る、突然変異型メタルコアの裏側、「やったるぞ！」精神 | Rolling Stone Japan(ローリングストーン ジャパン）". Rolling Stone Japan (in Japanese). 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  38. ↑ "Hanabie – Otome kaikaku". JaME. 2021-12-13. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  39. ↑ Gonzales, Ramon (2023-01-13). "Hanabie fuse JPop and metalcore on the infectious new single お先に失礼します。(Pardon Me, I Have To Go Now)". Knotfest. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  40. 1 2 Goodman, Eleanor (2023-08-16). "Videogames, office rage and, erm, sweets: inside the wild and colourful world of Hanabie, Japan's next metal superstars in waiting". louder. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  41. 1 2 Gonzales, Ramon (2023-01-13). "Hanabie fuse JPop and metalcore on the infectious new single お先に失礼します。(Pardon Me, I Have to Go Now)". Knotfest. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  42. ↑ @HA_NA_BIE_ (July 21, 2023). "【💥メディア掲載情報📢】昨日発売された英・Metal Hammer にて、花冷え。が掲載されております！こちらから💁http://bit.ly/buyhammer" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  43. ↑ "（後編）花冷え。のリーダー、マツリに単独インタビュー！ 「もっと進化している状態を今年はたくさん見せられるんじゃないかな」". Young Guitar (in Japanese). 2022-06-06. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  44. ↑ 全部都是阿囧的错. "花冷え。Studio Live 2021 -11th Dec,2021 1pm in JPN time-_哔哩哔哩_bilibili". www.bilibili.com (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 2023-07-12.
  45. ↑ 花冷え。 - 乙女改革 Girl's Reform Manifest (in Japanese), 2021-01-14, retrieved 2023-06-23
  46. ↑ @HA_NA_BIE_ (May 25, 2023). "【🎉 初ワンマンツアー 🎉】🎫5/27(土)10:00～ 一般先行発売開始🔥✅7/15(土)大阪 心斎橋Varon✅7/17(月・祝) 名古屋ell.Fits All✅7/28(金) 渋谷WWW【e＋】https://eplus.jp/hanabie/【ぴあ】https://w.pia.jp/t/hanabie-a/【ローソンチケット】https://l-tike.com/hanabie/" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  47. ↑ "HANABIE". HANABIE. (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  48. 1 2 "花冷え。、メジャー・デビュー・アルバムを携えたUSAツアー開催決定 - CDJournal ニュース". www.cdjournal.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-07-08.
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