Italian Japanese is an Indie/Alternative Rock band from Southern California.. Their sound, although compared to the likes of: The Killers, Death Cab for Cutie, Phoenix, Interpol, MGMT, etc.. has a uniqueness that makes them identifiable amongst the masses of similar genre. Italian Japanese's debut release titled "The Lush, Romantic Weirdness, due out in early August 2009, is a variety of melodic, dance-style (yet stirringly soulful) tunes, contagious and bound to captivate the new listener. Only a month after conception, Italian Japanese performed live for the first time at the 2008 South by Southwest Music Festival/Conference in Austin, TX. This performance fueled a buzz among the SxSw journalist community resulting in high praise and ultimately a demand for an Italian Japanese release.
They hit the recording studio and posted 3 demo tracks online which quickly began to be downloaded thousands of times and was picked up for airplay by major radio stations in the Northwest. The track "Jaguar Paw" was played on specialty radio (107.7 The End in Seattle, WA) for 3 weeks base upon listener requests. College radio in Portland, OR began to spin the track "Le Pony" and requested an on air interview with the band.
Venues throughout the west coast began to contact Italian Japanese for bookings after repeated fan requests. Knowing that they were on to something special, the band decided to return to the studio to record a debut full-length. Italian Japanese self produced, recorded and funded the album. They then acquired the services on acclaimed producer Ryan Greene(JayZ, Authority Zero) to put on the finishing touches and mix. Although Italian Japanese is a new band they not unfamiliar with life on the road. Collectively, through past projects (Weatherbox, Lance's Hero, The Color Turning, Lucky 7, etc..) they have performed several times across the U.S., U.K., Europe and Canada.
Music festivals include: Reading, Leeds, Pinkpop, Puklepop, Rock Am Ring, Rock Am Park, Livid, Big Day Out, Terra Moto, Warped Tour, Bamboozle and numerous radio shows. Artists include: Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World, Queens of the Stone Age, Pink, Vampire Weekend, Eminem, and many more. Italian Japanese plans to be hitting the road this fall with friends, Say Anything, Cobras Starship, Armor for Sleep, Delta Spirit, The Soft Pack, Crocodiles and Weatherbox in support of their upcoming release.
Album Review-Latarsha Davy-Carroll for CWG Magazine
I had the pleasure of interviewing Italian Japanese on Indie Talk Live. The band’s name makes you think that a new fusion of cuisine is on the menu at a hip restaurant or a combo of the band’s nationalities. The band put that debate to rest and explained the birth of Italian Japanese. According to Chris and Allen, they had another name that nobody liked. Allen was reading an article on the band Blonde Red-Head whose members are Italian and Japanese. He put the nationalities together and suggested it to his band mates. From that moment on the band began working hard to create a sound that was authentic and true.
The highly-anticipated album from the band brings a new sound that’s very polished and definitely on another level. The first song, “Jeremiah” is a great set-up to keep you listening. So many times we as the listener can be turned off by track number one and not bother to hear the remainder of the album. The title gives the illusion that the album is the soundtrack for a movie based on a book. The last track 9.11, “Ladybird” doesn’t signal the end, but a sequel.
The songs’ beautiful melodies along with peaceful vocals can be compared to Coldplay or Death Cab for Cutie. However, Italian Japanese goes beyond the norm by fusing different genres with piercing instrumentals and futuristic metaphors.
I would say that my favorite song on the album has to be…all of them! I favored “Le Pony”, because it was the first one I heard, but there’s a book to be read and not a chapter. The Lush, Romantic Weirdness by author Italian Japanese is definitely a bestseller!
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