WEEK 9
Sound In Media Culture
A musical group consists of eight members from Japan, Wagakki Band incorporates traditional Japanese instruments with contemporary rock. Members include: Daisuke Kaminaga (shakuhachi), Beni Ninagawa (tsugaru jamisen), Kurona (wadaiko), Machiya (guitar & backing vocals), Yuuko Suzuhana (lead vocals), Kiyoshi Ibukuro (koto), Wasabi (drums), and Asa (Bass)
The uniqueness of this group is that they include their culture which is the Japanese culture into their music and by that, it is applied to both instruments and singing. The music produced by them are a fusion of Vocaloid (a voice synthesizer), pop rock, and wagakki (traditional Japanese musical instruments). Because of this, the band gained popularity and recognition by majority of modern society and receive a lot of positive reviews for their creativity. Their content expresses a heavy, original and fresh kind of aesthetic and also Japanese influence that attracts the listeners in enjoying their music.
Here are some information on the musical instruments that are used in the band:
- Shakuhachi is a Japanese end-blown flute
The uniqueness of this group is that they include their culture which is the Japanese culture into their music and by that, it is applied to both instruments and singing. The music produced by them are a fusion of Vocaloid (a voice synthesizer), pop rock, and wagakki (traditional Japanese musical instruments). Because of this, the band gained popularity and recognition by majority of modern society and receive a lot of positive reviews for their creativity. Their content expresses a heavy, original and fresh kind of aesthetic and also Japanese influence that attracts the listeners in enjoying their music.
Here are some information on the musical instruments that are used in the band:
- Shakuhachi is a Japanese end-blown flute
- Tsugaru Jamisen or sometimes pronounced as "shamisen" is three-stringed Japanese musical instrument and is played along with a plectrum called a bachi
- Wadaiko is a Japanese drum
- Koto is a Japanese 13 or 17-stringed musical instrument that needs to be plucked using three fingers in order to play
- Electric guitar is a fretted stringed instrument that uses a pickup to convert vibrations into electrical signals
- Bass is a 4 to 6 stringed musical instrument that is quite similar in resemblance of an electric guitar
- Drums are a collection of drums and some percussion instruments such as the symbal which are set up and is played using drumsticks and also by controlling the pedals
Other than that, for visuals, their music videos are also heavily influence with traditional Japanese and pop rock aesthetics. From the settings to the outfits, the fusions of both culture are well shown in their music videos.
Here is one of Wagakki Band's music video and I, personally, find it very beautiful and interesting: link to music video
Reference
- http://www.generasia.com/wiki/Wagakki_Band
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Japanese_musical_instruments
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