Aaamyyy
{{short description|Japanese electronic musician}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| image =
| caption =
| name = Aaamyyy
| birth_name = {{nihongo|Honami Furuhara{{cite web | url=http://lamama.net/staticpages/index.php/monthly_pick_up_artist_92 |title=Special Page Volume 92 Go Retro |author=Kawano | publisher=Stage House La.mama |language=ja | year=2014 | accessdate=June 27, 2019}}{{cite web | url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2019/03/13/music/aaamyyy-whips-synth-heavy-soundscape-year-2615/ |title=Aaamyyy whips up a synth-heavy soundscape for the year 2615 |author=Russell Thomas | publisher=The Japan Times | date=March 13, 2019 | accessdate=June 27, 2019}}|古原 ほなみ|Furuhara Honami}}
| alias = Aaamyyy, Amy Furuhara
| birth_date =
| origin = Kawakami, Nagano, Japan{{cite web | url=https://www.cinra.net/interview/201906-aaamyyy |script-title=ja:AAAMYYYが語る、Tempalayに入るまでの道のりと正式加入の理由 |author=Takanori Kuroda | publisher=Cinra |language=ja | date=June 10, 2019 | accessdate=June 28, 2019}}
| instrument = {{Flat list|
- Vocals
- Synthesizer
}}
| genre = {{Flat list|
}}
| occupation = {{Flat list|
- Singer
- Songwriter
- Producer
}}
| years_active = 2013–present
| label = Space Shower Music
| current_member_of = Tempalay
| website = {{URL|https://aaamyyy.jp/}}
}}
Honami "Amy" Furuhara (born in Kawakami, Nagano{{cite web | url=https://www.neol.jp/culture/64410/ |title=90s Memories : Interview with AAAMYYY about 『MABOROSI EP』 |author=Shoichi Miyake | publisher=Neol |language=ja | date=February 5, 2018 | accessdate=May 27, 2019}}), known professionally as Aaamyyy ({{IPAc-en|ei|m|iː}}, stylized as AAAMYYY), is a Japanese electronic musician. Originally a member of electronic pop groups Go Retro and Eimie, Furuhara began working with the psychedelic rock band Tempalay from 2015 (becoming an official member in 2018), and started a solo career in 2017.
Biography
Amy Furuhara grew up in a rural community in Nagano Prefecture.{{cite web | url=https://rollingstonejapan.com/articles/detail/29970 |script-title=ja:「ミニマムでシンプル」を実践するAAAMYYY、謎めいた作品の奥にあるもの |author=Takuro Ueno | publisher=Rolling Stone |language=ja | date=February 10, 2019 | accessdate=May 27, 2019}} She first became interested in music when she joined the light music club in high school, where she primarily played the drums. Furuhara was inspired by musicians such as M.I.A. and T-Pain who she heard after traveling to Canada as an exchange student in 2008, and by final year of high school she had begun composing songs.{{cite web | url=http://kansai.pia.co.jp/interview/music/2019-03/aaamyyy.html |script-title=ja:ちょっとノスタルジーを感じつつ、未来を考える1stフルアルバム『BODY』を携えてライブを開催AAAMYYYのソロ活動に迫るインタビュー |author=Amy Nonaka | publisher=Pia |language=ja | date=March 11, 2019 | accessdate=June 27, 2019}} Following high school, Furuhara attended the Kanda University of International Studies, where she spent up to 14 hours per day speaking English, and later a flight attendant school for Air Canada in Vancouver.{{cite web | url=https://www.cinra.net/interview/201606-eimie |script-title=ja:同世代のeimieが語る、SuchmosやD.A.N.らが若者に愛される理由 |author=Amano, Fumiaki | publisher=Cinra |language=ja | date=June 16, 2016 | accessdate=June 27, 2019}} She returned to Japan as Air Canada required at least three years of work experience, and worked as an English conversation teacher in Osaka.
Furuhara started creating music when she was 22 when she returned to Japan. Inspired by the music she heard in Canada and having some experience using GarageBand, she decided to start a Tokyo-based electropop band called Go Retro with her friend Shiori Ogawa in 2013.{{cite web | url=https://g0retro.wordpress.com/biography/ |title=BIOGRAPHY |date=10 April 2013 | publisher=Go Retro |language=ja | accessdate=June 27, 2019}} Her bandmate Ogawa played the drums and used a Kaoss Pad for their live performances, while Furuhara performed on the synthesizer. Furuhara decided to start singing as the band's vocalist, so that she could lessen the work that Ogawa needed to do. The band released two demos and performed concerts around the Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka areas, and received a development contract from a record label, where Furuhara was given vocal training lessons. After a year together, the band broke up, as Ogawa decided to return home to Osaka.
Shortly after Go Retro's dissolution in 2014, Furuhara was approached by a DJ called Takuma, and together they formed the group Eemie, producing exclusively English-language music.{{cite web | url=http://mikiki.tokyo.jp/articles/-/9059 |script-title=ja:チャーチズやグライムスにも通じる魅力持つ東京発のユニット、eimieが語る初全国流通盤『Silver Fox E.P.』と活動への思い |author=Jin Sugiyama |work=Bounce | publisher=Mikiki |language=ja | date=November 25, 2015 | accessdate=June 27, 2019}} Initially self-releasing electro/chillwave music on Bandcamp,{{cite web | url=https://eimieofficial.bandcamp.com/ |title=eimie |author=Jin Sugiyama |work=Bounce | publisher=Mikiki |language=ja | date=November 25, 2015 | accessdate=June 27, 2019}} the group debuted on independent label Maxtreme Records in 2015 with the single "Carnival", and were listed among AP Japan's 36 Bands You Need To Know 2015.{{cite web | url=https://nmmag.jp/?p=27370 |script-title=ja:【NEWS】エレクトロポップ／チルウェイヴ・ユニットeimieは新曲 "Silver Fox" のMusic Videoを公開 | publisher=NM Magazine |language=ja |date=June 1, 2016 | accessdate=June 27, 2019}} Eemie performed at the Summer Sonic summer rock festival in 2015. In 2015, Furuhara met the psychedelic pop/rock group Tempalay, and was invited to perform as a live support member of their band.{{cite web | url=https://www.cinra.net/interview/201906-aaamyyy?page=2 |script-title=ja:AAAMYYYが語る、Tempalayに入るまでの道のりと正式加入の理由 |author=Takanori Kuroda | publisher=Cinra |language=ja | date=June 10, 2019 | accessdate=June 28, 2019}} Furuhara toured the US, performing both as a part of Tempalay and as a member of Eemie in March 2016 (including a performance at South by Southwest). In August 2016 the band disbanded, performing a final concert on August 31, where the band also released their debut and final album.{{cite web | url=https://spincoaster.com/news/eimie-breake-up-new-action-x-live-connection-eimie-last-show |script-title=ja:eimieが解散を発表。New Action! x LIVE Connection "eimie LAST SHOW"を8/31に開催 | publisher=Spincoaster |language=ja | date=July 15, 2016 | accessdate=June 27, 2019}}{{cite web | url=https://twitter.com/eimieofficial/status/770426030255472640 |script-title=ja:eimie on Twitter: "【NEWS】セルフタイトルアルバム7曲入を8/31に発売します。 |author=Eimie | publisher=Twitter |language=ja | date=August 29, 2016 | accessdate=June 27, 2019}}
= Solo career, Tempalay =
Furuhara began her solo career in February 2017 as Aaamyyy, after becoming a radio DJ on InterFM's programme Tokyo Scene, where she debuted her song "8PM".{{cite web |url=http://www.interfm.co.jp/tokyo/blog/?p=6847 |title=2/3 TOKYO SCENE Wrap Up! |publisher=InterFM |language=ja |date=February 4, 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204214515/http://www.interfm.co.jp/tokyo/blog/?p=6847 |archivedate=February 4, 2017 |accessdate=June 27, 2019 |url-status=live }} For her solo career, she decided to sing in Japanese, as a way to reach listeners more easily in Japan. Aaamyyy released her debut extended play Weekend EP in September on cassette,{{cite web | url=http://www.flakerecords.com/rcminfo.php?CODE=28170 |script-title=ja:eimieの活動を終了させ現在はTempalayのサポートなど幅広く活躍するエイミーソロ名義AAAMYYY始動です！！ | publisher=Flake Records |language=ja | year=2017 | accessdate=June 27, 2019}} recording the entire release on her phone, using the iOS app Figure. This was followed by the Maborosi EP in February 2018, as well as a compilation release of this plus her debut EP, entitled Maborosi Weekend, which was her first widely distributed release in Japan.{{cite web | url=https://spaceshowermusic.com/artist/12483693/#profile |title=Profile |work=SPACE SHOWER MUSIC （スペースシャワーミュージック） | publisher=Space Shower |language=ja | accessdate=June 25, 2019}}
In June, Furuhara officially became a member of Tempalay, which lead to the band releasing the extended play Nante Subarashiki Sekai in September, featuring Furuhara as the band's synthesizer player, and as their occasional background vocalist.{{cite web | url=https://tower.jp/item/4755881/%E3%81%AA%E3%82%93%E3%81%A6%E7%B4%A0%E6%99%B4%E3%82%89%E3%81%97%E3%81%8D%E4%B8%96%E7%95%8C |script-title=ja:【CD】なんて素晴らしき世界 | publisher=Tower Records |language=ja |year=2018 | accessdate=June 25, 2019}} Aaamyyy's final of her three EP series, the Etcetra EP, was released digitally and on cassette in October.{{cite web | url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/302298 |script-title=ja:AAAMYYY「ETCETRA EP」配信決定、DATS主催ライブでカセット先行発売 | publisher=Natasha, Inc. |language=ja | date=November 23, 2018 | accessdate=May 26, 2019}}
Aaamyyy began recording her debut album Body in October 2018, releasing it in February 2019. A concept album set in 2615, the release was inspired by Netflix television shows such as Black Mirror and Maniac (2018). The album featured collaborations with American musician Computer Magic, New York-based group JIL and Japanese group Paellas' vocalist Matton. Tempalay's third album With Love from the 21 Century was released in June, and was the band's most commercially successful work to date, reaching #30 on Oricon's weekly charts.{{cite web | url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/659798/products/1319849/1/ |script-title=ja:21世紀より愛をこめて Tempalay ORICON NEWS | publisher=Oricon |language=ja | accessdate=June 27, 2019}}
In March 2020, Aaamyyy collaborated with musician Shin Sakiura for the song "Night Running", which was used as the ending theme song for the Netflix anime series BNA: Brand New Animal.{{cite web | url=https://realsound.jp/2020/03/post-524769.html |script-title=ja:アニメ『BNA ビー・エヌ・エー』、影森みちる（CV：諸星すみれ）による「Ready to」がOP、Shin Sakiura feat. AAAMYYY「NIGHT RUNNING」がEDテーマに | publisher=Real Sound |language=ja |date=March 18, 2020 |accessdate=March 21, 2020}}
In July 2022, she released her fourth EP digitally, entitled ECHO CHAMBER.
Personal life
Discography
=Studio albums=
= Extended plays =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| style="width:12em;" rowspan="1"| Title
! style="width:16em;" rowspan="1"| Album details |
|---|
| scope="row" | Weekend EP
|
|
| scope="row" | Maborosi EP
|
|
| scope="row" | Etcetra EP
| |
| scope="row" | ECHO CHAMBER
|
|
= Compilation albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| style="width:12em;" rowspan="1"| Title
! style="width:16em;" rowspan="1"| Album details |
|---|
| scope="row" | Maborosi Weekend
|
|
| scope="row" | Weekend / Maborosi / Etcetra
|
|
= Singles =
== As lead artist ==
== As featured artist ==
= Promotional singles =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:16em;" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="1" | Year ! scope="col" rowspan="1" | Album |
|---|
| scope="row" | "After Life"{{cite web | url=https://www.fashion-press.net/news/74481 | title=TempalayのAAAMYYY最新CDアルバム、TENDRE参加の新曲を含む全10曲 | language=Japanese |publisher=Fashion Press |date=2021-07-05 | accessdate=August 4, 2021}}
| rowspan="2" | 2021 | rowspan="2" | Annihilation |
| scope="row" | "Takes Time"{{cite web | url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/102649/2 | title=AAAMYYY、新曲「TAKES TIME」の先行配信&MV公開 | language=Japanese |publisher=Billboard Japan |date=August 4, 2021 | accessdate=August 5, 2021}} |
| scope="row" | {{nihongo|"That smile"|あの笑み|Ano Emi}}" {{small|(Featuring Ano)}} | rowspan="2" | 2022 | rowspan="2" | ECHO CHAMBER (EP) |
| scope="row" | {{nihongo|"Hail"|雨|Ame}}" {{small|(Featuring (sic)boy)}} |
=Guest appearances=
Songwriting credits
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width:22em;"| Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Artist(s) ! scope="col" | Album |
| scope="row"| "Intro -Blues-"{{cite web | url=https://tower.jp/item/4908912/AMANECER |script-title=ja:【CD】AMANECER Solmana | publisher=Tower Records |language=ja | accessdate=February 12, 2020}}
| rowspan="5"| 2019 | rowspan="3"| Solmana | rowspan="4"| Amanecer |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Step Ahead" |
| scope="row"| "Roots" |
| scope="row"| "Set Me Free"
| Solmana, Dian |
| scope="row"| "Clione"{{cite web | url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/78425/2 |script-title=ja:木村カエラ、あいみょん提供楽曲「Continue」MV公開 | publisher=Billboard Japan |language=ja | date=July 30, 2019 | accessdate=July 31, 2019}}
| Ichigo |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Biography}}
- [https://aaamyyy.jp/ Official website]
- [https://spaceshowermusic.com/artist/12483693/ Official Space Shower label site]
{{authority control}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Aaamyyy}}
Category:21st-century Japanese singers
Category:21st-century Japanese women singers
Category:English-language singers from Japan
Category:Japanese electronic musicians
Category:Japanese women singer-songwriters
Category:Japanese women pop singers
Category:Musicians from Nagano Prefecture