Clazziquai Project
{{Short description|South Korean electropop band}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Clazziquai Project
| image = Clazziquai Project 2010 2.png
| caption = Clazziquai Project in 2010
From left to right: DJ Clazzi, Alex, Horan
and guest vocalist Christina Chu
| landscape = yes
| origin = South Korea
| years_active = 2001–present
| genre = Electropop
| label = Fluxus Music
| current_members = *DJ Clazzi
}}
Clazziquai Project ({{Korean|hangul=클래지콰이}}), also known as Clazziquai, is a South Korean electropop band that combines several genres including electronic music, acid jazz and house. The band's first short unofficial albums were released online in 2001, spreading its music through words of "netizens," who positively received the band's music. They remained underground until the release of their first album Instant Pig in 2004, selling over 80,000 copies. Since then, their music has been used in shows, commercials, and films.Tak, Jin-hyun. [http://news.naver.com/news/read.php?mode=LSD&office_id=073&article_id=0000021224§ion_id=106&menu_id=106 Clazziquai, a new Hallyu Star] "Sportainment", March 4, 2006.
Clazziquai is known for their songs, "Be My Love" and "She Is", which were featured on the Korean drama My Lovely Samsoon, with the former becoming the show's theme song. The band won an award at the MNET KM Music Video Festival for "Best Soundtrack", and has also been the most nominated band at the Korean Popular Music Awards II(2회), winning "Artist of the Year" and "Best Pop". They have contributed to works by Japanese artists Fantastic Plastic Machine and M-Flo.
History
=2001: Formation=
DJ Clazzi, described as "a magician at synthesizing different sounds in music into creating one unique [sic] new genre".{{cite news|url=http://news.media.daum.net/snews/entertain/broadcast/200509/23/chosun/v10242182.html|title=푸근하고 정감있게 변신했죠|newspaper=The Chosun Ilbo|language=ko|access-date=2007-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015065954/http://news.media.daum.net/snews/entertain/broadcast/200509/23/chosun/v10242182.html|archive-date=2007-10-15|url-status=dead}} graduated from Capilano College, and continued his study at Centre for Digital Imaging and Sound (CDIS). After his graduation, he worked as a web designer, uploading his music online during his leisure time. DJ Clazzi's music became popular on Korean social media, with the experimental nature of his music being well received by Korean netizens, which is the reason why Clazziquai was initially labeled a "project group".{{cite web|url=http://www.magazinet.co.kr/Articles/article_view.php?mm=013002001&article_id=43639|title=호란은 직진한다|publisher=Magazine T|language=ko}}
Korean-Canadian siblings Alex and Christina Chu were initially acquaintances with DJ Clazzi and participated vocally on the first three short and experimental albums released online, named gray, red, and retro.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/clazziquai-project-mn0000612018/biography|title=Clazziquai Project {{!}} Biography & History|last=Schmidt|first=Jeremy A.|website=AllMusic|access-date=2018-10-20}}
Christina Chu left the official line up and Horan stepped in to fill her spot. Chu occasionally contributes her vocals to the band, although she is often an uncredited guest artist.
=2004–2006: ''Instant Pig'' and ''Color Your Soul''=
Clazziquai released their first studio album, Instant Pig, in May 2004, with 80,000 copies sold.{{cite web|url=http://sports.hankooki.com/lpage/music/200510/sp2005100408123958550.htm|title=클래지콰이 다채로운 리듬 '감칠맛'|date=4 October 2005 |publisher=Sports Korea|language=ko}} The album received critical acclaim, which led to more than five songs from the album being used in six television commercials.{{cite web|url=http://news.naver.com/news/read.php?mode=LSD&office_id=081&article_id=0000062377§ion_id=106&menu_id=106|title=2집으로 돌아온 클래지콰이)|publisher=Seoul Shinmun|language=ko}} The remixed English version of the song, "Come To Me", in its remix album Zbam was released in November 2004, and was later used as a song in a television commercial featuring David Beckham. Fantastic Plastic Machine praised Clazziquai as a new band to lead the "Hallyu".
In 2005, Clazziquai's "Be My Love" and "She Is", were featured in the South Korean hit television drama, My Lovely Samsoon. These two major theme songs also raised the ratings of the series up 50%.{{cite news|url=http://news.naver.com/news/read.php?mode=LSD&office_id=079&article_id=0000040266§ion_id=106&menu_id=106|title="러브홀릭·클래지콰이 '삼순열풍'에 한 몫"|newspaper=No Cut News|language=ko}} Clazziquai had hoped then that people's imagination towards their music would not 'decrease as a result of their unexpected popularity'.{{cite web|url=http://star.mt.co.kr/stview.php?no=2005072116194893954&outlink=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.naver.com|title=클래지콰이, 日서 욘사마-삼순이 후광 '톡톡'|date=21 July 2005 |publisher=Star News|language=ko}} In September 2005, Clazziquai released their second album, Color Your Soul claiming it had a "raw, funkier feel presenting a combination of electronic music and [an] emphasized acoustic genre".{{cite web|url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=103&oid=022&aid=0000122802|title=이 가을, 라운지 음악에 젖어보세요|publisher=Naver News|language=ko}} A remix album entitled Pinch Your Soul was released early the following year.{{cite web|url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=103&oid=081&aid=0000083068|title=클래지콰이, 두번째 리믹스 앨범|publisher=Naver News|language=ko}}
=2007–2009: ''Love Child of the Century'' and ''Mucho Punk''=
In June 2007, Clazziquai's third album, Love Child of the Century, was released.{{cite web|url=http://www.mydaily.co.kr/new_yk/html/read.php?newsid=200706141904111132|title=클래지콰이, "불면증 덕에 우울한 현실에 눈떠"|publisher=My Daily|language=ko}} A remix album, Robotica, was released later in the year. After the album's release, the members of Clazziquai grew busy with their own work, which started false rumors that Clazziquai could be disbanding.{{cite web|url=http://news.hankooki.com/lpage/sports/200803/h2008032207145391990.htm|title=Horan and Alex go solo|publisher=Hankooki News|language=ko|access-date=2009-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513082913/http://news.hankooki.com/lpage/sports/200803/h2008032207145391990.htm|archive-date=2010-05-13|url-status=dead}}
In 2008, a video game for the PlayStation Portable featuring many Clazziquai songs titled DJMax Portable Clazziquai Edition was released. These songs were later released as part of the special album Metrotronics.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisgame.com/webzine/news/nboard/5/?n=9801|title="트릴로지는 PC용 DJMAX의 새로운 시작"|date=12 December 2008 |publisher=This Is Game|language=ko}}
In July 2009, Clazziquai released their fourth album, Mucho Punk, featuring the single "Wizard of OZ" which had been featured in an LG commercial that year.{{cite web|url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=001&oid=037&aid=0000008216|title=[MUSIC – New Album] 클래지콰이 Mucho Punk 外|publisher=Naver News|language=ko}} In concordance to Mucho Punk, Clazziquai released Japanese album, Mucho Musica, and later released a remix album, Mucho Mix.{{cite web|url=http://www.kome-world.com/us/news-7882-clazziquai-will-release-another-japanese-remix-album.html|title=Clazziquai will release another Japanese remix album|publisher=KoME World}} The remix version of the original album was released in South Korea later in the year as Mucho Beat.{{cite web|url=http://www.polinews.co.kr/news/article.html?no=45692|title=클래지콰이 프로젝트의 4.5집 '무초비트' 26일 발매|date=26 November 2009 |publisher=Poli News|language=ko}}
=2012–2018: ''Blessed'', ''Blink'' and ''Travellers''=
In December 2012, Clazziquai released the single, "Can't Go On My Own", as part of the Can We Get Married? OST.{{cite web|url=http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=086&aid=0002136536|title=러브송의 대명사 클래지콰이, 싱글 발표|publisher=Naver|language=ko}} In February 2013, the band released their fifth album, Blessed, making it into the top ten of Gaon's weekly album chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.ajunews.com/common/redirect.jsp?newsId=20130205000166|title=클래지콰이 프로젝트 5집 '블레스드' 발매|date=5 February 2013 |publisher=Aju News|language=ko}} They later held three 'Be Blessed' concerts throughout May and June.{{cite web|url=http://www.cctoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=770429|title=몽환적 러브홀릭 '클래지콰이' 천상의 하모니 대전을 울리다|date=13 May 2013 |publisher=CC Today|language=ko}}
In September 2014, Clazziquai released their sixth album, Blink.{{cite web|url=http://www.metroseoul.co.kr/news/newsview?newscd=2014091800259#cb|title=클래지콰이 프로젝트, 10년간 활동의 집약체 6집 앨범 'Blink' 발매|publisher=Metro Seoul|language=ko}} They held a concert shortly after the release to celebrate their tenth anniversary as a band.{{cite web|url=http://tenasia.hankyung.com/archives/303697|title=클래지콰이 10주년 파티 개최|publisher=Ten Asia|language=ko}} In mid 2015, they held a concert at the Understage in Seoul.{{cite news|url=http://sports.donga.com/3/all/20150622/72038055/2|title=클래지콰이 프로젝트 '현대카드 UNDERSTAGE' 공연 성황리 마무리…역대급 분위기|newspaper=Sports Donga|language=ko}}
In September 2016, Clazziquai released their seventh album, Travellers.{{cite news|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160920000575|title=On a journey with Clazziquai|newspaper=The Korea Herald}} After the album's release the band held a concert at the Blue Square in Seoul.{{cite news|url=http://www.hg-times.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=126785|title=클래지콰이 3년 만에 단독콘서트 '완전체 귀환'.. 신곡 발표 동시 본격활동 시작|newspaper=The Korea Times|language=ko}}
=2019-present: Recent activities and ''CZQ'' =
On September 10, 2019, the band released a brand new single called What If featuring Kim Soo-young. In the accompanying press release, it was mentioned that Clazziquai will continue the collaboration project with various singers starting with the respective single.{{cite news|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/215/0000806624|title=Clazziquai Project Announces New Single in 3 Years|newspaper=Naver}} Throughout 2023, seven new singles were released, summing up the CZQ album out on May 17, 2024. All songs feature guests on vocals, a first since the group's inception. {{cite news|url=https://www.kpopalbums.com/products/clazziquai-czq-limited-lp?srsltid=AfmBOoola1o_K132zO-AE54tVLRbi_bAfKjUMboZm0VWL4Xy2s2ZGGLO|title=Clazziquai CZQ Limited LP|publisher=kpopalbums|language=en}}
Members
- DJ Clazzi (DJ 클래지) — Leader, composition, production, vocals
- Alex (알렉스) — Vocals{{cite web|url=http://people.search.naver.com/search.naver?where=nexearch&query=%ED%81%B4%EB%9E%98%EC%A7%80%EC%BD%B0%EC%9D%B4&sm=ppl_cts&ie=utf8&key=PeopleService&os=99836|title=클래지콰이 프로젝트 프로필|publisher=Naver|language=ko}}
- Horan (호란) — Vocals
Discography
=Studio albums=
class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:25em;" | Album details ! colspan="3" |Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;" | Sales |
style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |KOR RIAK Recording Industry Association of Korea monthly chart positions:
! style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |KOR ! style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |JPN |
---|
scope="row" | Instant Pig
|
{{hidden|Track listing|
}} | 13 | rowspan="4" {{N/A}} | — |
|
scope="row" | Color Your Soul
|
{{hidden|Track listing|
}} | 8 | 94 |
|
scope="row" | Love Child of the Century
|
{{hidden|Track listing|
}} | 1 | 72 |
|
scope="row" | Mucho Punk
|
{{hidden|Track listing|
}} | rowspan="4" {{N/A}} | — | |
scope="row" | Blessed
|
{{hidden|Track listing|
}} | 8 | — | |
scope="row" | Blink
|
{{hidden|Track listing|
}} | 16 | — | |
scope="row" | Travellers
|
{{hidden|Track listing|
}} | 16 | — | |
scope="row" | CZQ
|
{{hidden|Track listing|
}} | — | — | — |
colspan="6" align="center" |"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
=Remix albums=
class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
!rowspan="1" style="width:10em;" | Title !rowspan="1" style="width:25em;" | Album details |
scope="row" | Zbam
|
{{hidden|Track listing|
}} |
---|
scope="row" | Pinch Your Soul
|
{{hidden|Track listing|
}} |
scope="row" | Robotica
|
{{hidden|Track listing|
}} |
scope="row" | Mucho Beat
|
{{hidden|Track listing|
}} |
=Special albums=
class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:25em;" | Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak |
JPN |
---|
scope="row" | Love Mode
|
| 112 |
scope="row" | Beat in Love
|
| 188 |
scope="row" | Metrotronics {{small|with DJMAX}} |
| {{N/A}} |
scope="row" | Mucho Musica
|
| 158 |
scope="row" | Mucho Mix
|
| — |
scope="row" | Taiwan Special Best Of Album 2013
|
| {{N/A}} |
colspan="5" align="center"|"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
=Singles=
class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Sales ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;" | Album |
KOR {{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL|title=Gaon Digital Chart|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309051712/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL|archivedate=2017-03-09}} |
---|
scope="row" | "Sweety"
| rowspan="2" | 2004 | rowspan="11" {{N/A}} | rowspan="11" {{N/A}} | Instant Pig |
scope="row" | "Come to Me"
| Zbam |
scope="row" | "Fill This Night"
| rowspan="2" | 2005 | rowspan="2" | Color Your Soul |
scope="row" | "Hold Your Tears" (춤) |
scope="row" | "Love Mode" feat. Tablo | 2006 | Pinch Your Soul |
scope="row" | "Lover Boy"
| rowspan="2" | 2007 | Love Child of the Century |
scope="row" | "Robotica"
| Robotica |
scope="row" | "Flea"
| 2008 |
scope="row" | "Wizard Of OZ"
| rowspan="3" | 2009 | rowspan="2" | Mucho Punk |
scope="row" | "Love Again" |
scope="row" | "Ping" (핑)
| Mucho Beat |
scope="row" | "Can't Go On My Own" (함께라면) feat. Kim Jin-pyo | 2012 | 36 | | rowspan="3" | Blessed |
scope="row" | "Sweetest Name"
| rowspan="2" | 2013 | 38 |
|
scope="row" | "Love Recipe" (러브 레시피)
| 24 |
|
scope="row" | "Love Satellite"
| rowspan="3" | 2014 | 52 | | rowspan="3" | Blink |
scope="row" | "Madly"
| 84 |
|
scope="row" | "Still I'm by Your Side" (내게 돌아와)
| — | |
scope="row" | "I'm Curious" (#궁금해)
| rowspan="2" | 2016 | — | rowspan="6" {{N/A}} | rowspan="2" | Travellers |
scope="row" | "Speak of Love" (걱정남녀)
| — |
scope="row" | "What If" (feat. 김수영)
| rowspan="2" | 2019 | — | rowspan="6" {{N/A}} |
scope="row" | "Take Back" (feat. 홍다혜)
| — |
scope="row" | "Beautiful Thing" (feat. Jaeyeon and Kim Suyoung)
| rowspan="4" | 2023 | — |
scope="row" | "Baby" (feat. 재연 and 임세주)
| — |
scope="row" | "Static" (feat. JAEMAN and Kei)
| — |
scope="row" | "Lost Highway" (feat. 윌콕스 and 진효정)
| — |
colspan="5" align="center"|"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
=Soundtrack appearances=
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
! Year ! Title ! Album | ||
2003 | "Play Girl" | Good People OST |
rowspan="2" | 2004 | "Nova Bossa" | Chocolate Post Office OST |
"By The Sea" (바다로) | Heong-bu Hurt His Head OST | |
rowspan="3" | 2005 | "Be My Love" | rowspan="2" | My Lovely Sam Soon OST |
"She Is" | ||
"Stepping Out" | April Snow OST | |
2009 | "Wizard of OZ" | LGT 'OZ' CF |
2010 | "Lazy Sunday Morning" | Le Petit Nicolas OST |
2012 | "Can't Go On My Own" (함께라면) | Can We Get Married? OST |
Awards and nominations
class="wikitable"
!Years !Awards |
2005
|
|
---|
=[[Mnet Asian Music Awards]]=
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.clazziquai.co.kr}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:South Korean electronic music groups
Category:South Korean co-ed groups
Category:Musical groups established in 2001