Avu-chan explained

Avu-chan
Background:solo_singer
Native Name:アヴちゃん
Native Name Lang:ja
Alias:Avu Barazono
Birth Date:25 December 1991[1]
Origin:Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
Genre:Rock, punk, disco kayō[2]
Occupation:Singer, songwriter, producer, actor
Associated Acts:Queen Bee, Gokumontō Ikka
Years Active:2009–present

[3] is a Japanese singer, songwriter, producer and actor. They debuted as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the band Queen Bee in 2009,[4] and took on a side project as the lead vocalist and trumpeter of the supergroup Gokumontō Ikka in 2015. As a producer and songwriter, Avu-chan uses the name, and has written songs for Meg, Rina Satō, Ai Shinozaki, Hey! Say! JUMP, LiSA, KERENMI, and the SUPERNOVA sub-unit Funky Galaxy. They also produce the alternative vocal-and-dance boy group Ryugujo, formed in 2023 through the audition program "0th Class 0 - Avu-chan's Classroom" (0年0組 -アヴちゃんの教室-).[5]

Biography

Expressing interest in music since middle school and inspired by the Japanese pop/electronic group Perfume,[6] Avu-chan formed the band Queen Bee in 2009 with classmates in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture. They started performing at their school's cultural festivals and gained considerable popularity doing so, after which Queen Bee went on to perform at live houses in the Kansai region.[7] The band made their first major concert appearance at the Fuji Rock Festival in July 2010,[8] where they performed as a part of the very selective "Rookie a Go-Go" section, sometimes called the "road to success" for new artists.[7] [9] Having released their debut album Witch Hunt independently in March 2011, the band signed to Sony Music Associated Records, and in September of the same year released their second album Peacock.[10] [9] The band was called the "Japanese Hedwig" during their debut, as the gender identities of the members remain a secret.[11] Not long after signing a contract with Sony Music, Queen Bee found early success with their song "Desco", which was featured in the romantic comedy film Moteki (2011), where the band had also made a cameo.[9]

In 2013, Avu-chan had to pause all band activities, explaining the decision with burnout and technical inexperience.[7] [9] Unsure whether to return home or stay in Tokyo, Avu-chan decided to continue pursuing music after being encouraged by a staff member at Avu-chan's record label, who insisted that Queen Bee's signing was not a fluke. Around this time, Avu-chan asked an acquaintance, a former Blankey Jet City drummer Tatsuya Nakamura, if the two could create something together, to which he immediately agreed and introduced Avu-chan to bassist KenKen of the band Rize. After spending some time in the studio, the three were later joined by guitarist Ryosuke Nagaoka from Tokyo Jihen, whose presence Avu-chan described as "essential", as it gave a sense of unpredictability to the group.[12] The newly formed supergroup, now known as Gokumontō Ikka, made their debut performance at the Rising Sun Rock Festival in August 2013.[13] Only touring and releasing demos online at first, the band then released their first extended play Jitsuroku! Gokumontō Ikka during their November 2015 tour.[12] During the hiatus, Avu-chan also collaborated with singer Mariko Gotō for Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The 20th Anniversary Memorial Tribute in 2014, performing a cover of "Ai no Senshi".[14]

Queen Bee reformed in February 2014 after a one-year hiatus.[9] The band's comeback single, "Venus", was used as the theme song for the drama Spooky Romantics (2015),[9] which preceded their fourth album Kirei (2015). In the same year, Avu-chan collaborated with a South Korean boyband Supernova, writing and performing on the leading track "Jesus", from their sub-unit Funky Galaxy's debut extended play.[15] In 2016, Queen Bee and Gokumontō Ikka released a split single, "Kinsei" / "Shibō Yūgi".[16] The packaging for the limited edition of the split single was styled to resemble PlayStation fighting games, with the cover art illustrated by Kinu Nishimura, whose work on the Darkstalkers series has been considered a longtime favorite by Avu-chan.[17] [18]

In 2017, Avu-chan debuted as a stage actress with a production of The Rocky Horror Show, in the role of Columbia.[19] The production toured Japan in late 2017.[20]

Queen Bee's sixth album Ten (2019) was released to commemorate the band's ten-year anniversary, and was also their first album to ever reach the top 10 on the Oricon charts in Japan.[21] It featured several tracks used as theme songs for anime, such as "Half" in Tokyo Ghoul:re, and "Fire" in Dororo.[22] In 2019, Avu-chan returned to the stage, now in the role of Yitzhak in a Japanese production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch.[23] In late 2020, Avu-chan produced the song "Ōkami Seinen" for an anonymous boyband called Honey Bee,[24] who were later revealed to be Hey! Say! JUMP,[25] and in 2021, collaborated with the singer LiSA on the song "GL", from her 10th anniversary mini-album Ladybug.

In 2022, Avu-chan starred in the Masaaki Yuasa-directed animated film Inu-Oh as the title character. In 2023, Avu-chan composed and wrote the lyrics for the song "8th Heaven" released by Shouta Aoi, which was used as the theme song to the live-action drama adaptation of One Room Angel.[26] Avu-chan had been close friends with Harada, the creator of One Room Angel, and had written the song specifically for the series.[26]

Personal life

Avu-chan identifies with gender aspects of both men and women.[27] [28] In school, Avu-chan related to characters who had non-traditional experiences of gender in films, such as Hedwig from Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) and the character of Angel in Rent (2005).[29] Avu-chan does not like people who categorize others by gender and racial labels.[30] Avu-chan's official website biography written in 2012 used she/her pronouns, as well as an article with MTV from 2015,[31] [32] however as of 2019 the biography was updated to no longer use pronouns.[33] Often, Japanese language sources will use the Japanese pronoun (the equivalent of she/her).[7] [27] [28] [34]

Avu-chan is of partial African-American descent[35] and based the Queen Bee song "Half" (the ending theme song for the anime Tokyo Ghoul:re (2018)) on childhood experiences in Japan, when people questioned Avu-chan's ethnic background. As a child, Avu-chan wondered why people felt the need to ask about heritage and identity, and did not like the word hāfu ("half" the Japanese term for mixed race children), as Avu-chan did not feel like "half" of something.[36] [37]

Avu-chan's younger sister is Queen Bee drummer Ruri-chan.[38] [36] Avu-chan identifies as a Buddhist.[27] [39]

Discography

Queen Bee

Gokumontō Ikka

Guest appearances

Title! scope="col"
YearOther artist(s)Album
[40] <--2012--->2012DJ Baku
<--January 29, 2014--->2014Mariko GotōPretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The 20th Anniversary Memorial Tribute
<--October 28, 2015--->2015Funky Galaxy from ChoshinseiFunky Galaxy
[41] <--January 10, 2018--->2018Kensuke UshioDevilman Crybaby Original Soundtrack
[42] <--2022-05-->2022Otomo YoshihideInu-Oh Original Soundtrack
Mirai Moriyama, Otomo Yoshihide
"Stayin' Alive"<--2022-08-05-->Bullet Train Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Songwriting credits

SongYearArtist(s)AlbumNotes
[43] <--2013-11-27-->2013MegContinueLyricist.
[44] <--2015-04-15-->2015Ai ShinozakiEat 'Em and SmileFirst appeared as an acoustic piano version as a B-side of Ai Shinozaki's "Again" single.
[45] <--2015-04-29-->Rei Hino (CV: Rina Satō)Sailor Moon Crystal Character Song Collection: Crystal CollectionLyricist. Queen Bee members perform on the song and composed the track.
<--2020-12-16-->2020Hey! Say! JUMPFab! Music SpeaksQueen Bee performs on the song.
"GL"[46] <--2021-05-19-->2021LiSALadybugQueen Bee performs on the song.

Bibliography

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRole
2011MotekiSelf[48]
2021Inu-OhInu-Oh (voice)[49]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2015Spooky RomanticsVillagerEpisodes 11 and 12[50]
2018Devilman CrybabyXenon (voice)[51] [52] Episode 8
2023Ya Boy Kongming!Maria DieselEpisodes 1, 8, 10

Theater

YearTitleRoleNotes
2017The Rocky Horror ShowColumbiaNovember–December 2017 Parco Stage production[53]
2019Hedwig and the Angry InchYitzhakAugust–September 2019 TV Asahi/Nippon Broadcasting System production[54]

Web

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 女王蜂・アヴちゃんが初となる生誕祭ライブを開催へ . Spice . ja . October 3, 2016. January 5, 2021.
  2. Web site: ディスコ歌謡&強烈ビジュアルで話題の「女王蜂」、今秋メジャーデビュー . Cinra . 20 August 2023.
  3. News: Wright . Tillet . Notes From the Underground Ziyoou-vachi . 4 May 2023 . New York Times . August 30, 2011.
  4. Web site: ZIYOOU-VACHI . 2023-08-20 . ZIYOOU-VACHI OFFICIAL SITE . ja.
  5. Web site: アヴちゃん手がける「0年0組」から7人組グループ「龍宮城」デビュー!お披露目イベント決定(コメントあり) . 2023-08-20 . 音楽ナタリー . ja.
  6. Web site: Amano. Fumiaki. 女王蜂アヴちゃん×Mikiko 対談 「人」の力を信じる表現者たち . ja . cinra.net. March 1, 2021. May 18, 2017.
  7. Web site: 新たな岐路に立った女王蜂 . i-D . Aya . Tsuchii . April 11, 2017 . ja . January 5, 2020.
  8. Web site: 10 周年のフジロック「Rookie a Go-Go」。出演者15組が決定 . Pia . June 1, 2010 . ja . June 23, 2021.
  9. Web site: Kuwahara. Ryoko. 宇宙特集:Avu-chan from Ziyoou-vachi『Q』Special Photo Shoot & Interview. neol.jp. March 1, 2021. April 2, 2017.
  10. Web site: 女王蜂、2011年秋ついにメジャー・デビュー . Barks . ja . June 13, 2011 . February 5, 2019.
  11. Web site: 年齢や性別で人を判断するのって、つまらない――"女王蜂・アヴちゃん"という生き方 . Livedoor . Aya . Hasegawa . July 16, 2019 . ja . January 10, 2020.
  12. Web site: 女王蜂VS獄門島一家「金星 / 死亡遊戯」アヴちゃん×KenKenインタビュー . Natalie . Hirokazu . Tanaka . July 16, 2019 . ja . June 1, 2021.
  13. Web site: 〈RSR 2013〉全出演アクト決定! 女王蜂アヴちゃん含む獄門島一家のメンバーも公開 . Tower Records . July 19, 2019 . ja . June 23, 2021.
  14. Web site: Kishino . Ayaka . 「美少女戦士セーラームーン The 20th Anniversary Memorial Tribute」特集、後藤まりこ×アヴちゃん(女王蜂)対談. Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The 20th Anniversary Memorial Tribute special feature, Mariko Gotō × Avu-chan (Queen Bee) conversation . . Natasha . June 20, 2018 . ja.
  15. Web site: 超新星の新ユニット&女王蜂アヴちゃん、昼ドラ曲でコラボ . Spice . ja . September 28, 2015. January 1, 2021.
  16. Web site: 女王蜂のアヴちゃん率いるバンド・獄門島一家 初メジャー音源「死亡遊戯」解禁 . Billboard Japan . April 19, 2016 . ja . June 1, 2021.
  17. Web site: 『ストリートファイター』など人気ゲームのイラストレーションなどを手掛ける、西村キヌさんによる描きおろしです. Sony Music Associated Records. April 7, 2016. Twitter. ja. June 23, 2021.
  18. Web site: 「教えて!愛用品」~アヴちゃん(女王蜂)編~ . Disk Garage . ja . June 22, 2016. June 23, 2021.
  19. Web site: 女王蜂アヴちゃんの初舞台【ロッキー・ホラー・ショー】女王蜂メンバー全員の出演決定 . Billboard Japan . July 3, 2017 . ja . June 1, 2021.
  20. Web site: 「ロッキー・ホラー・ショー」開幕、古田新太「見どころはソニンのおっぱい」 . Natalie . November 7, 2017 . ja . June 1, 2021.
  21. Web site: 女王蜂の作品 . Works of Queen Bee . ja . . January 1, 2021.
  22. Web site: 女王蜂、TVアニメ『どろろ』に書き下ろしたOP"火炎"のMV公開 . Rockin' On . ja . February 7, 2019. June 1, 2021.
  23. Web site: 【インタビュー】女王蜂・アヴちゃん 舞台『ヘドウィグ・アンド・アングリーインチ』待望の日本公演! . Tokyo Headline . August 5, 2019 . ja . January 10, 2020.
  24. Web site: 女王蜂アヴちゃんが謎のボーイズグループ・Honey Beeに新曲提供、振付は東京ゲゲゲイMarie . Natalie . ja . October 12, 2020. January 5, 2021.
  25. Web site: Hey! Say! Jump アルバムにアヴちゃん、Ayase、清水翔太、岡崎体育、まふまふ、橋口洋平参加 . Natalie . ja . November 11, 2020. January 5, 2021.
  26. Web site: 「ワンルームエンジェル」主題歌は蒼井翔太 はらだの親友アヴちゃんが作詞・作曲 . Shouta Aoi to perform opening theme song to One Room Angel, song and lyrics composed by Harada's close friend Avu-chan . ja . . 2023-10-05 . 2024-08-04.
  27. Web site: 「違うところにぶっとばして差し上げるものでありたい」:女王蜂アヴちゃん interview . i-D . Neo . Iida . November 19, 2018 . ja . January 5, 2020.
  28. Web site: ローラ・アルバート×アヴちゃん(女王蜂)『作家・本当のJ.T.リロイ』対談 . Neol . Ryoko . Kuwahara . April 19, 2017 . ja . January 5, 2020.
  29. Web site: 女王蜂・アヴちゃんの心の旅。バンド結成から今に至るまでの10年 . Ginza Mag . Milli . Kawaguchi . August 30, 2019 . ja . January 5, 2020.
  30. Web site: 『東京喰種トーキョーグール:re』EDテーマ「Half」発売記念! 原作者・石田スイ氏×「女王蜂」ボーカル・アヴちゃんSP対談を大公開 . Animate Times . ja . May 8, 2018 . January 5, 2020.
  31. Web site: Ziyoou-Vachi Official Site Biography . https://web.archive.org/web/20121025144546/http://www.ziyoou-vachi.com/about/index_e.html . June 1, 2021 . October 25, 2012.
  32. Web site: Patrick . St. Michel . Ziyoo-vachi's Triumphant Return to Fuji Rock, as Zombies . https://web.archive.org/web/20160323235142/http://www.mtv81.com/features/interviews/ziyoo-vachis-triumphant-return-to-fuji-rock-as-zombies/ . MTV 81 . August 31, 2015 . March 23, 2016 . MTV.
  33. Web site: Ziyoou-Vachi Official Site Biography . https://web.archive.org/web/20190720113354/http://ziyoou-vachi.com/about/index_e.html . June 1, 2021 . July 20, 2019.
  34. Web site: Amano. Fumiaki. 女王蜂を取り巻く熱狂はなぜ加速しているのか? 『十』と新作『BL』で洗練された音楽性 . Real Sound . March 1, 2021. February 16, 2020 .
  35. Web site: Freedman . Maxwell . Meet Avu-Chan, the Black Trans Singer of Rocking Anime Music . . June 28, 2020 . 19 April 2023.
  36. Web site: 女王蜂・アヴちゃん 新曲「HALF」を通じ、自身の表現の核について語る想いとは . Spice . Yukiko . Kajiwara . ja . May 17, 2018 . January 5, 2020.
  37. Web site: 【インタビュー】女王蜂・アヴちゃん、アニメ『東京喰種:re』ED曲について「どヤンキーサウンドだと思います」 . Cho Animedia . ja . May 14, 2018 . January 5, 2020.
  38. Web site: あのバンドのボーカルが明かす"姉妹愛"がステキ!「最強」な2人に称賛の声 . Livedoor . Mimiman . ja . February 7, 2017 . January 5, 2020.
  39. Web site: Amano. Fumiaki. 女王蜂アヴちゃん×Mikiko 対談 「人」の力を信じる表現者たち . ja . cinra.net. June 1, 2021. May 18, 2017.
  40. Web site: アヴちゃん×DJ Baku, Das 上映のショートムービーでコラボ . Natalie . ja . August 20, 2012. January 5, 2021.
  41. Web site: Devilman crybaby Original Soundtrack . Aniplex+ . June 26, 2018 . ja.
  42. Web site: 女王蜂アヴちゃん&森山未來が熱唱する「犬王」本予告、大友良英が手がけるサントラも発売決定 . Natalie . March 15, 2022 . ja . March 15, 2022.
  43. Web site: Meg 新作よりtofubeats、アヴちゃん×Deco*27曲先行配信 . Natalie . November 27, 2013 . ja . January 5, 2021.
  44. Web site: 篠崎愛、ソロ歌手デビュー予告映像公開 . Barks . ja . March 9, 2015 . January 5, 2021.
  45. Web site: 火の海 . MySound . ja . January 5, 2021.
  46. Web site: Lisa、ミニアルバム『Ladybug』収録楽曲が解禁 B'z松本孝弘に加え、女王蜂・アヴちゃん、ゆず・北川悠仁らが参加 . Spice . ja . March 19, 2021. June 1, 2021.
  47. Web site: 女王蜂アヴちゃんの写真集『Amphis Avuchan』5月刊行、「対極」を表現 . Cinra . ja . April 13, 2020. January 5, 2021.
  48. Web site: モテキ : 作品情報 . Love Strikes!: Work information . Eiga.com . June 26, 2018 . ja.
  49. Web site: アヴちゃん、湯浅政明監督のアニメ映画「犬王」で森山未來とW主演 . Natalie . July 27, 2021 . ja . July 27, 2021.
  50. Web site: 女王蜂・アヴちゃん、テレビ東京『怪奇恋愛作戦』で気迫のドラマ初出演 . RockinOn.com . . December 1, 2018 . ja . March 13, 2015.
  51. Web site: Staff & Cast . Devilman crybaby . . October 30, 2018 . ja.
  52. Web site: Devilman crybaby (ONA) . . October 30, 2018.
  53. Web site: ロッキー・ホラー・ショー . Rocky Horror Show . . November 30, 2018 . ja . 2017.
  54. Web site: ヘドウィグ・アンド・アングリーインチ 2019 . Hedwig and the Angry Inch 2019 . Ticket Pia . November 30, 2018 . ja . 2018.