Seiko Oomori Explained

Seiko Oomori
Label:Avex Trax
Years Active:2007–present
Genre:J-pop, Punk rock
Birth Place:Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture
Birth Date:18 September 1987
Native Name Lang:Japanese
Native Name:大森靖子

[1] is a Japanese singer-songwriter. Her musical career began in the underground music culture of Tokyo's Kōenji neighborhood, briefly playing in the punk band Kuchuu Moranko before going solo and releasing two independent albums until signing with major record label Avex Trax in 2014. Oomori's music style is influenced by idol culture and punk rock among other clashing musical styles, and she is considered one of the early pioneers of the "anti-idol" and alternative idol scenes led by groups like BiS that would eventually give way to the more popular Kawaii metal movement, utilizing shock value and performance art throughout the early parts of her career.[2] [3]

Career

Born in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Oomori moved to Tokyo to attend Musashino Art University in Kodaira. Starting from 2007,[4] Oomori performed in one of Kōenji's "live houses" named Muryoku Muzenji, singing while playing an acoustic guitar. In 2011, Oomori formed a band named . During her time in Kōenji, Oomori's music pushed back against the dominance of Japanese idols on the music charts, a style that Ian Martin of The Japan Times compares to Jun Togawa and Ringo Sheena.[5] Oomori held multiple concerts within Tokyo,[6] including a first appearance at the 2013 Tokyo Idol Festival, a venue she would continue to appear in.[7] Her growing popularity attracted the attention of Avex Trax to offer a contract in 2014.[8]

Oomori's first album with Avex Trax, Sennō, sees her depart from her guitar-wielding "anti-idol" image to explore other types of music by incorporating more electronic elements, but her lyrics still explore darker themes, similar to Avex Trax's other band BiS. Her subsequent albums saw her continue to adapt to a more mainstream-friendly style and adapting from even more genres. In 2018, Oomori created an idol group named ZOC (short for "zone of control") in which she was both a member and a producer.[9] On 9 June 2021, ZOC released their first album PvP, a double-album produced by Oomori herself with additional contributions from Kenta Sakurai, the producer of now-defunct idol group Maison Book Girl. Later that year on 9 November, ex-BiS and Maison Book Girl member Megumi Koshouji debuted her new idol group MAPA with the full-length album Shitennou, produced entirely by Oomori.

Personal life

Oomori announced in 2014 that she had gotten married, although she did not specify to whom. In 2020 she publicly revealed her husband's identity as Pierre Nakano of Ling Tosite Sigure,[10] also the long-time drummer in her backing band. The couple have one son, who was born in 2015.[11] On August 18, 2024, the couple officially divorced through their respective social media.[12]

Discography

Artist:Seiko Oomori
Studio:8
Compilation:2
Ep:1
Singles:10

Studio albums

Title! rowspan="2"
Album detailsPeak
Position
JPN
[13]
JPN
Comb
[14]
JPN
Hot

[15]
  • 20 March 2013
  • Pink Records
  • 11 December 2013
  • Pink Records
53
18
Tokyo Black Hole
  • 23 March 2016
  • Avex Trax
1922
Kitixxxgaia
  • 15 March 2017
  • Avex Trax
1025
  • 11 July 2018
  • Avex Trax
912
Kintsugi
  • 9 December 2020
  • Avex Trax
3545
Persona #1
  • 7 July 2021
  • Avex Trax
1345
超天獄(天 ver.)
  • 26 October 2022
  • Avex Trax
2442
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Extended plays

!Title! Album details
Pink
  • 15 April 2012
  • Pink Records

Compilation albums

Title! rowspan="2"
Album detailsPeak
Position
JPN
JPN
Comb
Muteki27 September 201720
12 February 20203124
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

Title! rowspan="2"
YearPeak
Position
JPN
JPN
Comb
[16]
JPN
Hot

[17]
2014178
2032
20152049
20162693
51
"Positive Stress"51
26
"Draw(A)Drow"201730
20192435
1941
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 大森靖子. 3 November 2020. Tower Records Japan. ja.
  2. News: St. Michel. Patrick. 26 September 2018. Seiko Oomori: J-pop's reigning rule-breaker. The Japan Times. 3 November 2020.
  3. Web site: Robson. Daniel. 14 August 2014. Japanese Pop Star Oomori Seiko's Music Sounds like "Disneyland in Hell". 3 November 2020. Vice.
  4. Web site: 10 August 2016. 大森靖子 結婚はロックじゃない!私が出産した訳. 3 November 2020. Nikkei Dual. ja.
  5. News: Martin. Ian. 2 September 2014. The hammer and scalpel are what's needed to subvert idol-pop culture. The Japan Times. 3 November 2020.
  6. News: 宗像明将. 19 May 2013. 音楽を語る言葉を捨てよ、そして音楽へ 大森靖子ワンマンライヴレポート. Yahoo!. 3 November 2020.
  7. News: 27 January 2014. Seiko Oomori – Midnight Seijun Isei Kouyuu: New music from Japan. The Guardian. 3 November 2020.
  8. News: St. Michel. Patrick. 16 December 2014. Rock, J-pop and dance: Albums we liked in 2014. The Japan Times. 3 November 2020.
  9. Web site: Seiko Oomori's Idol Unit 'ZOC' Announce Debut Single. 3 November 2020. Arama Japan.
  10. News: 26 January 2020. 「凛として時雨」ピエール中野、大森靖子との結婚を"反省の場"で発表. ja. Sports Hochi. 3 November 2020.
  11. News: 10 October 2015. 大森靖子、第1子男児出産 母子ともに健康「きゃぅわいー」. ja. Oricon. 3 November 2020.
  12. Web site: 2024-08-18 . 大森靖子&ピエール中野、離婚発表 「10度目の結婚記念日」に決断 . 2024-08-19 . ORICON NEWS.
  13. Web site: 大森靖子の作品 . . 3 November 2020 . ja.
  14. Web site: Seiko Oomori on Oricon Combined Albums chart. Oricon News. July 12, 2023. ja.
  15. Billboard Japan Hot 100:
  16. Web site: Seiko Oomori on Oricon Combined Singles chart. Oricon News. July 12, 2023. ja.
  17. Billboard Japan Hot 100: