Satellite Young (サテライトヤング, Sateraito Yangu) is a Japanese synthwave band founded by Emi Kusano and BelleMaison Sekine in 2013. Their music and style are influenced by classic J-pop artists such as Pink Lady, Minako Honda, Chisato Moritaka, Yoko Minamino, Yū Hayami, and Seiko Matsuda, as well as synthwave and new-age artists such as Jan Hammer, Cusco, and Tangerine Dream.[1][2][3][4]

Satellite Young
サテライトヤング
OriginTokyo, Japan
Genres
Years active2013 (2013)–present
Members
Websitesatelliteyoung.bandcamp.com

History edit

In 2012, Emi Kusano was watching reruns of the 1980s Japanese comedy series Magical Girl Chukan Paipai! (魔法少女ちゅうかなぱいぱい!, Mahō Shōjo Chūkana Paipai!), which inspired her to write songs and create a musical project. A mutual friend at her university introduced her to BelleMaison Sekine. One year later, Kusano sent Sekine an a cappella demo of her song "Jack Doushi", which eventually became Satellite Young's debut single in 2014. Tele Hideo joined the duo in 2015 as a "media technologist", handling the production of the band's music videos and sometimes appearing on stage as a dancer or drummer.[1][2] Now a trio, Satellite Young released their first EP and music video "Dividual Heart".[4]

In 2016, the band recorded "Don't Graduate Senpai" for the Swedish retro anime Senpai Club. In addition, they collaborated with Mitch Murder to record the single "Sniper Rouge".[2][5][6]

In 2017, Satellite Young released their self-titled debut album and their second EP Modern Romance.[7] In addition, the band performed at the 2017 South by Southwest Music Festival.[8][9][10][11]

On October 14, 2020, Kusano released her solo single "Glass Ceiling" under the pseudonym "Emi Satellite". Produced by London-based musician Skytopia and inspired by the 2019 South Korean film Kim Ji-young: Born 1982, the song focuses on the hardships and inequalities of women in East Asia.[12]

Members edit

  • Emi Kusano (草野 絵美, Kusano Emi) – lead vocals, lyrics, music (2013–present)
  • BelleMaison Sekine (ベルメゾン関根, Berumezon Sekine) – music, arrangement (2013–present)
  • Tele Hideo (テレ・ヒデオ, Tere Hideo) – stage production (2015–present)

Discography edit

Singles edit

  • "Jack Doushi" (ジャック同士, Jakku Dōshi) (January 30, 2014)
  • "Fake Memory" (フェイクメモリー, Feiku Memorī) (May 20, 2014)
  • "Geeky Boyfriend" (December 16, 2014)
  • "Break! Break! Tic! Tac!" (December 16, 2014)
  • "Don't Graduate Senpai" (卒業しないで、先輩, Sotsugyō Shinai de, Senpai) (January 11, 2016)
  • "Sniper Rouge" (Mitch Murder & Satellite Young) (February 15, 2016)
  • "1000% Not a Dream!" (1000​%​ユメジャナイ!, Sen Pāsento Yume ja Nai!) (March 16, 2018)
  • "Singing Dream" (April 20, 2018)
  • "Moment in Slow Motion" (November 2, 2018)
  • "Take On Me" (December 5, 2018)
  • "New World Banzai" (新世界Banzai, Shin Sekai Banzai) (June 13, 2019)

Albums edit

Mini albums edit

  • Dividual Heart (October 16, 2015)
  • Modern Romance (November 20, 2017)
  • Sanfransokyo Girl (February 19, 2018)

References edit

  1. ^ a b St. Michel, Patrick (2017-05-12). "Deep dive into the 1980s with the music of Satellite Young". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  2. ^ a b c Vehling, Aaron (2016-03-22). "Satellite Young: An Interview with Japan's Biggest Synthwave Group". Vehlinggo. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  3. ^ "未来の80年代からやってきた! 時空を歪めるSatelliteYoung 1stアルバム". Kai-You. 2017-04-05. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  4. ^ a b "ジャパニーズ歌謡エレクトロユニット Satellite Young がファーストアルバムから最先端の映像技術を駆使した「Dividual Heart」のMVを公開!". Indie Native. 2017-03-13. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  5. ^ "北欧発の謎アニメ「せんぱいクラブ」 新作はSF、Satellite Youngが主人公に". Kai-You. 2018-03-23. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  6. ^ "懐かしの歌謡ポップス! サテライトヤングが新曲をフリー配信". Kai-You. 2016-02-23. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  7. ^ "Satellite Young、新旧テクノロジー入り乱れる「Modern Romance」MV". Natalie.mu. 2017-11-23. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  8. ^ "Satellite Young". South by Southwest. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  9. ^ Sailor, Andrew (2017-03-28). "Satellite Young at SXSW Concert Review and Interview". New Retro Wave. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  10. ^ Hasegawa, Ryo (2017-04-17). "「ネオ東京・歌謡曲」をSXSWで轟かした。"レトロフューチャー"に魅せられた草野絵美(Satellite Young)のバックボーン". Neut. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  11. ^ "Satellite Young". NewRetroWave. 2017-03-10. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  12. ^ "Press Release: Emi Satellite's first solo single and Music Video "Glass Ceiling"". RiceburnerFM. 2020-10-14. Retrieved 2021-04-08.

External links edit