|
One of the
things that makes Japanese rock so exciting is the number of women involved.
I've heard that the reason is a comparative lack of options for young women
in Japanese society. Of course, there are women in Japan who have succeeded
in fields largely dominated by men, but it happens substantially less
frequently there than it does here in the U.S. The result is that many young
women get involved with music, in either mixed bands, or all women bands.
Some of these
women are incredibly skilled on their instruments. Matsudaaahhh!! (her
spelling) studied drums at a Californian music school, graduated, and
returned home to Japan to put together Super Junky Monkey, an amazingly
talented band who changed time signatures and musical styles at the drop of
a hat. Among other accomplishments, they released two CDs here in the U.S.
Though that band broke up after the death of their singer, all three
surviving members have actively continued their musical careers. Keiko, the
guitarist, has now joined eX-Girl, whose original three members formed the
band first, and then began learning their instruments. Their first record
was released less than a year later. They've released CDs in the U.S.,
Japan, and Europe; they've played festivals in Europe and Japan, and toured
the U.S. several times; and that was all before two of the original members
left the band and were replaced with more experienced musicians.
Shonen Knife
proved that being in a rock band was a career option for young women, and
though they were the first Japanese women's rock band to gain a name for
themselves in the West, I sincerely doubt they'll be the last. In fact,
there's a record label in Japan called Benten/Sister whose acts are all led
by women. Previously, they brought us the all woman punk band, Lolita #18,
but currently their most popular act is the ukulele-strumming duo, Petty
Booka.
|
