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MONDO GROSSO

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Shinichi Osawa (2007)

Originally a band formed in Kyoto in 1991, MONDO GROSSO (Italian for "big world") eventually came to be the alias of composer, DJ, musician, and producer Osawa Shinichi. Whilst releasing innovative tunes with solo project MONDO GROSSO and SHINICHI OSAWA, Osawa has set out countless producing and remix works for both Japanese and international artists. He also boasts the number one mobilization as a DJ in Japan. As a composer and producer, Osawa has worked with Japanese artists like Namie Amuro, UA, Monday Michiru, bird, wyolica, Nobuchika Eri, BoA, Crystal Kay, and Emi Tawada, among others. Meanwhile as a remixer, he provides club hits that exceed the original for international artists like Digitalism and Felix Da Housecat. Osawa describes himself as “Musical Multi Personality.” He is currently under the rhythm zone label in Japan, while under Dim Mak Records in the US, and Southern Fried Records in the UK.


Profile

  • Real Name: Osawa Shinichi (大沢伸一)
  • Birthdate: 1967.02.07
  • Birthplace: Shiga, Japan
  • Blood Type: O

Information

Osawa began his major recording career as the leader as well as the bassist for popular Japanese music group MONDO GROSSO, from which he derives his alias. Formed in 1991 and originating out of Kyoto, the band released their self-titled first album under the independent record label, For Life Records on June 18, 1993. The album was very well received both domestically in Japan as well as internationally, leading to a new style in Japanese club music that would eventually become a standard. In 1995, after a second album released on October 10, Born Free, featuring acid jazz stalwart Monday Michiru and the completion of their touring, the band officially disbanded.

Osawa began solo work soon after the dissolution, becoming a collaborator with already established musical entities in Japan. Through this transitional period, MONDO GROSSO morphed into more of a collaborative unit, featuring Osawa and various other vocalists and musicians, with whom he would release future albums with. With many of his self-produced collaborations, he released the album R&B-infused acid jazz album Closer on August 21, 1997. Around that same time, he began his career as a hit-making producer and produced hits such as “Rhythm” by UA and “You Make Me” by Monday Michiru, to name a few.

After the release of his third full-length album, Osawa turned his focus on production, working with many high-profile artists in Japan. His first explorations into full production began with the release of UA's single, "Rhythm", on September 24, 1996. He soon followed his first success in the field with the production of Monday Michiru's well-received single "YOU MAKE ME", released in 1998. After seeing success in producing singles, Osawa soon produced the entire album Junior Sweet from well-established Japanese pop musician CHARA.

Upon his expanding success as an up-and-coming producer, he left For Life Records and signed to major record label Sony Music Associated Records Inc. in 1999. Upon this shift, Osawa was able to begin his own record label, "REALEYES", that same year. Osawa produced another full-length album, this time on his own record label, from experimentalist musician bird. Her first album, SOULS, was released on March 20, 1999, selling well over 800,000 units, becoming a massive hit domestically. Osawa would go on to produce more music to the close of the nineties, including early work by then-unknown Japanese pop singer Nobuchika Eri.

Osawa, after taking a temporary break from his own work, resumed activity under the name MONDO GROSSO, now his own unit. The following year Osawa would release his hit single "Life", featuring frequent collaborator, bird. Following the release of one more single, he released his fourth full-length album, MG4, on August 26, 2000, becoming a milestone in his solo music career. The album was met with critical acclaim, crediting the fusion of acid jazz and house, the display of the diversity in his style of production, and collaborations with musicians such as N'dea Davenport and Amel Larrieux. The album was released by Sony Music internationally in over 25 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.

Osawa soon returned to the field of producing after the success of his solo album, producing for a number of established artists in Japan, such as wyolica, as well as internationally for artists such as BoA, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Jamiroquai. In 2002, Osawa provided a track, being the only contributor from Japan, for the official 2002 FIFA World Cup album Fever Pitch, which was released in over 30 countries worldwide.

In 2003, his fifth album “Next Wave” was released. With a sales record of over 150,000 copies, which is extraordinary for a club music album, Shinichi truly triggered the “next wave” in Japan’s music scene. In 2004, he produced “Samurai Theme” (later recorded in Fatboy Slim’s Mix CD “Fala ai!”) from Bob Sinclar’s Yellow Production compilation series “Africanism 3.” Shinichi also works closely with the French creators Kitsune – editing works of Christopher & Raphael Just's “Popper” and Boyz Noize's “Feel Good TV=OFF)", which became a worldwide club hit. His recent remix work has also taken to producing mixes across the musical spectrum for club superstars like Felix da Housecat, Digitalism and Tim Deluxe, through to chart pioneering acts such as Snow Patrol, Basement Jaxx and Jamiroquai.

Discography

Albums (as MONDO GROSSO)

  1. [1993.06.18] MONDO GROSSO
  2. [1993.10.21] MARBLE
  3. [1994.06.17] INVISIBLEMAN
  4. [1995.02.17] Pieces from the editing floor
  5. [1995.07.05] The European Expedition
  6. [1995.10.20] Born Free
  7. [1996.04.03] DIGGIN' INTO THE REAL (mini-album)
  8. [1997.08.21] CLOSER
  9. [1998.03.21] THE MAN FROM THE SAKURA HILLS (mini-album)
  10. [2000.07.26] MG4
  11. [2000.08.23] MONDO GROSSO best
  12. [2000.10.18] MONDO GROSSO best remixes
  13. [2001.07.25] MG4R
  14. [2003.06.25] Next Wave
  15. [2003.12.03] HENSHIN
  16. [2004.06.30] LIVE ON THE NEXT WAVE

Albums (as Shinichi Osawa)

  1. [2007.02.21] Kitsune Udon
  2. [2007.09.26] The One
  3. [2008.08.27] The One+ (remix album)
  4. [2009.09.26] TEPPAN-YAKI -A Collection Of Remixes- (remix compilation album)

Singles

  1. [1995.06.07] Oh lord, let me do no wrong
  2. [1995.08.19] FAMILY
  3. [1997.05.21] Laughter in the rain
  4. [1997.07.24] EVERYDAY LIFE / THINGS KEEP CHANGIN'
  5. [2000.05.24] LIFE feat. bird
  6. [2000.07.26] BUTTERFLY
  7. [2000.08.30] NOW YOU KNOW BETTER
  8. [2001.04.25] DON'T LET GO
  9. [2002.05.02] BLZ
  10. [2002.10.30] Everything Needs Love feat. BoA
  11. [2003.05.02] SHININ'
  12. [2003.07.16] Hikari

External Links

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