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Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her

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Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her (2000)

Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her (シーガル・スクリーミング・キス・ハー・キス・ハー) was a Japanese alternative rock band. The group was founded in 1992 by leader Higurashi Aiha. The group started out as an un-named duo of Higurashi and Ito Sachiko. In 1994, Ito left the band, and Koyama Nao and Karashima "Takape" Takaharu joined. After Takape left the group in 1999, it once again became a female rock duo. The band became well known for their indie and lo-fi sounds. In 2002, ten years after the band was started, it disbanded.

Members

Former members

Information

In 1992, Higurashi Aiha started playing as a two piece band with her friend Ito Sachiko. For the duo first several shows they played as an un-named band. In the beginning the duo had more of a cute pop-rock style, but soon became sick of the style wanted to try something different. At this point Ito wanted to study abroad in Germany. Higurashi liked the idea of studying abroad, because she would be able to learn another language, experience a new culture, and hear different music. After talking it over with her parents, Higurashi went to London, England at the age of 19. While in London she mainly went out to clubs and shows instead of going to school. She saw many noise rock bands such as Dinosaur Jr. and Lush. After her Visa expired, Higurashi went to New York were she attended a New York University prep-school.

After the girls returned to Japan they dedicated themselves to the band. At this point one of their friends suggested the name "Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her", which came from a song of the same name by British new wave band XTC and is found on their The Big Express album. The girls decided to keep the name and liked it became it was too long. In 1993 the band signed to an indie label and released their debut mini-album, Seagull to Hell. After this release Ito Sachiko decided to leave the band.

In 1994, Higurashi recruited two new members: bassist Koyama Nao and drummer Karashima Takaharu aka "Takape". Later on that year the band release their first work with the new line-up entitled, Swallow Up. The band then signed with the Polystar record label in 1996, and released their third mini-album, Fly. The group ended the year by releasing their first full length record, Give Them Back to Me and their fourth mini-album, Pink Soda.

In April 1997, the band released their follow-up record, It's Brand New. The album was big change for the band, in which their sound began to change. The album dealt with a lot of lo-fi effects and sonic experimentation, which were all thought of and created by Higurashi herself. After the album was released the band when on a major world tour, playing shows in Japan, USA, and United Kingdom. The band end out the year by releasing their fifth and final mini-album, Sweet Home.

By the time of their third studio album in 1998, 17, the band had changed their sound once again. For the album the band had a back to the basics approach. Higurashi has stated the reason for this was because she was tired. The group had just finished up the American leg of their tour and they were tired. Not only that, but after creating and playing all of the effects on It's Brand New she was not satisfied with her production, and wanted to take a different approach with the new record. The album's cover showcased Higurashi stripped down, just like the sound on the album.

In 1999, the band once again went through some hard times. The group was having trouble with their drummer, Takape. He and Koyama start constantly fighting, and he started to consider himself a "rock-star" and would skip out on practicing and meeting to party. After the release of the band's "Pretty in Pink" single, Higurashi asked Takape to leave the band. The duo girls remained a duo, and started work on their next album. For the album they called about two of their friends to help out with the drums: Higurashi's then husband Watanabe Yoshiki and the band's manager Arakawa Yasunobu. With their friends help the band was able to record their fourth studio album, No! No! No!. Higurashi has described the album as a straight forward punk-rock album.

In 2001 the band released their fifth and final studio album, Future Or No Future. Higurashi stated that she was happy during the album's recording so she wanted to create a happy fun pop record. Unlike their previous albums the band decided to release to album-cut singles: "Sentimental Journey" and "Lullaby". As it became the band's tenth anniversary in 2002, the duo made the decision to split up. Later that year their record company compiled two best of records: Dying for Seagulls and Red Talk.

After the break-up Higurashi went on to compose, play, and produce the debut single for former JUDY AND MARY vocalist YUKI, "the end of shite". Soon after that she started her own solo career and signed with Sony Music Entertainment and in 2005 she started up the indie rock band Higurashi Aiha and LOVES!. Koyama currently heads a band along with her husband called IN CORRIDORS.

Discography

Studio albums

Other albums

Mini-albums

Singles

Videos

Compilations / Other

External Links