Feed | Profile The story of the band Feed is one of those classic “might-have-been” stories. The band, formed by friends who met while studying at Tokyo’s International Christian University in the late ‘90s, started creating a buzz when it began playing "live-house" gigs in early 1999. The band was often compared to the Cranberries, mainly because of the keening quality of singer Maya Saito's voice, which resembled that of the Irish band's Dolores O'Riordan. When they were on form, the band’s four members – Saito, guitarist Shinsuke Komiyama, bassist Akifumi Ikeda and drummer Taro Dai – achieved what seemed like a telepathic interplay as they bounced musical ideas off each other. The band’s management put Feed in touch with Patti Smith band guitarist Lenny Kaye, who agreed to produce their first album. Recorded in New York in late 1999, 9 Songs sat on the shelf for more than a year after Sony Japan pulled the plug on its Zone label, which had been scheduled to release the album. Instead, 9 Songs was released in spring 2001 in collaboration with independent label Polystar. It was a very impressive first album: songs such as "Find Me" and "Without Knowing" featured beautifully realized soundscapes that firmly established Feed as a band with a unique and engaging style. But the album sold poorly, and the usual personal/musical differences resulted in the group’s demise. |
