Kiiiiiii | Profile

Kiiiiiii are a unique two-girl performance unit using just vocals, drums/percussion, various toys, and lots of enthusiasm!
Lakin’ (Reiko Tada), drums/percussion/puppets, and u.t. (Utako Tayama), vocals/plastic keyboards/tambourine/air guitar/dancer, first met in junior high school in 1989, and have been inseparable friends ever since. Lakin’ majored in installation arts at Tama Art University in Tokyo, and now works as an illustrator for clients such as Tower Records and CUTiE Magazine. u.t. majored in drama at Bungakuza in Tokyo - the most famous drama school in Japan - and was a founding member of the underground theatre group Crack Iron Albatrossket (Tetsuwari). Even when attending different schools, the two girls made a habit of meeting almost every day to chat over tea. After 13 years of camaraderie, they launched their band Kiiiiiii in 2000 to bring more fun into the world, unleashing their own style of original, unusual, manically cheerful music. Even without an official CD release, Kiiiiiii quickly became an extremely popular live band in Tokyo. They kept a busy schedule of live appearances playing rock clubs, as well as art galleries, museums, art schools, book stores, and parties. In 2003, they played Tokyo music festival “In the City”, at the personal invitation of Geoff Travis, the owner of the UK's legendary Rough Trade label and one of the main producers of the festival. In 2004, they continued to play many live shows, including an increasing... Read More

Kiiiiiii are a unique two-girl performance unit using just vocals, drums/percussion, various toys, and lots of enthusiasm!
Lakin’ (Reiko Tada), drums/percussion/puppets, and u.t. (Utako Tayama), vocals/plastic keyboards/tambourine/air guitar/dancer, first met in junior high school in 1989, and have been inseparable friends ever since. Lakin’ majored in installation arts at Tama Art University in Tokyo, and now works as an illustrator for clients such as Tower Records and CUTiE Magazine. u.t. majored in drama at Bungakuza in Tokyo - the most famous drama school in Japan - and was a founding member of the underground theatre group Crack Iron Albatrossket (Tetsuwari). Even when attending different schools, the two girls made a habit of meeting almost every day to chat over tea. After 13 years of camaraderie, they launched their band Kiiiiiii in 2000 to bring more fun into the world, unleashing their own style of original, unusual, manically cheerful music. Even without an official CD release, Kiiiiiii quickly became an extremely popular live band in Tokyo. They kept a busy schedule of live appearances playing rock clubs, as well as art galleries, museums, art schools, book stores, and parties. In 2003, they played Tokyo music festival “In the City”, at the personal invitation of Geoff Travis, the owner of the UK's legendary Rough Trade label and one of the main producers of the festival. In 2004, they continued to play many live shows, including an increasing number of college festivals, which included Kyoto Art University and Mito Contemporary Art Center in Mito City. In 2005, Lakin’ appeared in Volvo's global commercial film "Life on Board Project" under the credit 'Reiko designed the music'. Kiiiiiii’s version of the traditional French song “Alouette” appeared in the commercials as well. Also in 2005, Kiiiiiii recorded several songs, which were released on domestic and overseas compilations such as Waikiki Record’s Waikiki March and Music Related's (NYC) Sonido Uzumaki. They also finally released their first original record - a special limited-edition 7” vinyl EP called Kiiiiiii vol.1. The work was a collaboration between Kiiiiii and DJ codomo , a re-mixer known for his work with Cornelius, Buffalo Daughter and others. DJ codomo was able to expand the Kiiiiiii musical vocabulary through his electronic music production, making it more pop and edgy. In October 2005, Kiiiiiii were invited to perform at FAT FESTIVAL - the biggest rock festival in Thailand. They performed a legendary, crazy set in front of an audience of 3,000 people, and went over fabulously well . They became famous overnight in Bangkok, and the special CD created for the event sold out immediately. Kiiiiiii's first DVD, the self-produced Gold and Silver, was released in April 2006. The half-hour, action-packed DVD contains original songs, skits, live performances, promotional videos, movie parodies, special effects, set pieces, stuffed animals and hand puppets. The DVD also comes with a load of extras such as outtakes, secret scenes, and a musical exhibition of Kiiiiii's original illustrations. They wrote the script and shot the movie by themselves with the help of various friends. A number Japanese music critics and fashion magazines have lauded it as one of the best DVDs of the year. The DVD has sold well, mostly at shows and through mail order, with stock at only a handful of music retailers. Excerpts from the DVD can be seen at YouTube. The band also maintains a MySpace page which lists their live performances, which include a show in Austin, Texas at SXSW 2007, as well as dates on both coasts of America. Their CD debut Al & Bum is scheduled for a June 2007 release. Collapse