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| Hiplicity Announces December New Music Release Eclectic LA based Neo Soul band Hiplicity comprised of vocalist Maharasih, guitarist Yusuke Watanabe, Andrew VanVlear on keys, Shin Kawasaki on bass, and Masaki Yamashita on drums plan the much anticipated December release of new music "Little Sunflower." Influenced by Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Bill Withers, John Mayer, Sting, and Sublime to name a few, the diverse LA area band will expand the availability of their unique mix of organic soul to those outside LA who have not been able to view their celebrated live performances. The friends and band mates count Soul, Motown, Funk, R&B, Hip-Hop and Pop music as their favorite genres and influences, and will make their trademark sound available to a global audience with the release of "Little Sunflower, " named after influential Jazz artist Freddie Hubbard's 1979 classic. Most band members have a Jazz background with degrees from California Universities, and met as studio musicians covering top forty hits in Los Angeles. "Little Sunflower means young sunflower coming out from the ground strongly" says guitarist Yusuke Watanabe of delivering their unique brand of musical mixes to the worldwide stage. The much anticipated "Little Sunflower" will include "Let Love, " featuring Harry Mack, with words and music by Maha, and Yusuke, "Tonight, " "Woulda, Shoulda, Coulda, " and "Hand to Hand, " with words and music by the multi-talented Yusuke and Maha. Hiplicity would like to acknowledge everyone involved in helping the production of "Little Sunflower" with special thanks to Hiroaki and Kazuoko Watanabe, Tomoi Furude, Shingo Yugi, Jess Accetta, Rick Marshall, John Carruthers, Masa Sasaki. "Little Sunflower", arranged and produced by Hiplicity, was directed, mixed and mastered by Yusuke Watanabe and recorded by Tim More's MAS music production using Sound Kings Amp. Illustration and design was provided by Nao Kato, with photo by Dario Griffin. The countdown to the December release of "Little Sunflower" will include updates via Hiplicity's Facebook Fan page, You Tube channel, http://www.reverbnation.com/hiplicity and Hiplicity.com About Yusuke Watanabe Hiplicity's Guitar player from Sapporo, Japan Growing up in a non musical family in Sapporo Japan Yusuke Watanabe played guitar from the age of twelve. At twenty one Yusuke began to seriously consider a musical career leaving Japan to continue his studies in California. Yusuke learned the fundamentals of guitar training at Citrus College with his mentor Steve Cotter going on to tour as a professional musician with the Citrus College Jazz Band with tour stops that included Oahu, Hawaii. Yusuke was then accepted in University of Southern California's Studio/Jazz Guitar Program studying with Steve Trovato, Pat Kelley, Frank Potenza, and Adam Del Monte. Yusuke continued his exploration and appreciation of Jazz, Pop, Rock, Country, Classical, and Flamenco graduating USC with his Bachelors in Music Performance. Yusuke performs his eclectic style of Jazz, Pop, Soul, and R&B to a growing fan base in Los Angeles. Watanabe hopes to give back by passing on what he has learned of the genre to the next generation by founding and managing renowned LA Soul band "Soul of Los Angeles." About Maharashi Hanza Hiplicity's Vocalist, Songwriter Born in East LA, the siren has been commanding the stage with her hypnotic vocal presence since the age of six. In 1990 Maha furthered her musical training with classes at Glendora California's Citrus College which enhanced her unique vocal sound and presentation. Maha's musical gift has garnered her fans and acclaim at her many Los Angeles performances from The House of Blues to fairs, weddings, festivals. About Shinichiro Kawasaki Hiplicity's Bass Player from Toyama, Japan Shinichiro Kawasaki was born in Toyama, Japan. after eighteen years in the beautiful countryside he moved to Osaka, the second largest city in Japan where he met a lot of musicians that inspired him to pursue music. Shin moved to Los Angeles in 1999, where he started performing live and recording as a guitarist. Shin has worked with Lee Takasugi and Visiting Violette, drummer Chili Charles and his group KUFU, singer/songwriter Todd Widell, Hollywood Records artist Marie Digby, Emmy-winning composer Misha Segal, and co-founded Los Desnudos which was one of the finalists for 2007 Independent Music Awards (Jam category) with Geoff Haba on drums of Mother Tongue fame. Shin has also contributed music for SanDisk TV commercial, Turkey Shoot Music Festival, Japan Self-Defense Airforce, NHK Enterprise, KDDI, House Foods and Kao Corporation. Shin's first self-titled solo effort was released in July 2010, showcasing his composing and producing skills in varying styles ranging from Technopop ala Yellow Magic Orchestra, Prog, Dub, Acid Jazz, Fusion, Metal and Drum 'n' Bass. Shin's solo effort was nominated for Independent Music Awards 2010 in Album/Eclectic category. Shin's new live-performing outfit named "Flying Platforms" incorporates the materials from the album with an alluring dance/vocal performance by MidTone Madeleines; a duo from somewhere outside of our society and/or planet who frequently visit MidTones; SK's monthly event at Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown. Not only does the collaboration between Madeleines and SK provide the mixture of cyberpunk-infused live-tronic jam and otherworldly aesthetic, it also produced one of fan favorites from the album "Take It Back." Shin Kawasaki is currently in the mixing stage of the second full-length album by Los Desnusos. Shin can be seen performing at Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown Los Angeles, hosting MidTones Open Jam which takes place on the first Wednesday of the month. About Masaki Yamashita Hiplicity's Drummer from Yokohama, Japan Masaki started playing drums at the age of fourteen in Punk Rock bands training with Masayuki Higuchi, Kazumi Ikenaga at AN Music School, in Tokyo, Japan. In 2006, after Masaki graduated from Music School, he came to Los Angeles as he felt it is the "world's music center." Masaki studied at the LA Music Academy (LAMA) with Joe Porcaro, Ralph Humphrey, Mike Shapiro, Aaron Serfaty, and Matt Starr and privately with Jens Kuross. After graduating from LAMA, he began to perform around Los Angeles. Masaki is "very versatile with a deep understanding a variety of music." You can catch Masaki performing at a wide variety of LA venues including restaurants, clubs, churches. Masaki is also a member of LA LYON (TOP 40, Dance Band) since 2010, and performs with them on weekends. About Andrew Van Vlear Hiplicity's Keys Andrew Van Vlear graduated from Azusa Pacific University in 2010 with a B.A. in Commercial Music where he studied piano and guitar. In 2011 he toured internationally playing keyboards for the show Caution: Men At Work: TAP. Currently, Andrew is pursuing a career as a freelance musician by performing, accompanying, orchestrating, and teaching music. In his spare time, you might find him enjoying hobbies such as playing the accordion, juggling, unicycling, or crunching differential equations. write your comments about the article :: © 2011 Jazz News :: home page |