Biography

Rock, jazz, pop, electronic, classical, bossa nova,… Shiina Ringo (椎名林檎) is like a goddess playing in the musical world. She’s definitely an icon for both female & male rockers and has collaborated with great and important artists including TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA (東京スカパラダイスオーケストラ), Utada Hikaru (宇多田ヒカル), her brother Shiina Junpei (椎名純平), Kusano Masamune (草野正宗) from SPITZ (スピッツ), Matsuzaki Nao (松崎ナオ), Mukai Shutoku (向井秀徳) and his band ZAZEN BOYS, and more recently Asai Kenichi (浅井健一), SOIL&”PIMP”SESSIONS, and even composer Saito Neko (斎藤ネコ). She cleverly mixes western music and Japanese styles and has sung songs in four different languages. Ringo is someone you cannot pass up if you like good music.

Shiina Yumiko (椎名裕美子 her real name) grew up in a musical environment, her father was a fan of jazz and classical music and her mother practiced ballet. She started playing piano at the age of 5 along with starting classical ballet. She had become involved in several bands when she was a teenager and won an Award of Excellence Music Quest competition a few years later. She also spent a few months in London studying recitation before returning to Fukuoka. Here starts her solo career in1998.

Shiina Ringo’s first official single Koufukuron was released May 1998, followed by Kabukichou no Joou, her second single and her first album Muzai Moratorium in February 1999. This album is one of the longest selling records in the history of Japanese music. It features Koko de KISS Shite, her third single which is one of her most famous songs. Her first national tour quickly followed this break-out success. It would take really long to describe this full wonderful adventure, but she didn’t stop after this. Shiina would go on to release one album (Shouso Strip), a few singles, and DVDs, as well as a cover album later. She released Karuki Zamen Kuri no Hana (2003), her last album before going on an almost 4-year-long hiatus in her solo career.

With lyrics written in the ancient Japanese style and over 30 different instruments she composed a masterpiece: the single Ringo no Uta. It was released on her 25th birthday. The second track on the single is a rearranged version of her song Yokushitsu with English lyrics and the third track is a concentration of loads of her songs. The music video for Ringo no Uta also references all her previous promotional videos. At this time she also had her famous mole removed. This was a perfect way to put an end to a chapter with music as well as appearance.

But the story doesn’t end there. She created a band during her last solo tour, Tokyo Jihen (東京事変). But that’s a completely different story in and of itself…

In late 2006, Shiina Ringo decided to resume her solo works with the release of Karisome Otome (DEATH JAZZ ver.) with SOIL&”PIMP”SESSIONS and Karisome Otome (HITOKUCHIZAKA ver.) on iTunes on November and December 2006. Finally her new single, Kono yo no Kagiri with Saito Neko and Shiina Junpei hit stores on January 1st, 2007 and became available on all iTunes stores except those in the U.S. and Canada.

Shiina Ringo’s music and interpretation are very unique and elegant. Her performances in her concerts and promotional videos follow in this fashion as well.

Be sure not to miss her upcoming album featuring Saito Neko and a live DVD (Release date: 2007.2.21). Heisei Fuzoku (album) will be the “soundtrack” for the movie Sakuran (released on February 24th) and will contain cover songs as well as some new versions for Ringo and Tokyo Jihen songs. Dai Ikkai Ringohan Taikai no Moyo (live DVD) is a recording from her two fanclub-only concerts in 2006.

by Max