Charisma.com

Charisma.com
Origin Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Genres hip hop, electropop
Years active 2011—present
Labels Warner Music Japan, Lastrum
Associated acts Tempura Kidz
Website official-charisma.com
Members Itsuka, Gonchi

Charisma.com (Japanese pronunciation: Karisuma Dotto Komu (カリスマドットコム)) is a Japanese electro/rap group that formed in 2011.[1] Featuring MC Itsuka and DJ Gonchi, the members simultaneously work as office ladies while performing.[2] In 2015, the group made their major label debut under Warner Music Japan.

Biography

Members Itsuka and Gonchi first met when they were junior high school classmates, however they had never discussed music together until leaving school. After Itsuka graduated high school and went to university, she joined her friend's rock band as the vocalist.[3][4] When the group later disbanded, Itsuka was about to start making music with a vocalist. She asked Gonchi, who had experience with turntables due to her brother being a DJ, to join as she felt a DJ would increase the group's appeal. Gonchi accepted, having no plans after returning from studying overseas and waiting for university to begin.[5] Originally the group did not intend to make hip-hop music, and begun with a rock sound. Itsuka had begun rapping when she went to karaoke with friends, after noticing that nobody sung the rap sections of popular songs by Japanese groups Heartsdales, Soulhead and Bennie K.[3] Eventually she decided her rap skills were better than her singing skills, so decided to rap in Charisma.com. "Charisma" was originally a nickname Itsuka had been given by her vocalist friend. After adding more people, she added the ".com" to represent the word "company", then unaware that the domain name .com referred to the word commercial.[6][7] Itsuka and Gonchi consider the start of Charisma.com to be from when the group's vocalist left.[3]

Charisma.com created a blog on Ameblo and posted their first entry on October 1, 2011.[8] The group uploaded their first song, "Hate", to YouTube on July 9, 2012.[9][10] At the same time, Itsuka worked with 07ch Records, collaborating with C.R.E.A.M Sodaz on their Kissa Dark Side album in November 2011, and releasing her own extended play Majo EP under the name Meliyas (メリヤス♀ Meriyasu) in September 2012.[11][12] The group uploaded their second song, "George", to YouTube on February 7, 2013.[13]

Due to the popularity of their videos on YouTube, the group were able to release their debut extended play Ai Ai Syndrome on July 10, 2013.[1][14] The release was promoted with a new recording of "Hate", which managed to chart in the top 50 of Billboard's Japan Hot 100 singles chart.[15][16] Ai Ai Syndrome was well-received critically, being awarded at the 2014 CD Shop Awards for best Kantō region artist.[17] The release impressed iTunes Japan staff, who listed them in their annual list of new artists who they expect to break into mainstream music in 2014.[18]

In April 2014, Itsuka announced the return of her solo project Meliyas, and released a full-length album Majo LP exclusively to 500 members of the Charisma.com fanclub.[19][20] It was later given a wide release in November 2014.[21]

The group's debut studio album Distopping was released on June 4, 2014. This was followed by "Mirra Killer", a digital single collaborating with dance troupe Tempura Kidz.[22] In early 2015, Charisma.com performed the theme song for the live action film adaptation of Tomohiro Koizumi's manga Shinda Me o Shita Shōnen, entitled "Tongari Young",[23] and in April released "Kongara Girl", a song to promote Tangle Teezer-brand hair brushes.[24]

In July 2015, Charisma.com released their first extended play under major label Warner Music Japan, OLest.

Members

Musical Style

Charisma.com's sound was inspired by Japanese hip-hop group Astro, which inspired Itsuka to make music featuring rapping on top of a constant dance beat.[25]

The group's songs begin after Itsuka requests music made by trackmakers. After she receives them, she adds lyrics and a melody.[26] Both members continue to work their jobs as office ladies in addition to being members of Charisma.com. Itsuka works at the office of a magazine, while Gonchi works at a company specialising in precision machinery.[1] Much of Charisma.com's music is inspired by everyday happenings in offices, especially the difference between life as a musician compared to life as an office lady.[7][26]

Itsuka's lyrics when she first began performing music were originally more about love, however the longer she worked as an office lady, the more she sung about society and angrier things.[5] During Distopping, most of her songs were from the point of view of other people, including her younger sister, her coworkers or is inspired by snatches of conversation on the train.[27]

Critics have focused praise on Charisma.com for Itsuka's lyric style and rapping.[28][29][30]

Discography

Studio album

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak positions
JPN
[31]
Distopping 48

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak positions
JPN
[31]
Ai Ai Syndrome (アイ　アイ　シンドローム Ai Ai Shindorōmu)
  • Released: July 10, 2013 (JPN)
  • Label: Lastrum
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 52
OLest 31
Aidoro C (愛泥C)
  • Released: March 2, 2016 (JPN)
  • Label: Warner
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 24

Promotional singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
JPN Hot 100
[32][upper-alpha 1]
"Hate" 2013 48 Ai Ai Syndrome
"Chankoi" (チャンコイ, "Chance Coin") 2014 80 Distopping
"Happy Turn" (ハッピーターン Happī Tān) —[upper-alpha 2]
"Iinazuke Blue" (イイナヅケブルー, "Fiancé Blue") 66
"Mirra Killer" (ミイラキラー, "Killer Mummy")[22]
(Tempura Kidz vs Charisma.com)		 — Tenkomori
"Tongari Young" (とんがりヤング, "Sharp Young") 2015 — Non-album single
"Kongara Girl" (こんがらガール, "Tangle Girl") —[upper-alpha 3] OLest
"Otsubone Rock" (お局ロック, "Court Woman Rock") 33
"Suppliminal Diet" (サプリミナル・ダイエット Sapuriminaru Daietto)[39] 2016 75 Aidoro C

Notes

  1. ↑ Sources for chart positions are as follows: "Hate",[16] "Chankoi",[33] "Iinazuke Blue",[34] "Otsubone Rock",[35] "Suppliminal Diet".[36]
  2. ↑ Charted at number 33 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay Chart.[37]
  3. ↑ Charted at number 57 on the Adult Contemporary Airplay chart.[38]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Biography" (in Japanese). Charisma.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Charisma.com「OLest」特集 Charisma.com×おかざき真里対談" (in Japanese). Natalie. July 8, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Takeshi Matsui (July 3, 2013). "【HMVインタビュー】 カリスマドットコム 『アイアイシンドローム』 このエントリをはてなブックマークに追加" (in Japanese). Lawson HMV Entertainment. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  4. ↑ Yuu Nakazato (July 16, 2013). "【インタビュー】あなたのイライラは今、歌となる！ 鮮烈デビューを飾るCharisma.comを君は知っているか！" (in Japanese). Qetic. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Fumiaki Amano (June 2013). "INTERVIEW Charisma.com" (in Japanese). Geki-Rock Entertainment Inc. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  6. ↑ Fumiaki Amano (June 2013). "INTERVIEW Charisma.com" (in Japanese). Geki-Rock Entertainment Inc. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  7. 1 2 Midorico (July 10, 2013). ""言わなくてもいいことをズバズバ"Charisma.comインタビュー" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  8. ↑ Charisma.com (October 1, 2011). "ハジメマシテ" [How Do You Do] (in Japanese). Ameblo. Archived from the original on December 12, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  9. ↑ Charisma.com (July 9, 2012). "Charisma.com 『HATE』" (in Japanese). Ameblo. Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  10. ↑ Charisma.com (July 11, 2012). "peak out" (in Japanese). Ameblo. Archived from the original on December 12, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  11. ↑ "喫茶DARK SIDE" (in Japanese). Tower Records. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  12. ↑ "2012.9.6 07ch RECORDS ２作品同時リリース！！" [2012.9.6 07ch Records two albums released at the same time!] (in Japanese). 07ch Records. Archived from the original on August 14, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  13. ↑ Charisma.com (February 6, 2013). "風でなびくペラペラの意志" (in Japanese). Ameblo. Archived from the original on January 18, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  14. ↑ "現役OLラップユニット、Charisma.comが初CDリリース" (in Japanese). Natalie. May 16, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  15. ↑ LastrumMusic (June 16, 2013). "Charisma.com / HATE". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 12, 2014. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  16. 1 2 "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). July 17, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  17. ↑ "ホルモン節炸裂！CDショップ大賞は「予襲復讐」" (in Japanese). Natalie. March 6, 2014. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  18. ↑ "iTunesが2014年最もブレイクが期待できる新人アーティスト12組を発表" (in Japanese). Barks. January 15, 2014. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Charisma.comいつか、「メリヤス♀」名義でソロ作発表" (in Japanese). Natalie. April 22, 2014. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  20. ↑ Charisma.com (April 14, 2014). "ドゥビドゥビFuFuFuFu~♪" (in Japanese). Ameblo. Archived from the original on January 18, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Charisma.com いつか、"メリヤス♀"名義でのソロ・アルバムが一般発売決定" [Charisma.com Itsuka will release her solo album under the name Meliyas] (in Japanese). CDJournal. October 27, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  22. 1 2 "カリスマ×テンプラ、コラボ新曲初披露に吃驚" (in Japanese). Natalie. July 27, 2014. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Charisma.com、映画「死んだ目をした少年」主題歌を配信" (in Japanese). Natalie. January 21, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Charisma.com、ヘアブラシ武器にしがらみ解消する痛快PV" (in Japanese). Natalie. April 3, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  25. ↑ Ogichon (September 20, 2014). "【インタビュー】現役OLユニット「Charisma.com(カリスマドットコム)」の素顔に迫る" (in Japanese). Coolhomme. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  26. 1 2 Yuka Saito (July 11, 2013). "【インタビュー】Charisma.com、それは毒ではなく真実。攻撃的リリックで社会を突き刺す" (in Japanese). Barks. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  27. ↑ Natsumi Nakayama (2014). "Charisma.com" (in Japanese). Defence inc. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  28. ↑ Jun Shiozawa. "Charisma.com『アイ アイ シンドローム』" (in Japanese). Rockin' On. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Charisma.com / アイ アイ シンドローム" (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Charisma.com / ディストッピング" (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  31. 1 2 "Charisma.comの作品" [Charisma.com Products]. Oricon. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  32. ↑ "Hot 100｜JAPAN Charts｜Billboard JAPAN" (in Japanese). Billboard.
  33. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). February 5, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). June 11, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  35. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). July 15, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  36. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). March 9, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Adult Contemporary Airplay". Billboard (in Japanese). January 22, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  38. ↑ "Adult Contemporary Airplay". Billboard (in Japanese). April 22, 2015. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  39. ↑ "見るだけで痩せる!? Charisma.comが新曲「サプリミナル・ダイエット」MVを公開！" (in Japanese). Recochoku. February 4, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2016.

External links

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