Clazziquai

Clazziquai Project
Background information
Origin South Korea
Genres K-pop, J-pop, electropop, electronica, house, acid jazz, groove, lounge
Years active 2001–present
Labels Fluxus Music, Yedang Company, LOEN Entertainment
(Korea)
Avex Trax
(Japan, former)
Universal Music Group
(Japan, current)
Avex Taiwan (Taiwan)
Website www.clazziquai.co.kr
Members DJ Clazzi
Horan
Alex

Clazziquai Project (Hangul: 클래지콰이), also known as Clazziquai, is a South Korean experimental band that combines several genres including electronic music, acid jazz and house. The group's first short unofficial albums were released online in 2001, spreading its music through words of "netizens," who positively received the group's music. They remained underground until the release of their first album Instant Pig in 2004, selling over 80,000 copies. Since then, their music has been used in various television commercials, shows, and films, and they have been given the chance to perform at various events.[1]

Clazziquai is known for their songs, "Be My Love" and "She Is", which were featured on the Korean drama My Lovely Samsoon, with the former becoming the show's theme song. The group won an award at the MNET KM Music Video Festival for "Best Soundtrack", and has also been the most nominated group at the Korean Popular Music Awards II(2회), winning "Artist of the Year" and "Best Pop". They have contributed to works by Japanese artists Fantastic Plastic Machine and M-Flo.

History

2001: Formation

DJ Clazzi, described as "a magician at synthesizing different sounds in music into creating one unique [sic] new genre".[2] graduated from Capilano College, and continued his study at Centre for Digital Imaging and Sound (CDIS). After his graduation, he worked as a web designer, uploading his music online during his leisure time. Eventually, Netizens discovered his music and were drawn to its experimental nature, which is the reason why Clazziquai was initially labeled a "project group"[3]

Korean-Canadian siblings Alex and Christina Chu were initially acquaintances with DJ Clazzi and participated vocally on the first three short and experimental albums released online, named "[gray]", "[red]", and "[retro]". Due to the positive attention received from Netizens, Clazziquai released their first official album, "Instant Pig".[4]

Alex's sister Christina later quit due to her work in Canada, and an artist named Horan stepped in to fill her spot. Despite this, she still occasionally contributes vocals to several songs. However, she has not been regarded as an official member, and only as an uncredited guest artist.

2004: Instant Pig

"Instant Pig" gained critical acclaim leading to over 5 songs from the album to be used in 6 television commercials.[5]
"Novabossa" was used as part of the soundtrack for the 2004 Korean film "How to Keep My Love" (내 남자의 로맨스) . Over 30 songs were mixed in the production process .

The remixed English version of the song, in its side Japanese remix album ZBAM was released in 2005, & was later used as a song in a television commercial featuring famous soccer star David Beckham. Fantastic Plastic Machine praised Clazziquai as a new group to lead the "Hallyu".[1]

2005: Color Your Soul

In summer of 2005, Clazziquai's "Be My Love" and "She Is", were featured in the Korean hit television drama, My Lovely Samsoon. These two major theme songs also raised the ratings of the series up 50%.[6] Clazziquai had hoped then that people's imagination towards their music would not 'decrease as a result of their unexpected popularity'.[5]

In 2005, Clazziquai released their second album claiming it had a "raw, funkier feel presenting a combination of electronic music and [an] emphasized acoustic genre".[2] In one week, Clazziquai's second album charted #3 in the Kyobo Hot track list, as well as #5 in the Hanter Album chart list.

2007–2008: Love Child of the Century

In 2007, "Lover Boy" was released for Clazziquai's third album, followed by "Last Tango". As Alex's fame grew after becoming a main cast member for the popular Korean reality TV show We Got Married, so did the track "Romeo N Juliet", which was prominently featured in the series. A Remix album, Robotica, was released later in the year.

After the album's release, the members of Clazziquai grew busy with their own work, which started false rumors that Clazziquai could be disbanding.[7] Alex released his first solo album My Vintage Romance while Horan joined an acoustic music project group titled Ibadi (이바디) as their main vocalist, and released their debut album Story of Us.

In 2008, a video game for the PlayStation Portable featuring many Clazziquai songs titled DJ Max Portable Clazziquai Edition was released.

2009: Mucho Punk and Mucho Musica

In early 2009, Clazziquai released "Wizard of Oz" as part of a commercial for LG, claiming it would be part of the album later in the year. Their fourth album, Mucho Punk was released alongside a single release of "Love Again", which features American fashion model Jarah Mariano.

In concordance to Mucho Punk, Clazziquai released Japanese album, Mucho Musica and later plan to released a remix album, Mucho Mix, later in 2009.[8]

On January 17, 2012, member DJ Clazzi released his debut solo album titled Infant.

2013: Blessed

In February 2013, the group released a new fifth album, Blessed. The launch also included MVs for their songs "Love Recipe" and "Sweetest Name".[9]

This album seem to be taking a different approach compared to their previous ones where they seem to be underutilized on some songs where there is a bit too much of repeating lyrics. However it seems to be presenting a mature side of them as they stray away from their typical music genre or style.

2014: Blink

In September 2014, Clazziquai released their sixth album, Blink.[10]

Members

Discography

Studio albums

Year Information Tracklist Peak positions
KO JP
[11]
2004 Instant Pig
  • Released in Korea, Japan,[11] and Taiwan[12]
  • Initially released: May 14, 2004[13]
  • Languages: Korean and English

01. You Never Know
02. And To Me
03. Futuristic
04. After Love
05. Novabossa
06. Sweety
07. Stepping Out
08. Tattoo
09. I Will Never Cry
10. Gentle Rain
11. After Love II
12. Flower
13. Play Girl
14. My Life
15. Cat Bossa

 —
2005 Color Your Soul
  • Released in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan[12]
  • Initially released: September 22, 2005[13]
  • Languages: Korean and English

01. Beautiful Woman
02. Salesman
03. Fill This Night
04. Cry Out Loud
05. I Will Give You Everything
06. Come Alive
07. Date Line
08. Be My Love (English Ver.-House Remix)
09. Dancing
10. Color Your Soul
11. Speechless
12. Sunshine
13. Steps Ahead
14. Again..
15. Be My Love (Original Mix-Bonus Track)

 94
2007 Love Child of the Century
  • Released in Korea and Japan[12]
  • Initially released: June 7, 2007[13]

01. Prayers
02. Lover Boy
03. In the Middle of Life
04. Session 1 - All Hail
05. Gentle Giant
06. Last Tango
07. Fiesta
08. Next Love
09. Romeo N Juliet
10. Flower Children
11. Session 2 : Confession
12. Friday Blues
13. Glory
14. Light

 72
2008 Beat in Love
  • Released in Japan only[12]
  • Released: August 13, 2008
  • Languages: Japanese and English

01. Freedom
02. Iconic Love
03. Beat in Love
04. Fiesta (English Version)
05. Our Lives (FPM Hyper Society Mix)
06. You
07. Why
08. Fiesta (Daishi Dance Remix - English version)
09. Beat in Love (Yasutaka Nakata (capsule) Remix)
10. Prayers (Shinichi Osawa Remix)
11. Next Love (DJ Kaippu Remix)
12. Robotica
13. Fill This Night (English Version)
14. Beautiful Stranger

 — 188
2009 Mucho Musica
  • Released in Japan and Taiwan[12]
  • Initially released: July 1, 2009
  • Languages: Japanese and English

01. Kiss Kiss Kiss
02. Love Again
03. Tell Yourself - Original Mix -
04. Spinning the World
05. The Road
06. Affection
07. Take A Walk
08. Back In Time
09. Chocolate Truffles
10. The World of Oz
11. Back to Mind
12. Flea

 — 158
Mucho Punk
  • Released in Korea[13] and Taiwan[12]
  • Initially released: July 14, 2009

01. Chocolate Truffle
02. Kiss Kiss Kiss
03. Love Again
04. End of Love
05. Tell Yourself
06. Back in Time
07. Lazy Sunday Morning
08. Take a Walk
09. The Road
10. Spinning the World
11. Rapunzel
12. The World of Oz

 —
2013 Blessed
  • Released in Korea and Taiwan
  • Initially released: February 5, 2013

01. Blessed
02. Sweetest Name
03. Love Recipe
04. She is Great
05. Together (feat. Kim Jin-pyo)
06. Love Right
07. I Will Be There For You
08. Brown Gold Eyes
09. Like a Diamond
10. Hollow and Shallow
11. Still

 —
2014 Blink
  • Initially released: September 18, 2014

01. Still I'm by Your Side
02. Madly
03. Crave You
04. Android
05. Maybe Baby
06. Love Satellite
07. Come on and Go with Me
08. Life etc.
09. Call Me Back (feat. Baechigi)
10. Think About You
11. Sweety (from 1st Album 'Instant Pig')
12. Hold Your Tears (from 2nd Album 'Color Your Soul')
13. ROMEO n JULIET (from 3rd Album ‘Love Child of the Century’)
14. Tell Yourself (from 4th Album ‘Mucho Punk’)

 —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Remix albums

Year Information Tracklist
2004 Zbam
  • Released in Korea
  • Initially released: November 25, 2004

01. Oh yes - drum non remix
02. Futuristic - house remix
03. come to me - mellotron remix
04. She loves you
05. Stepping out - step remix
06. You never know - soft remix
07. Snatcher
08. Coming at me to disco - rocking remix
09. After Love - female version
10. Skyscraper
11. come to me - mallotron remix (radio edit)

2006 Pinch Your Soul
  • Released in Korea
  • Initially released: March 17, 2006

01. Color your soul (pinch your remix)
02. Love mode feat. Tablo
03. Date line (bon voyage remix)
04. Fill this night (paradox remix)
05. Come alive (distort remix)
06. I'll give you everything (buoyant remix) feat. J & Bobby Kim
07. Speechless (vanilla soul remix)
08. Cry out loud (black sunshine remix)
09. Sweety (cosmo remix)
10. Chi Chi (original remix)
11. Farewell (2005 Memorial Music Festival)

2008 Robotica
  • Released in Korea
  • Released: April 18, 2008

01. Freedom
02. Iconic Love
03. Robotica
04. You
05. Why
06. Beautiful Stranger
07. Love mode feat. VERBAL (m-flo) (hwa remix)
08. Prayers (Shinichi Osawa remix) / Shinichi Osawa (Mondo Grosso)
09. Our Lives (FPM Hyper Society mix) / Fantastic Plastic Machine
10. Fiesta (Daishi Dance remix) / DAISHI DANCE
11. Lover boy (As Pap As Pop mix) / Han from W
12. Next Love (DJ Kayip remix) / Kayip
13. Love mode feat. PE’Z & VERBAL (m-flo) (pzq mode)

2009 Mucho Mix
  • Released in Japan and Taiwan
  • Initially released: July 1, 2009

01. Love Again (RAM RIDER REMIX)
02. Kiss Kiss Kiss (Yasutaka Nakata (capsule) remix)
03. The Road (sugiurumn remix)
04. Spinning The World (Voice remix)
05. Back in Time (Cloud remix)
06. Tell Yourself (DAISHI DANCE Remix - English Version)
07. Affection (4Step 4Ward mix -HAN(W)))
08. Flea (Jojal Remix -Audition grandprix-)
09. Chocolate Truffle (Unplugged Ver.)
10. Lazy Sunday Morning feat. JOANNA

Mucho Beat
  • Released in Korea
  • Initially released: October 28, 2009

01. Ping
02. La La La
03. Obsession
04. Spinning the World / Voice remix
05. Tell Yourself / Daishi Dance Remix -English Ver.
06. Chocolate Truffle / Unplugged ver.
07. Love Again / RAM RIDER REMIX
08. Kiss Kiss Kiss / Yasutaka Nakata (capsule) remix
09. Obsession/ 4Step 4Ward mix - HAN (W)
10. Back in Time / Cloud Remix
11. Flea / Jojal Remix -Audition Grandprix-
12. The Road / sugiurumn remix

EPs

Awards

Years Awards
2005

Mnet Asian Music Awards

Year Category Work Result
2004 Best New Group Video "Sweety"[14] Nominated
2005 Best Mixed Group "Fill This Night"[15] Nominated
Best OST "She Is..." (My Lovely Sam Soon)[16] Won
2007 Best House & Electronic "Lover Boy"[17] Won
Best Mixed Group Won
2009 Best House & Electronic "Love Again"[18] Nominated
Best Mixed Gender Group Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 Tak, Jin-Hyun. Clazziquai, a new Hallyu Star "Sportainment", March 4, 2006.
  2. 1 2 Choi, Seung-hyun (2005-09-23). "푸근하고 정감있게 변신했죠". Chosun Ilbo.
  3. ↑ "Horan goes straightforward. "호란은 직진한다"". Magazine T. 2006-12-26.
  4. ↑ Lee, Jae-Won (2005-10-04). "클래지콰이 다채로운 리듬 '감칠맛'". Sports Korea.
  5. 1 2 Lee, Young Pyo. "Clazziquai comes back with 2nd album(2집으로 돌아온 클래지콰이)", "Seoul Newspaper(서울신문)", October 20, 2005.
  6. ↑ Lee, Hye-Ri. "러브홀릭·클래지콰이 '삼순열풍'에 한 몫", "NoCut News", June 6, 2005.
  7. ↑ "Horan and Alex go solo ("클래지콰이 '줄줄이 솔로'")". Hankooki News. 2008-03-22.
  8. ↑ "Clazziquai will release another Japanese remix album". KoME World. 2009-09-03.
  9. ↑ "Clazziquai Project reveals MV for "Love Recipe" + fifth album "Blessed"".
  10. ↑ "Blink".
  11. 1 2 "Clazziquai Project Discography on ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2010-06-29.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Clazziquai Overseas Albums Discography" (in Korean). Retrieved 2010-06-29.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Clazziquai Korean Regular Albums Discography" (in Korean). Retrieved 2010-06-29.
  14. ↑ "2004 MKMF part 1". Mwave. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  15. ↑ "2005 MKMF part 1". Mwave. Retrieved 2014-08-28.
  16. ↑ "2005 M.net Korean Music Festival Winners list". MAMA. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
  17. ↑ "2007 Winners". Mnet official website. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  18. ↑ "2009 Mnet Asian Music Awards Part1". MAMA. Retrieved 2014-12-18.

External links

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