Esprit D'Air

Esprit D'Air
Origin London, United Kingdom
Genres Heavy metal
Years active 2010-2013
Website www.espritdair.com
Past members Kai
Daishi
Ellis
Yosh
Yuki
Coma
Hakuren

Esprit D'Air (エスプリ デア) was a Japanese rock and heavy metal band based in London.[1]

History

Deai, The Hunter and Shizuku (2010–12)

The band met at a concert in London and made their debut in May 2010.[2] At the time, the band had five members – Yosh (lead vocals), Kai (lead guitar and backing vocals), Ellis (bass), Yuki (rhythm guitar) and Daishi (drums).[3] Esprit D'Air first released an EP entitled 'Deai' in October 2010, which loosely translates to 'encounter'. Kai described the name as a 'sort of like the first hello from the band'.[4] They recorded the 3-track EP at Sarm East Studios in Brick Lane, London.

Since forming in 2010, the band performed at numerous shows in the UK and Spain[5] and have been interviewed by Japanese video sharing website, Nico Nico Douga.[6]

In early 2011, rhythm guitarist Yuki left the band due to personal reasons, leaving the band as a four-piece, whilst Yosh organised and performed at charity events in aid of Japan’s 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The band also announced news about their second release.[7]

In February 2012, Esprit D'Air released The Hunter and performed two headline shows at Nambucca (London, UK) and La Farga (Barcelona, Spain) as part of their single launch.[8][9] Tom Smith, the director of European-based independent record label JPU Records (the GazettE, POLYSICS, Ling Tosite Sigure), described the single as a release that 'excites them much more than any recent visual kei or J-rock from Japan'.[10]

In June 2012, Esprit D'Air released Shizuku and offered the track free for a limited time.[11]

Rock Band 3, Hiatus and Yosh's Departure (2012-13)

In early 2013, the band rose in popularity as Shizuku became the first playable Japanese-language track on the Xbox 360 video game, Rock Band 3 and the only track to be featured in the 'J-rock' category.[12]

In late 2013, the band announced that they were on indefinite hiatus due to a number of personal commitments.[13]

Due to personal reasons, Yosh was no longer a part of the band in early 2013 and returned to Tokyo, six months after the band announced their indefinite hiatus.[14]

Coma, Hakuren and Disbandment (2013)

Coma and Hakuren joined as the new lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist respectively, in April 2013 making the band a five-piece once again. However, the band performed their last show with this line-up at Brighton Japan Festival in September 2013. A month later, Coma flew back to Tokyo, Japan without a definite plan to return. With the singer in another country, the band could not see a future together and decided to disband, despite having record label interest for their upcoming album.[15]

Current Activity (2015-present)

In July 2015, Kai performed a solo set of Esprit D'Air songs at Hyper Japan[16] and The Pipeline in London.[17][18]

In March 2016, Esprit D'Air reunited for a one-off show to perform at a charity event in London, where all proceeds went to Aoba-gakuen, an orphanage in Fukushima, Japan.[19][20] Through ticket, merchandise, food sales and donations, the event raised over £1,100 for the orphanage.[21]

Members

Past members

Discography

Awards

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Biography". Esprit D'Air.
  2. ↑ "MCM BUZZ – Movies, TV, Comics, Gaming, Anime, Cosplay News & Reviews » Two Years Of Esprit D’Air". MCM BUZZ - Movies, TV, Comics, Gaming, Anime, Cosplay News & Reviews.
  3. ↑ "Members". Esprit D'Air.
  4. ↑ "Kaito, Guitarist of Esprit D’air (LONDON, UK) - The City I See". The City I See.
  5. ↑ "Visual Kei". Neo (80). January 2011.
  6. ↑ "Esprit D'Air". Nippon Project.
  7. ↑ "MCM BUZZ – Movies, TV, Comics, Gaming, Anime, Cosplay News & Reviews » Interview with Esprit D’Air". MCM BUZZ - Movies, TV, Comics, Gaming, Anime, Cosplay News & Reviews.
  8. ↑ "MCM BUZZ – Movies, TV, Comics, Gaming, Anime, Cosplay News & Reviews » Esprit D’Air Launch New Single". MCM BUZZ - Movies, TV, Comics, Gaming, Anime, Cosplay News & Reviews.
  9. ↑ "Esprit D’Air: ‘The Hunter’ Launch Party - Japan Underground - JPU Records Ltd.". Japan Underground - JPU Records Ltd.
  10. ↑ "Esprit D'Air — Official Website - エスプリ デア". Esprit D'Air.
  11. ↑ "Esprit D’Air Offer Free Download of Upcoming Single - Japan Underground - JPU Records Ltd.". Japan Underground - JPU Records Ltd.
  12. ↑ "Esprit D’Air: First Japanese Language Track to Feature in Rock Band 3 - Japan Underground - JPU Records Ltd.". Japan Underground - JPU Records Ltd.
  13. ↑ "Important Announcement: Indefinite Hiatus". Esprit D'Air.
  14. ↑ edohsama. "Vocalist Yosh Departs from Esprit D'Air - New Lineup to be Announced Soon — SR : JRock News". SR : JRock News.
  15. ↑ "History". Esprit D'Air.
  16. ↑ PaulB. "HYPER JAPAN Music Guide 3". J-POP GO.
  17. ↑ edohsama. "Esprit D'Air Guitarist 海 Kai Performs in London". SR : JRock News.
  18. ↑ edohsama. "Peko Peko Party - Music Matsuri Highlights - Esprit D'Air". SR : JRock News.
  19. ↑ "MCM BUZZ – Movies, TV, Comics, Gaming, Anime, Cosplay News & Reviews » Esprit D’Air to headline Origami: A Charity Gig". MCM BUZZ - Movies, TV, Comics, Gaming, Anime, Cosplay News & Reviews.
  20. ↑ "Live music and Japanese food for a great cause!". Kakkoii Club.
  21. ↑ edohsama. "Report on Esprit D'Air at the Pipeline, London". SR : JRock News.
  22. ↑ "TOP 5 MUSICAL RELEASES OF 2012". ElectricBloomWebzine (エレクトリックブルーム).
  23. ↑ jpopasia. "Esprit D'air". JpopAsia.

External links

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