Every Little Thing

Biography

Every Little Thing (also known as ELT by their fans) is a pop/soft rock duo from
Japan who debuted in August 1996 with the release of their first single called "Feel My Heart×Feel My Heart7 August 1996 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Feel My Heart4:272Feel My Heart (Dave Rodgers Euro mix)4:393Feel My Heart (club mix)6:304Feel My Heart (instrumental)4:24". Their name is usually written in English, and only rarely in katakana. They gained massive popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s. As of 2013, Every Little Thing has sold over 23 million copies of singles and albums throughout Japan. Their second studio album, Time to Destination×Time to Destination15 April 1998 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1For the moment4:332今でも…あなたが好きだから4:493Face the change (album mix)4:244Old Dreams (instrumental)0:245モノクローム3:576All Along4:357Hometown4:328出逢った頃のように4:249Shapes Of Love4:5710True Colors4:4511Time goes by (Orchestra version)5:14, is the best-selling album of the band with over 3.5 million copies sold, and became the 10th best-selling album of all time in Japan.
Every Little Thing was originally a trio but became a duo in 2000 with Kaori Mochida as the singer and Ichiro Ito as the guitarist. Mitsuru Igarashi, former composer for the band, left ELT following the release of their third original album, Eternity×eternity15 March 2000 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Pray5:252Reason4:573switch (Album Mix)4:214Just be you4:165The One Thing4:466Get Into A Groove4:367Rescue me4:188Smile Again4:329sure (Orchestra version)5:0210Who cries for me? (Pray reprise)1:1411sure (Are you sure? mix)5:53.

Early careers

Ito began playing guitar in local bands around the US Yokota Air Base in Fussa, Tokyo, performing cover versions of songs by rock acts like Van Halen to local sailors. He initially intended to play drums.
Mochida made her debut as a baby in an advertisement for diapers as her mom hoped she would enter the entertainment business. In 1991, at the age of 13, she joined the eight-member girl group The Kuro Buta All-Stars. Though not successful, the experience convinced her to record a two track demo, featuring the two songs, "Mouichido" (The Kuro Buta All-Stars) and a cover song from 1970s/1980s singer-songwriter Mariya Takeuchi.
She sent the demo to Avex Trax, where Mitsuru Igarashi was a producer looking for a girl for a new duo with him as the keyboardist. Impressed by her strong yet sweet voice, Igarashi asked her to join as a duo, and then asked his guitarist friend Ichiro Ito, then working as a studio receptionist, to help on the first single "Feel My Heart×Feel My Heart7 August 1996 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Feel My Heart4:272Feel My Heart (Dave Rodgers Euro mix)4:393Feel My Heart (club mix)6:304Feel My Heart (instrumental)4:24", created by Igarashi. Ito, over ten years Mochida's senior, has said that when first meeting the young Mochida wearing gyaru style thick platform boots, he didn't even know how to strike up conversation.

Debut and success

The band released their debut single "Feel My Heart×Feel My Heart7 August 1996 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Feel My Heart4:272Feel My Heart (Dave Rodgers Euro mix)4:393Feel My Heart (club mix)6:304Feel My Heart (instrumental)4:24" on August 7, 1996. The single peaked at number 24 on the Oricon charts. Their first studio album, called Everlasting×everlasting9 April 1997 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Future World4:072Feel My Heart (Album Mix)4:263Here and everywhere3:594Season (Album Version)5:545二人で時代を変えてみたい4:586たとえ遠く離れてても…5:117micro stress0:208Dear My Friend (Album Mix)3:509Looking Back On Your Love5:0010Never Stop!4:2111I'll get over you4:4012Double Moon0:54 was a big success, selling nearly two million copies in Japan, and marking ELT as a popular group with a bright future. The band reached number 1 at the Oricon charts for the first time with their fourth single, "For the Moment×For the Moment4 June 1997 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1For the Moment4:342For the Moment (Remix 7.00)7:033For the Moment (instrumental)4:32."
Their second studio album, entitled Time to Destination×Time to Destination15 April 1998 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1For the moment4:332今でも…あなたが好きだから4:493Face the change (album mix)4:244Old Dreams (instrumental)0:245モノクローム3:576All Along4:357Hometown4:328出逢った頃のように4:249Shapes Of Love4:5710True Colors4:4511Time goes by (Orchestra version)5:14, was released on April 15, 1998, and it became one of the best-selling albums of that year, with over 3.5 million copies sold. The album ended up being the band's best-selling album, as well as the 10th best-selling album of all time in Japan. This album also included their best-selling single, "Time Goes By×Time goes by11 February 1998 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Time Goes By5:152Time goes by (Bad Attitude mix)8:023Time goes by (instrumental)5:12", which reached nearly 1.15 million copies sold.

Departure of Igarashi and change in sound

Upon the release of the third studio album, Eternity×eternity15 March 2000 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Pray5:252Reason4:573switch (Album Mix)4:214Just be you4:165The One Thing4:466Get Into A Groove4:367Rescue me4:188Smile Again4:329sure (Orchestra version)5:0210Who cries for me? (Pray reprise)1:1411sure (Are you sure? mix)5:53, released in March 2000, Mitsuru Igarashi suddenly decided to leave the band. Ito later said that the decision was dropped on them without warning, right before a tour, and it forced them to change their sound. The remaining duo decided to tour acoustically for the next two years in order to find their feet, but also enjoyed more creative freedom over the songs. The single "Rescue me" was the last that Igarashi participated in and with the release of their 16th single, "Ai no Kakera" in October 2000, ELT transitioned their style from Igarashi's signature synthesized pop-rock sound to a more acoustic soft-rock sound. Their single "Fragile" released on New Year's Day 2001 became ELT's second biggest hit ever, vindicating their new direction, selling approximately 829,580 copies; its c/w song "Jirenma" was one of the ending songs for the anime movie Initial D Third Stage. their fourth album and first as a duo, 4 Force×4 FORCE22 March 2001 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Graceful World5:052JIRENMA (Album Mix)4:263愛のカケラ4:534Good For Nothing4:415鮮やかなもの4:166sweetaholic girl4:497Home Sweet Home4:388Fragile4:519No Limit4:2010force of heart4:3911One5:02, was released on March 22, 2001. The album was their first not to top the Japanese Oricon charts, but still managed to sell more than a million copies and was awarded as "Album of the Year" at the Japan Gold Disc Awards.
In 2003 the band released their fifth album, Many Pieces×Many Pieces19 March 2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1jump (jumping mix)4:072flavor5:273stray cat4:404AMBIVALENCE4:345ささやかな祈り4:566nostalgia5:507・・・。1:408キヲク5:269TIE-DYE4:4010Grip!4:5011self reliance4:1112UNSPEAKABLE4:2413愛の謳 / [silence] / Free Walkin’12:36, which topped the Oricon charts. The album had five promotional singles prior to its release, including "Jump", the first attempt of Mochida in music composing, Untitled: 4 Ballads, their number one EP which got platinum status in Japan, and also "Grip!×Grip!12 March 2003 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Grip!4:512ゆらゆら3:533Grip! (instrumental)4:514ゆらゆら (instrumental)3:53", which was used as an opening theme of anime television series InuYasha.
In November 2004 the duo released their single "Koibumi" that was a surprise for many, because it performed comparatively well on the charts, selling more than many of their previous singles. In 2005 they released only one single, the soft rock song "Kimi no Te", and the acoustic compilation album Acoustic : Latte×ACOUSTIC : LATTE16 February 2005 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1FOREVER YOURS4:562water(s)3:413nostalgia5:594愛のカケラ5:235Time goes by5:446ささやかな祈り5:027しあわせの風景4:328fragile6:079鮮やかなもの4:1910NECESSARY4:4611愛の謳5:5512Over and Over4:53.
During Every Little Thing's 2004–2005 Commonplace Tour, Mochida suffered from bronchitis which further affected her singing style during the tour as well as on their 7th album, Crispy Park×Crispy Park9 August 2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1ハイファイ メッセージ5:312スイミー4:593風待ち心もよう3:584雨の鳴る夜、しずくを君に5:065恋文5:016スカーレット5:517SWEET EMERGENCY (instrumental)1:398あすの心5:039きみの て4:5110いずれもROMANTIC3:2011azure moon5:2412I MET YOU (instrumental)1:5913good night4:59, released on August 9, 2006 (their 10th anniversary day). Mochida’s singing style has changed slightly on every album, going from a clear, soothing voice to a high and cuter voice. A 2006–2007 concert tour followed their tenth anniversary album release. Their 31st single, "Swimmy", theme song for the drama series Kekkon Dekinai Otoko, was released in October 2006.

Tenth anniversary and solo endeavours

For celebrating their tenth anniversary, Every Little Thing held a two-day special live at the Nippon Budokan on March 6 and 7, 2006. Their 2008 album Door released on March 5, 2008 peaked at number 2 on the Oricon charts. Mochida has said of the album, that "I used to sing without thinking. But now I convey thoughts that are hard to explain when I communicate with people in my daily life. It's harder than before; but we reap much more joy."
On November 20, 2008, it was announced that Mochida would be starting a solo career in 2009, but both she and Itoh would continue as a duo. In this period both members released solo material. Mochida released her first solo album, Moka on August 12, 2009, and also participated briefly in the special unit Caocao, along with Takao Tajima, member of Original Love. On August 5, 2009, Ito released a mini-album on his own titled Diversity, which featured vocals of Idoling!!!, Ayuse Kozue, and others.
In 2009, after nine years of departed ways, Every Little Thing began working again with former band member Mitsuru Igarashi. Igarashi composed and produced several songs on the band's ninth album Change×CHANGE24 March 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Change4:492青い煌めき4:293spearmint4:374忘れえぬ人5:15512ヶ月5:026Heart Rate Of The City (Instrumental)1:057真夜中のハイウェイ4:488DREAM GOES ON4:299スケッチブック4:1010Snowscape (Instrumental)2:0611蓮 -れん-4:4112冷たい雨 (Album version)4:40, released in March 2010, including its three promotional singles: "Dream Goes On×DREAM GOES ON23 September 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1DREAM GOES ON4:292spearmint4:373DREAM GOES ON (Instrumental)4:294spearmint (Instrumental)4:35", "Tsumetai Ame" and the album title song.
In July, 2011, the band released their 41st single "Sora/Koe". Both songs were used as theme songs of the 2011 Pokémon movie. On September 21, 2011, the band released their tenth album, Ordinary×ORDINARY21 September 2011 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1アイガアル4:052tomorrow4:113宙 -そら-5:174空白5:565MOON4:266wonder love4:087STAR5:008Asian Beauty (Instrumental)1:499響 -こえ-4:4710ありがとうはそのためにある4:1911ORDINARY5:1812Pray For East (Instrumental)2:4113BEGIN6:39, which debuted at number 2 on the Oricon charts.
In 2013 they toured promoting their "On N On" single, which portrays a timeline of their performance history.

Current members

Kaori Mochida – vocalist, songwriter
Ichiro Ito – guitarist, composer, arranger

Former member

Mitsuru Igarashi – keyboardist, producer, songwriter (1996–2000)

Support members

Genya Kuwajima – keyboardist (1996–2001)
Keiichi "K-1" Kodo – drummer (1996–2001)
Takeshi Asada – bassist (1996–2001)
Kaoru Kato – guitarist (1996–2007)
Tsunehiko Yashiro – keyboardist (2000–2001)
Masafumi "Massy" Hayashi – keyboardist (2001–2014)
Taka Yamaguchi – drummer (2001–2012)
Tanahashi "UNA" Nobuhito – band manipulation, live arrangement (2001–2004)
Satoshi "Anthony" Yamada – bassist (2002–2005)
Yasunari "Nam-Nam" Nakamura – band manipulation, live arrangement (2004–2011)
Naoki Kasahara – bassist (2005–present)
Tomoji Sogawa – band manipulation, live arrangement (2011–2014)
Koji Matsukawa – drummer (2013–2014)
Taisei Iwasaki – keyboardist, guitarist, live arrangement (2015–present)
Makoto Tanaka – keyboardist (2015–present)
Ken Higeshiro – drummer (2015–present)
Megumi Yamaguchi – Chorus (2015–present)
Fire Horns – Wind (2015–present)

Concerts and tours

May 31, 1998 - August 4, 1998: Concert Tour'98 Time to Destination
April 1, 2000 - June 3, 2000: Concert Tour Spirit 2000
May 19, 2001 - July 22, 2001: Concert Tour 2001 4 Force
December 30–31, 2001: Count Down Live 2001-2002 HORSE
December 19, 2002: 2002 Christmas Special Concert
May 10, 2003 - July 8, 2003: 2003 Tour Many Pieces
December 23–24, 2003: X'mas Acoustic Live 2003
October 17, 2004 - April 8, 2005: Commonplace Tour 2004 - 2005
X'mas Acoustic Live at Urakami Tenshudō(Urakami Cathedral) ~Ai no Uta~ (浦上天主堂〜愛の謳〜)
October 7, 2006 - January 25, 2007: Concert Tour 2006 - 2007 Crispy Park
March 6–7, 2007: Every Little Thing 10th Anniversary Special Live at Nippon Budokan
April 12, 2008 - June 15, 2008: Concert Tour 2008 Door
December 7–8&11, 2008: Every Little Thing X'mas Concert 2008
December 23–24, 2009: Every Little Thing Premium Christmas Concert 2009
October 22, 2009 - March 28, 2010: Concert Tour 2009 - 2010 Meet
December 7, 2010 - December 23, 2010: Premium Christmas Concert Tour 2010
October 1, 2011 - April 1, 2012: Every Little Thing 15th Anniversary Concert Tour 2011 - 2012 "Ordinary×ORDINARY21 September 2011 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1アイガアル4:052tomorrow4:113宙 -そら-5:174空白5:565MOON4:266wonder love4:087STAR5:008Asian Beauty (Instrumental)1:499響 -こえ-4:4710ありがとうはそのためにある4:1911ORDINARY5:1812Pray For East (Instrumental)2:4113BEGIN6:39"
February 18–19, 2012: Every Little Thing 15th Anniversary Premium 2 days ~naEverLasTing 2012~
January 26, 2013 - June 15, 2013: Every Little Thing Concert Tour 2013 -On And On-
February 22, 2014 - July 6, 2014: Every Little Thing Concert Tour 2014 -Fun Fare-
October 17, 2015 - April 2, 2016: Every Little Thing 20th Anniversary Best Hit Tour 2015 - 2016 ~Tabitabi~