OreSkaBand

Biography

Oreskaband (Japanese: オレスカバンド, Hepburn: Oresukabando; stylized as ORESKABAND) is a Japanese all-female ska band from Sakai. As well as performing regularly within Japan, they have toured in North and South America, as well as Europe.

Origins (2003–2006)

Oreskaband began in 2003 when the members were still in middle school. Ikasu saw Tae playing in a local band and asked her to form a new one with her and some of their other friends. The band initially performed as Oretachi Kasukasu Lawson Ska Band with Cutter Shirts (俺たちカスカスローソンスカバンドウィズカッターシャツ), which was abbreviated to its current form by the time of their first release. They self-produced their first album, Penpal, in 2005 and were signed by Sony Music in 2006 while they were still in high school.

Major label years and international success (2006–2014)

The band received media attention from their appearance in a commercial advertising the popular Japanese snack Pocky. In July 2006, their major debut EP Ore was released and a month later, they appeared at the Fuji Rock Festival attracting 1,000 attendees, a record for a new artist. In March 2007, the band members graduated from high school and toured in the United States appearing in Austin, Los Angeles, and San Francisco as part of the Japan Nite tour. In April 2007, their song, "Tsumasaki" (爪先, Tiptoe), was featured as the 11th ending for the anime Bleach. In May, they released their first full-length album, WAO!!×WAO!!23 May 2007 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 49 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11ピノキオ2:192クーラーソサイエティ1:353爪先3:554花のスカダンス2:075川のぼり3:166アーモンド3:597忘れもの4:158U4:069アスター6:3810Shall we Dance?3:0111さよならデジャヴ4:0812ナイフとフォーク3:3413チャック20:07Disc 21オープニング2「ピノキオ(ペンパルver.)」 〈CLIP〉3オレスカバンド結成4自主制作盤「ペンパル」発売5スプリットCD「PUNCH☆PARTY」発売6『MINAMI WHEEL 2005』EXTRA EDITION出演7初の自主企画イベント「平成サラダ合戦」開催8メンバー紹介インタビュー 初ON AIR9デビューミニアルバム レコーディング開始10グリコポッキーCF「花のポッキートレイン」撮影11グリコポッキーCF「花のポッキートレイン」ON AIR12「花のスカダンス」 〈CLIP〉13SKAの伝説的トロンボーン奏者リコ・ロドリゲスとセッションライブ14大阪・堺駅前ストリートライブ15「ピノキオ」CLIP撮影16メジャーデビューミニアルバム「俺」発売17「ピノキオ」 〈CLIP〉18自主企画イベント「平成サラダ合戦☆☆」開催19「FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL ’06」ROOKIE A GO‐GO ステージ出演20なんと…メンバーの体調不良…ライブ活動休止を発表21やったぁ!!復活ライブ!! 「MINAMI WHEEL 2006」出演22地元・堺でのライブイベント「ROLLING堺〜嗚呼!!この素晴らしき故郷〜」出演231st Maxi Single「アーモンド」発売24「アーモンド」 〈CLIP〉25「ピースキャンペーン」展開!!26RICO再び!!27自主企画イベント「平成サラダ合戦☆3 〜年忘れスペシャル〜」28「COUNT DOWN JAPAN 06/07」出演29両A面シングル「忘れもの/チャック」発売(完全生産限定盤)30「忘れもの」 〈CLIP〉31「チャック」 〈CLIP〉32祝!!メンバー無事、高校卒業!!〜初の海外ライブ公演大成功!! 「We Are Oreskaband Tour ’07」スタート!!33オレスカバンド結成の地、母校での卒業記念ライブ343rd Single「爪先」発売35「爪先」 〈CLIP〉36メンバーメッセージ. They performed at Anime Expo in Long Beach, California in July 2007 and participated in the 2008 Vans Warped Tour. Oreskaband starred in the film Lock and Roll Forever, which was set for a 2008 release in Japan. Despite the involvement of several individuals associated with the High School Musical franchise, including producers Bill Borden and Barry Rosenbush, screenwriter Peter Barsocchini and actor Lucas Grabeel in a starring role, as well as a cameo appearance from Joan Jett, the film's Japanese release never materialised, and following the US premiere it did not resurface until 2013 as a direct-to-DVD release in Scandinavia. The band released their second full-length album, Color×COLOR24 November 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1my beat3:232遊ぼうよ3:093自転車3:314someday3:475街を出るよ3:266アイマイユーミーマイン4:027moRICOism2:388ジェットウェーブ2:429ダンスナンバー8022:5310ORESKA MUSIC3:4111真夜中の欲張り屋3:3912ファンキー太陽3:5713FLYING V.3:5914始まりが続く世界4:32 in 2010, and the single "Jitensha" (自転車, Bicycle×BicycleReleaseSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track13Bicycle1:30) was featured as the 13th ending song of Naruto: Shippuden. In 2013 the band were featured on AKB48 member Mayu Watanabe's fourth solo single, "Rappa Renshūchū". The band's final release on the Sony label would be their 2014 compilation, Oreskaband Best [2003-2013], compiling songs from the band's first decade.

Victor signing and lineup changes (2014–present)

In 2014, Oreskaband signed to Victor Music Arts, the mini album Carry On!×Carry On!10 September 2014 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Carnival2黒い果実3Carry On!4Brand New Day5Getting Higher being the band's first release on the label. Their international activities continued, with a US performance at Otakon in 2015, as well as an appearance on BBC Radio in the UK and the band's first independent US performance at the Gramercy Theater in New York City. In 2015, long-time saxophonist and keyboardist Morico began a hiatus from the band in anticipation of getting married and giving birth; she later announced her official departure in January 2016. Saxophonist ADD served as a support member following Morico's departure, and would become a full member of the band in June 2016, in time to participate in the writing and recording of the band's third full-length studio album, Slogan×Slogan2016 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Slogan [intro]0:362Free Now4:063Nexspot4:234退屈しのぎ4:265Azami Spirit2:276ライフイズビューティフル3:427Heart Waves [interlude]1:438Hands Up Girls3:589Answer3:1210¡Fiebre!3:4611Magic Night4:0112On the Sunny Side of the Street3:1113Music4:33, which was released in November 2016. This configuration of the band's horn section made a guest appearance on The Autocratics' 2017 self-titled album, including the duet "On the Rainy Night", which featured vocals from iCas. The band also made their first European tour in 2017, performing in the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland and at the Rencontres Trans Musicales in France.
In December 2018 it was announced that trumpeter Saki would be taking time off from Oreskaband to pursue a songwriting career, subsequently joining Tokyo-based skacore band Mayson's Party in February 2021. Trumpeter Hisae Ōtomari took her place as a support member from January until October 2019. At the band's Stay Irie, Go Rudy event in October 2019, they announced the new addition of keyboardist CC to their lineup as a full member. This lineup would prove short-lived, as bassist Tomi announced in February 2020 that she would be leaving to pursue other musical endeavors, following a final pair of performances with the band in Tokyo and their hometown of Sakai, Osaka Prefecture scheduled for that April. The COVID-19 pandemic led to the postponement of both concerts until August. Owing to the continued impact of the pandemic, the performances were ultimately livestreamed without an audience present, with Luck Life appearing as the support band for the Tokyo concert, while Gelugugu were scheduled to support Oreskaband at the Sakai concert, but cancelled their appearance due to the pandemic.
Tomi played her final show as a member of Oreskaband on 16 August 2020, and her role was filled in subsequent performances by support member Aki Kawano, with additional support member Natsuka Emi on trumpet from December 2020, bringing the band's onstage lineup to seven members for the first time and ending the trumpet's brief absence from their instrumentation. At a Shinjuku performance on 1 July 2021, the band announced their new full-time bassist, Yume. This lineup, however, would only last for two months, as the band announced on 31 August that CC's two-year tenure with the band had come to an end, with CC and the band citing the prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their ability to coordinate and work as a band throughout much of this period as a key reason, as well as CC's ambitions as a solo artist. In the same announcement, the band also mentioned that they were preparing to release an album, featuring songs written with CC.
Between November 2021 and January 2022, the band released the singles "I'll Be There", "She" and "Stormy", the last of these three releases on 12 January 2022 accompanied by the official announcement of the band's fourth full-length album, titled Bohemia×BOHEMIA2 March 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1THE GUINGUETTE3:062No.93:343SHE3:384I'll Be There3:135うつくしい男3:416Stormy3:517ARCO4:178Wonder Neighbor3:249新・NIPPON狂詩曲3:4310撃・ち・ま・く・れ!3:0411ITOKASHI3:29, which was released on 2 March 2022.
In August 2022, bassist Yume announced that she would be taking time away from the band after being diagnosed with an adjustment disorder. This ultimately culminated in her departure from the band in January 2023. She explained that it would still be some time before she could resume her role in the band, and she did not wish to make fans await her return indefinitely.

Members

iCas - vocals and guitar (2003-, credited as "Ikasu" on releases prior to Hot Number)
Hayami - trombone and MC (2003-, credited as "Leader" on releases prior to "Jitensha")
Tae - drums (2003-, credited as "Tae-san" on releases prior to Color)
ADD - tenor saxophone (2016-)
Former Members

Morico - tenor saxophone and keyboard (2003-2016)
Saki - trumpet (2003-2018)
Tomi - bass and vocals (2003-2020)
CC - keyboard (2019-2021)
Yume - bass (2021-2023)
Support Members

Hisae Ōtomari - trumpet (2019)
Aki Kawano - bass (2020-2021)
Natsuka Emi - trumpet (2020-)
Miru Yamamoto - trumpet (2021)

Singles

''Almond'' (November 1, 2006)
''Wasuremono" / "Chuck'' (March 7, 2007)
''Tsumasaki'' (May 9, 2007)
''Jitensha'' (April 27, 2010)
"NEXSPOT" / "¡Fiebre!" (March 9, 2016)
"Groovin' Work Stylee×Groovin' Work Stylee3 November 2017 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Groovin' Work Stylee3:51" (November 3, 2017)
''Itokashi'' (October 10, 2018)
''Egao no Manma'' (April 17, 2019) (Begin cover)
''I'll Be There'' (November 10, 2021)
''She'' (December 1, 2021)
''Stormy'' (January 12, 2022)
''Wonder Neighbor'' (February 2, 2022)
''Wacha'' (April 19, 2023)
''Rollin' Rollin''' (June 21, 2023)

Albums and EPs

Penpal (ペンパル) (independent) (2005)
Ore (俺) (July 19, 2006)
WAO!! (May 23, 2007)
What a Wonderful World Vol.1 (October 22, 2008)
What a Wonderful World Vol.2 (April 15, 2009)
Color (November 24, 2010)
Hot Number (February 27, 2013)
Oreskaband Best [2003-2013] (February 26, 2014)
Carry On! (Independent) (September 10, 2014)
Slogan (November 23, 2016)
Bohemia (March 2, 2022)

Collaborations

"Rappa Renshūchū" (ラッパ練習中) (July 10, 2013) (Mayu Watanabe featuring Oreskaband)
"SURVIVOR" / "up&down my heart" (July 6, 2022) (Rioka Kanda x Oreskaband)