Rie fu

Biography

Rie Funakoshi (Japanese: 舩越 里恵, Hepburn: Funakoshi Rie; born January 11, 1985) better known by her stage name Rie fu (リエ フゥ, Rie Fū), is a Japanese singer-songwriter and musician. She resides in Tokyo but frequently travels to the United Kingdom, where she is known as Rié, to record and promote her work.
Rie fu's songs are often bilingual, since she is fluent in both English and Japanese. Although most of her songs are primarily sung in Japanese, many feature entire verses written in English (such as Life is Like a Boat). Of her songs written entirely in Japanese, several have later been released as English-language versions.

Personal life

Rie fu was born in Tokyo. From 1992 to 1995, she lived in Maryland with her family, including a younger brother who plays a woodwind instrument. It was during this time that she started playing the piano and gained a lot of musical inspiration, from artists such as Sheryl Crow and 1970s pop musicians such as The Carpenters. She cites Carole King, Joni Mitchell, The Carpenters, and Yumi Matsutoya as influences.
After returning to Japan, Rie finished her primary and secondary education in Tokyo at Aoyama Gakuin from 1995 to 2003. In 2007, she graduated from the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design of the University of the Arts London in fine art (having shifted in interest from fashion design and graphic design). Upon graduation, she returned to Tokyo, Japan, and has since resided there full-time. Rie often designs much of her own album and single booklets and features her own paintings in them as well.
She is active in both music and art. Her artwork is published under the Roman transliteration "Rie Funakoshi" and her music under "Rie fu," the abbreviation of her full name.
On November 29, 2013, she announced on her Facebook page that she had married a 'funky British gentleman' (the identity of the man in question has not been revealed), presumably sometime recently during the month. She has 2 sons.

Music career

In 2002, while in high school, Rie fu learned guitar, and almost immediately began coming up with songs and recording them with a small tape recorder. She sent the demo tape off to a record company (Sony) and they signed her to their Palm Beach label.
Her first single, "Rie who!?×Rie Who!?24 March 2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1decay2Beautiful Words3ツキノウエ", featuring the song "decay," was released in March 2004, while she was attending university in London. Later that year, her song "Life Is Like a Boat×Life is Like a Boat23 September 2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Life is Like a Boat5:012Voice3:57" was chosen as the first ending theme for the anime series Bleach, garnering her widespread recognition. In 2005 she released her first full-length album, self-titled, and her song "I Wanna Go To A Place...×I Wanna Go To A Place...26 April 2005 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1I Wanna Go To A Place...5:092They Always Talk About5:513I So Wanted (English version)5:08" was used as the Gundam SEED Destiny third ending theme and released as a single. She participated in a track on m-flo's Beat Space Nine album, and embarked on her first nationwide tour in September of that year.
In 2006 she released her second full-length album, Rose Album×ROSE ALBUM24 March 2006 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1そのままで4:4525minutes3:263Funny Dream3:254I Wanna Go To A Place...5:085Realize4:466Tiny Tiny Melody5:087Conversation4:198They Always Talk About5:519Kiss U Goodbye4:5410Vintage Denim3:5811ROSE4:2212Long Long Way (Album Version)4:2313ねがいごと4:45, and her song "Until I Say×Until I Say19 July 2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Until I Say2Sunshine of My Day3tobira" was used as the theme song for the Japanese release of the 2005 British film Heidi. In 2007 her song "Tsukiakari" was featured as the ending theme to Darker than Black. In July upon graduation from university she returned to Japan to live full-time, and released her third full-length album Tobira Album×Tobira Album21 November 2007 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks15000 マイル (album version)4:252Come To My Door3:583ツキアカリ4:284君が浮かぶよ4:205tobira3:546On It's Way4:027Until I Say5:008SMILE3:439Feel The Same5:0710dreams be3:4711Sunshine of my day (live version)2:5612London4:3513あなたがここにいる理由3:38.
In 2008, her song "Home," used as the theme to the Japanese film Koneko no Namida, was released as a single. In March, she released an album in the UK on a British label called Tired & Lonesome, titled "Who is Rie fu?×Who is Rie fu?3 March 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1London4:342Beautiful Words2:473decay (English version)3:124Life is Like a Boat4:595Shine3:476I Wanna Go to a Place...5:077Negaigoto4:4585000 miles (album version)4:279Tiny Tiny Melody5:0710ROSE4:2011Realize4:4412Sunshine of My Day (live version)2:5713Both Sides Now4:19", a compilation of earlier songs with a previously unreleased cover of Joni Mitchell's song "Both Sides, Now". A Japanese release with additional new tracks was planned, as was a continental European release. Neither materialized and the original UK album went out of print, having failed to establish an overseas presence for Rie fu. The following month she switched from Sony's Palm Beach label to its gr8! records label.
In 2009 she released her fourth full-length album, Urban Romantic×URBAN ROMANTIC8 April 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Something In My Head3:252Sunny Days2:573Hey I'm Calling Up!5:284ビジネス4:055あなたを想えばあふれる涙4:256Romantic4:227drummy4:028She Can't Say No 〜ノーと言えない女〜2:319Money Will Love You (English version)3:3810いつかこの道の先に 〜All The Way〜5:0411PRESENT4:3312SUKI3:2313Romantic (Strings version)3:55. Having contributed vocals to all of the songs on Orange Range head Naoto's solo project delofamilia's second album, eddy, she went on tour with the band. She also joined Yōsui Inoue's commemorative 40th anniversary tour, contributing chorus vocals.
Her album, at Rie sessions×at Rie sessions31 March 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Stay with me 〜恋愛なんてヒマつぶし〜5:262Just Like You2:023いろどって4:074Don't Worry3:505STAR3:046Sunshine Forehead4:117My Start3:038Gilles3:099Laundry3:0210Bright Life3:3711ひとつひとつ4:30, was released on March 31, 2010, and is her first self-produced album. Many of the tracks on the album feature duets with other notable singers, and were recorded at Rie fu's home. As of 2011 she is more heavily involved with delofamilia, with it being described as "A band based around Naoto Hiroyama and Rie fu" on the band's Facebook page.
Her song "Anata ga Koko ni Iru Riyuu" was in the anime D.Gray-man for their fifth closing song.
Her first compilation album, I Can Do Better×I Can Do Better23 November 2011 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1decay3:092Life is Like a Boat5:003I Wanna Go To A Place...5:084ねがいごと4:465Tiny Tiny Melody5:096Until I Say5:027ツキアカリ4:3285000マイル4:299あなたがここにいる理由3:3710Home4:5011Romantic4:2712In The Airplane4:0113PRESENT4:3714ひとつひとつ4:3315For You4:0616For Your Wedding4:29, was released on November 23, 2011.
To celebrate the anniversary of ten years since her debut, Rie undertook a project to produce two consecutive albums titled 'I' and 'O' respectively. The project concept being that the first album 'I' stood for the word 'Inside' and was written from musical inspirations from her years of experiences 'inside' Japan and the Japanese music market. The second album titled 'O' stood for 'Outside' and was written and developed inspired by her developing Asian experiences. Placing the two albums side by side also created the image of the number 10 to mark the occasion and to acknowledge and thank her fans for ten successful years in the industry.

Rié

In May 2016, Rie relocated to the UK launching a new artist name, Rié. Cognizant of differing musical styles in Japan and the UK, Rie chose to continue to release new music in Japan under the artist names of Rie Fu and Rié for the UK respectively. Her reasons for feeling the need to adapt the artist name to suit a different market is explained here.
Rié launched her first three track EP in June 2017, entitled 'Business Trips' it consisted of three new songs sung entirely in English, St Martin, Calling and Business Trips.

European and UK releases

Business Trips EP as Rié
June 20, 2017
St Martin
Calling
Business Trips