Supercar

Biography

Supercar (スーパーカー, Sūpākā) was a Japanese rock band active from 1995 to 2005, who made their commercial debut in 1997. Consisting of composer and vocalist Kōji Nakamura (中村弘二 Nakamura Kōji), lyricist and guitarist Junji Ishiwatari (いしわたり淳治 Ishiwatari Junji), bassist Miki Furukawa (フルカワミキ Furukawa Miki), and drummer Kōdai Tazawa (田沢公大 Tazawa Kōdai), Supercar is best known for combining alternative rock with electronic music and has been characterized as having an "almost foundational importance to 21st century Japanese indie rock". Internationally, Supercar is also known for providing much of the soundtrack for the Japanese film Ping Pong, as well as being featured in the anime series Eureka Seven.

History

Hailing from Aomori Prefecture, Supercar was formed in 1995 when bassist Miki Furukawa placed an advertisement in a local magazine seeking fellow musicians. Junji Ishiwatari responded and convinced childhood friend Kōji Nakamura to join as well. Junji and Kōji soon recruited drummer Kōdai Tazawa, an acquaintance from middle school. While still in high school, they began writing songs starting with the singles DRIVE and (Am I) confusing you?
After writing songs and recording demo tapes, the group received a record contract in 1995. By 1997, they had released two singles (cream soda and Lucky) and were working on their first album. In 1998 they released their influential debut album, Three Out Change. Music critic Ian Martin has described it as an "epic indie rock/shoegaze album" and "one of the all-time great Japanese rock albums." Later that year, they went on their first national tour.
Supercar's second album, Jump Up×JUMP UP10 March 1999 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Walk Slowly5:022Sunday People5:203Jump3:564My Girl3:575Wonderful World3:486Love Forever4:117Tonight3:308Skyphone Speaker4:579Low‐down (Live Scene)4:3310Talk Talk6:4011Daydreamer5:40, was released in 1999 shortly after the group members had moved to Tokyo from Aomori. This album was followed by OOKeah!!×OOKeah!!21 August 1999 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1OOKeah!!2:152Sun Rider4:103Jet Bee Town3:454SATORI4:165Flicker3:076Summer Tune4:457Desperado4:178Light Up3:309Dive3:3210MIAMI BEACH2:53 and OOYeah!!, both also released in 1999. With the 2000 album Futurama×Futurama22 November 2000 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Changes4:112PLAYSTAR VISTA5:223Baby Once More4:124White Surf style 5.5:205Star Fall5:536Flava4:157SHIBUYA Morning4:378Easy Way Out4:029Everybody On News3:3710Karma5:4611FAIRWAY4:1612ReSTARTER5:0313A.O.S.A.4:5914New Young City4:5615Blue Subrhyme5:0416I’m Nothing4:18, electronic experimentation took a larger role that would characterize the band's sound for the remainder of their active years. During the summer of 2001, the group performed at both the Fuji Rock Festival and Rock in Japan Festival. The 2002 release Highvision continued the electronic development, and the single Strobolights did not even contain a guitar.
Supercar released its last non-compilation album, Answer×ANSWER25 February 2004 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1FREE HAND4:542JUSTICE BLACK2:543SUNSHINE FAIRYLAND2:434WONDER WORD3:395BGM4:386DISCORD4:067HARMONY2:528RECREATION4:579GOLDEN MASTER KEY5:4010THE WORLD IS NAKED5:1011SIREN8:2512LAST SCENE4:3913TIME5:16 in 2004. Perhaps their most experimental album, Answer contained balance of both rock and electronica. In July of that year, they played at the Fuji Rock Festival for the third and final time.

In February 2005, Supercar broke up following a final concert, released under DVD as Last Live. Later that year, their song "Storywriter" featured in the anime Eureka Seven. Following the breakup, Furukawa and Nakamura have pursued successful solo careers.
Despite the break-up, Supercar released two remix albums named RE:SUPERCAR 1 and RE:SUPERCAR 2 in 2011. The albums are redesigned versions of some of their tracks throughout their career together with never before heard songs. The limited edition of these albums sported a different CD jacket and bonus CD containing some of their untitled tracks and demos.
In 2011, Miki Furukawa and Koji Nakamura formed the band LAMA. They jump-started their formation with their single Spell which was used as an opening theme for the anime "No.6". They also performed the ending theme Fantasy for the anime Un-Go.

Members

Kōji Nakamura (中村 弘二, Nakamura Kōji; born September 28, 1977, in Towada, Aomori) – lead vocals, rhythm guitar & synthesizer; Composer
After a solo career under the name of NYANTORA or iLL, he formed LAMA with Furukawa currently.
Junji Ishiwatari (石渡 淳治, Ishiwatari Junji; born August 21, 1977 in Towada, Aomori) – lead guitar, synthesizer; Lyricist
After the band broke up, he has written lyrics for various musicians and bands or has produced them.
Miki Furukawa (古川 美季, Furukawa Miki; born February 19, 1979, in Hachinohe, Aomori) – bass guitar, synthesizer, vocals
After a solo career under the name of Miki Furukawa (フルカワ ミキ, Furukawa Miki), she formed LAMA with Nakamura currently.
Kōdai Tazawa (田沢 公大, Tazawa Kōdai; born February 27, 1978 in Towada, Aomori) – drums
After the band broke up, he formed aM™[aem], who have had multiple songs feature in Gran Turismo 5 and 6.

Singles

"Cream Soda×cream soda21 September 1997 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1cream soda3:122(Am I) confusing you?4:393Love Song3:47" (September 21, 1997)
"Planet×PLANET1 March 1998 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1PLANET5:242Yes,3:28" (December 1, 1997)
"Lucky×Lucky12 December 1997 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Lucky4:172Hello3:373Right Now2:48" (March 1, 1998)
"Drive×DRIVE21 May 1998 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1DRIVE3:352ALRIGHT3:353HALKROAD3:39" (May 21, 1998)
"Sunday People×Sunday People30 September 1998 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Sunday People5:212Seven Front3:39" (September 21, 1998)
"My Girl×My Girl3 February 1999 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1My Girl4:132Wavement4:29" (February 3, 1999)
"Love Forever×Love Forever12 May 1999 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Love Forever4:112Sleeping Bag3:253Electric Sea14:25" (May 21, 1999)
"Fairway×FAIRWAY2 February 2000 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1FAIRWAY (Radio Edit)4:552FAIRWAY (Carbonemix)5:063FAIRWAY (Battlhythmix)5:144FAIRWAY (White Speed mix)7:27" (February 2, 2000)
"White Surf Style 5" (October 12, 2000)
"Strobolights×Strobolights23 May 2001 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Strobolights3:262Rainbow Rain4:283Free Your Soul4:17" (May 23, 2001)
"Yumegiwa Last Boy×YUMEGIWA LAST BOY21 November 2001 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1YUMEGIWA LAST BOY4:082WAYDO3:303Strobolights (remix)7:19" (November 21, 2001)
"Aoharu Youth×AOHARU YOUTH6 February 2002 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1AOHARU YOUTH5:102UNIVERSE3:303Strobolights (remix)7:19" (February 6, 2002)
"Recreation×RECREATION14 February 2003 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1RECREATION4:502SORATOBI4:123Rou10:31" (February 14, 2003)
"BGM" (November 19, 2003)
"Last Scene×LAST SCENE28 January 2004 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1LAST SCENE4:522ANTENNA3:523SCALE5:02" (January 28, 2004)
"Wonder Word EP×WONDER WORD ep28 April 2004 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1WONDER WORD (single mix)3:402ALIVE4:353VOICE4:084ROLLIN' ROLLIN'3:455FOX, DOGS AND DOVES2:21" (April 28, 2004)

DVDs

High Booster + U.N. VJ Works (November 19, 2002)
P.V.D. (November 20, 2002)
P.V.D. 2 (November 20, 2002)
Last Live Kanzen-ban (LAST LIVE 完全版 Last Live: Complete Edition) (June 29, 2005)
P.V.D. Complete 10th Anniversary Edition (April 4, 2007)