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Podcast: Interview with NYC J-Rock Band UZUHI!

samurai beat radio — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:10:00 GMT

Hey folks, SBR's own Tony Yao recently interviewed the NYC-based J-Rock band, Uzuhi! Listen to the hilarity that ensued during the interview. XD Enjoy the wonderful discussion which involved rice, music, booze, manga, and oh yeah, ONE PIECE!

You can check out Uzuhi at: http://www.myspace.com/uzuhi.

As a reminder, Uzuhi will perform at Spring Fest NY this Saturday, along with one of our favorites, Mai Kawamura! Be sure to catch their "ONEWAY" tour! More information on where they're touring can be found on their site.

For all you New Yorkers, Gosha didn't forget about you guys. The last stop on the ONEWAY tour will be at New York City at Santos Party House on Friday, April 2!!!!! You can purchase tickets here.

Show off your Sweet Lovely Chocolate Smile to Uzuhi all this month (and April too )!!!!!!!

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Ponyo Day at Kinokuniya Bookstore on March 6th!

samurai beat radio — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:03:00 GMT

Love Hayao Miyazaki? Love Studio Ghibli? Loved his latest movie, Ponyo? Then stop on by Ponyo Day at Kinokuniya Bookstore this Saturday, March 6th!

SBR will be having a Hayao Miyazaki-themed quiz show. We will ask a variety of questions pertaining to Ponyo and Miyazaki's other works. The winners will receive a wide variety of prizes, courtesy of Walt Disney Home Entertainment. Contestants who want to participate in the quiz can sign up on that day. We will have a sign-up form ready for you guys.

Misako Rocks! & Hills Learning Center will stop to promote Ghibli in their own unique ways. If that doesn't excite you yet, Roland Kelts, author of the hit book "JAPANAMERICA: How Japanese Pop Culture Invaded The U.S.", will also stop by to share his thoughts on the genius that is Hayao Miyazaki. An interactive discussion entitled "How We Grew Up With Ghibli" will also take place with Megumi as one of the panelists onbroad. Oh yeah, everyone's favorite event: the big raffle will be held too, courtesy of Walt Disney Home Entertainment & New York Anime Festival. :]

Also, Kinokuniya is having a special deal going on right now. If you buy "Ponyo" on Blu-Ray or DVD and either "Kiki's Delivery Service", "Castle in the Sky", or "My Neighbor Totoro", you will get $10 off your total purchase.

So what are you waiting for? If you're a huge Miyazaki fan, please stop by and pay homage to one of the greatest Japanese animators of all time! See you there!

Chatmonchy U.S. Tour Dates Announced!

samurai beat radio — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:13:00 GMT

JAPAN'S CHATMONCHY CONFIRM ADDITIONAL U.S. TOUR DATES & PERFORMANCES IN NY, LA, SF, AUSTIN!
THREE ALBUMS AVAILABLE IN THE U.S. ON MARCH 2!

“Chatmonchy have reached the upper-echelons of the Japan charts with three gritty, emotional, yet vivacious albums.” - The Japan Times

Chatmonchy will be making the following stops during their U.S. tour.

CONFIRMED TOUR DATES

March 19   Austin, TX 　　　     Elysium (SXSW Japan Nite Tour)
March 21   New York, NY 　     Bowery Ballroom (Japan Nite Tour)
March 24   Los Angeles, CA　　　　　Amoeba Music (In-store)
March 26   San Francisco, CA 　　Amoeba Music (In-store)
March 26   San Francisco, CA　　　The Independent (Japan Nite Tour)　
March 27   Los Angeles, CA 　　　　 Viper Room (Japan Nite Tour)

On March 2, 2010, SIN/Sony Music Independent Network willrelease three of the band's full-lengths in a digital only format, including2009's “Kokuhaku”(Confession), “Miminari” (EarRinging), and “Seimeiryoku” (LifeForce).

Chatmonchy goodness ALL THIS MONTH!

New York Int'l Children's Film Festival 2010 Opens this FRIDAY !!

samurai beat radio — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:54:00 GMT

                         OPENS THIS FRIDAY !



Opening Night featuring Summer Wars

                   Other feature films include:

Get your tickets while they last!

To see full schedule and purchase tickets click below:

or call :212-349-0330.

To download PDF of NYICFF 2010 schedule:

http://gkids.tv/pdf/NYICFF_2010_Brochure.pdf

New York Int'l Children's Film Festival (NYICFF) main website:
http://www.gkids.com

Becca's U.S. Debut & National High School Tour!

samurai beat radio — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:58:00 GMT

BECCA’S U.S. DEBUT CD ALIVE!! TO DROP MARCH 2 ON SONY MUSIC INDEPENDENT NETWORKS

BECCA TO EMBARK ON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOUR MARCH – APRIL

SXSW AFTERNOON SHOWCASE ON MARCH 18 AT ANTONE’S

“Becca is too cool for pop rock, but when it comes to real deal rock ’n’ roll she and her band can settle into the groove, with plenty of firepower to spare!” – Jersey Beat

Hailing from Portland, OR Becca has already made a mark on the international music charts and now she is gearing up to do the same in the U.S. as she gets set for the release for her U.S. debut CD ALIVE!! to hit the streets on March 2 on Sony Music Independent Network. Look for Fall and Spring high school tour dates to be announced soon with a stop in Austin at SXSW for an afternoon showcase at Antone’s, summer tour plans in the works.

“Upbeat, kick-your-ass music with poignant lyrics to create an album that truly leaves you energized” – Young Poor and Angry Press

By playing pure and simple rock & roll without making an explicit issue of her gender, 20 year old Becca is eager to bring her original brand of music to the masses, loud and stripped-down, yet filled with overpowering pop-rock hooks. Showing a maturity far beyond her years on songs like “I’m Alive!,” her vow to live life to the fullest in the wake of the premature death of a friend, and “Turn Up the Stereo,” a cautionary tale to her peers about the dead-end offered by non-stop partying. Songs examining personal relationships, such as “Turn to Stone,” “Lose You Now” and “Perfect Me,” all penned by Becca herself.

"Becca is a triple threat; she is cute, very sweet and extremely talented. Most of all, you won't be able to get her songs out of your head once you start listening to them." – Rock On Request

Becca is ready to break the mold of today’s stereotypical female rocker, with the ferocity she delivers her lyrics set to pop infused rock & roll mixed with punk passion and all delivered with a mischievous smile.

Becca rocks - she really does! Becca has a ton of class, style, and rockability.
While she can definitely pull off a pop fused ballad, she can also hit hard when she unleashes a rockin’ anthem.
– All About The Music

You can check out Becca at:
http://www.BeccaOfficial.com
http://www.beccahollcraft.com
http://www.myspace.com/beccachanofficial
Follow her at: http://twitter.com/BeccaUSA

We'll keep you posted on where Becca will perform! Stay tuned!

"Rainbow" Music Video by Mai Kawamura

samurai beat radio — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:13:00 GMT

Hey fans, we want to showcase to you guys the latest music video for Mai Kawamura (who made a splash at the NYC Japan Fair this past summer). This is her new single "RAINBOW", off her newest album, "MAI Life". Enjoy!

Like it? We sure did. :]

You can check out Mai's website at: http://www.maikawamura.com
You can purchase "MAI Life" at: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/maikawamura

6 days until the New York Int'l Film Festival opens !!!

samurai beat radio — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 13:38:00 GMT

6 days left until the New York Int'l Children's Film Festival opens !!

If you haven’t heard of NYICFF, imagine a family friendly version of Cannes, Tribeca Film Festival, and the Oscars all rolled into one. Established in 1997, NYICFF is North America’s largest festival offilm for children and teens and stands at the forefront of a movement to define a new, more provocative and compelling film for kids.

They were the first to premiere: Mamoru Hosoda, The Girl who Leapt Through Time and Hayao Miyazaki's, Ponyo. In 2001, the festival’s main theme was anime, featuring a special on Astro Boy, and many animated films never seen before in the US. For the first time a majority of anime fans had a chance to see, Sailor Moon R the movie, Dragon Ball Z, and several Miyazaki Films on the big screen.

NYICFF has grown since then, featuring film making workshops (if you want to know on how your favorite films are created, these workshops are worth going to), and sneakpreviews of fabulous films year-round.

NYICFF 2010 opens, Feb 26-Mar 21 at theaters around Manhattan, with 100+ films plus gala premieres, retrospectives, and filmmakers’ Q&A, production workshops, receptions, audience voting, and the NYICFF Awards Ceremony.

-------------------------------------

NEW SCREENINGS JUST ADDED:

-- THE SECRET OF KELLS - OSCAR NOMINATED - Fri, Mar 5,3:45pm - IFC Center

-- THE SECRET OF KELLS - OSCAR NOMINATED - Sun, Mar 7,6:55pm - IFC Center

-- SUMMER WARS - US PREMIERE - Sat, Mar 13, 11:00am - IFC Center

-- STELLA - Sat, Mar 13, 8:45pm - Symphony Space

-- KIRIKOU & THE SORCERESS - Sat, Mar 20, 10:30am - IFC Center

---------------------------------------

TICKETS ARE GOING FAST -70% of tickets have been sold.

Click on the image below to purchase before time runs out !

NY Int'l Children's Film Festival main site:

http://www.gkids.com

written by: Sara Barton

Japan R&B Sensation, Shota Shimizu, Performing at NY on March 2nd!

samurai beat radio — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 03:33:00 GMT

Another concert to report for next month: Japan's #1 R&B Sensation, Shota Shimizu, will be back again in NY on March 2nd for a special one night performance at SOBs!

Tuesday March 2nd, 2010
@ SOBs
Gordon Chambers and Friends perform R&B and Soul Classic
Hosted by Lenny Green of 98.7 KISS FM
w/Special Guest including Japan’s #1 R&B Sensation, SHOTA SHIMIZU

SHOTA SHIMIZU (SHOTA) Hailing from Osaka, Japan, Shota Shimizu (SHOTA) is a 20 year-old singer/songwriter with an exceptional talent. Along with studying gospel at a local music school, his fascination with soul music has led him to create his own unique style -- strong yet sensual singing incorporating hip-hop influenced vocal delivery. In 2007, he received much acclaim for his performance on stage at New York’s world famous Apollo Theater and made his debut from Sony Music in following spring. SHOTA also made a successful second New York appearance at Central Park, headlining the annual JAPAN DAY FESTIVAL performing in front of several thousand New Yorkers.

SHOTA’s debut album reached #2 on the album chart in late 2008, and his subsequent singles have been a series of smash hits with over 2 million D/L per title.
In March 2nd, 2010, SHOTA is back to New York City making a special guest appearance at SOBs R&B Showcase as he releases his sophomore album back home.

About Gordon Chambers - The Teaneck, New Jersey native is currently signed to L.A. Reid's prestigious Hitco Music publishing company where has written for over 60 recording artists, including household names Aretha Franklin, Queen Latifah, Usher, Brandy, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan and Marc Anthony.
He is best known for his 1994 Grammy- winning hit "I Apologize" for Anita Baker and his 1995 #1 Grammy-nominated smash "If You Love Me" for the trio Brownstone (which was later featured as the theme song of the film "Living Out Loud").
More recently, the eight-time ASCAP winner penned tunes for superstars The Isley Brothers ("Just Came Here To Chill"), Yolanda Adams ("Someone Watching Over Me"), Patti Labelle & Ron Isley ("Gotta Go Solo"), Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown ("My Love"), R&B crooner Carl Thomas ("My Valentine"), breakthrough soul singer Angie Stone "No More Rain (In This Cloud)" and pop sensation Beyonce ("After All Is Said And Done"). Over the years, his compositions have been performed at the ESSENCE awards, the American Music Awards and the Goodwill Games--as well as six major motion pictures.

Performance Information:

SOBs
204 Varick Street
New York, NY 10014-4809
(212) 243-4940
Tuesday March 2nd, 2010
Doors Open: 7:30pm
Show: 8:30pm
$10/advance; $12/door

You can purchase tickets here.

Chatmonchy Is Coming To America This March!

samurai beat radio — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:24:00 GMT

Successfully performing at the "Nippon Budokan" after their smash hit album "Seimeiryoku", Chatmonchy has already became one of the symbols of the Japanese rock scene. And now, the band had just announced their appearance at the SXSW 2010, one of the biggest US music festival/showcase! They will also be making appearances at New York & San Francisco!

Chatmonchy are three girls from Japan who rock. Playing raw,energy-infused melodic rock music, Eriko (guitar and vocal), Akiko(bass), and Kumiko (drums) have been making a buzz all across Japan since their 2005 majo rlabel debut. Now, with their latest Oricon chart-topping album "Kokuhaku" (Confession), they're ready to infect North American fans with their catchy take on girl-rock power.

Chatmonchy-whose name means absolutely nothing!-burst onto the scene without any label backing in 2004, quickly catching the ear of Sony Music Japan. The next year, Sony's Ki/oon Records released their debut EP, "chatmonchy has come," and the band set off on their first nation-wide tour of Japan in 2006.

Inspiring fans with their feistiness and fire, Chatmonchy released their first full-length album, "Miminari" (Ear Ringing), in July of the same year. The album garnered a Top 10 spot on the national Oricon chart, and the girls were invited to perform at Japan's most important summer festivals, including Summer Sonic, Rock In Japan Festival and the Nano-Mugen Festival.

After the success of their summer festival dates, Eriko, Akiko, and Kumiko did a national tour in the Fall of 2006, then headed back to the studio to finish "Seimeiryoku" (Life Force), the album they had started writing the year before. The album, released in late 2007, hit #2 on the Oricon charts, and Chatmonchy played sold-out shows all around Japan -including a two-night solo concert at the Budokan in the Spring of 2008.

Following the first album, the rock-power girl trio released 4 singles that reached the Oricon Top 10, three that hit the Top 20, and 4 DVDs including music videos and passionate live performance footage. In addition, the single, "Dai Dai," was featured as the theme song on the anime series, "Bleach"- their first step toward connecting to a world-wide audience.

The next step, after adding another couple of DVDs to their catalogue on the home-front, is an attendance at the 2010 SXSW Music Conference on March 19. This will be Chatmonchy's first North American live performance, and the beginning of the next important chapter for these accomplished musicians-these three girls from Japan who rock.

Afterwards, they will perform at New York on March 21, followed by San Francisco on March 26!

Eriko Hashimoto: guitar and vocal
Akiko Fukuoka: bass
Kumiko Takahashi: drums

*And also check out their brand new Facebook & MySpace websites!

http://www.facebook.com/chatmonchy
http://www.myspace.com/chatmonchy

We'll update you guys about the venue & time (for the New York show) chatmonchy will be performing! Stay tuned!

Boom Boom Satellites Video Interview!

samurai beat radio — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:31:00 GMT

For all you Boom Boom Satellites fans out there, we got a special treat for you! We present the video interview with BBS from our studio! Enjoy!

Special thanks to May Young for providing the video!

Recommended Artist: 椿屋四重奏 (Tsubakiya Shijuusou)

samurai beat radio — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 07:18:00 GMT

I've been meaning to put this band up for the longest time, but kept on forgetting.

Meet Tsubakiya Shijuusou aka Tsubakiya Quartette.

From Left to Right: Nagata Takashige (bass), Ryouta Kodera (drums), Nakada Yuuji (guitar/vocals), Yasutaka Takurou (guitar)

The band formed in 2000 in Sendai by the vocalist. After many changes in the line-up, the band began as a trio, with Yasutaka joining as an official member in 2005. This band has 4 albums, 1 mini-album, 1 best-of album, and 3 singles under their belt. Their music style infuses jazz with a mix of old and new school rock and roll. What I love about this band is Nakada's vocals accompanies the melody so well and its rhythms and guitar riffs are quirky and catchy. Their standard 8-beat songs will keep your feet tapping and listening.

Their latest album, "CARNIVAL" on April 2009 and got rave reviews from critics. Their past tour named after the album had sold out tickets immediately as their popularity increases in Japan.

I first heard of this band while browsing for new music on YouTube. I came across a Kai Radio (Kai's old radio show from the GazettE) translated excerpt from his "Recommended Artist" corner and he recommended Tsubakiya's "Lover." The somber love ballad is bittersweet and powerful. I was immediately hooked and went looking for more of their songs. After listening to their entire discography, I was patiently waiting for some of their newer releases to see what kind of surprise they had in store for their fans and then, boom, a single release followed by an album.

"CARNIVAL" is seriously amazing. I love how playful "CRAZY ABOUT YOU" is along with the softer acoustic side of the band in "Boku ni totte no kimi", the funkiness and sexiness in "LOVE CREATURES" and the tricky rhythm changes in "Finale."

You should definitely give them a listen. You won't regret it!

Podcast: Samurai Beat Radio Fan Interviews at Winter Anime Day

samurai beat radio — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:42:00 GMT

Hey everyone, we're back with our podcast interviews from Winter Anime Day at Kinokuniya Bookstore. We did a feature on the visual-kei band Charlotte and showcased one of their MVs, the video message, and a concert clip. SBR interviewed a number of fans about Charlotte and they were really excited about seeing them in the near future when they come to the U.S.! The event overall was a blast with wonderful guests and oh yeah, cosplay karaoke Enjoy the podcast and enjoy some of the photos from our show we took that day!

We asked who was going to do cosplay karaoke.

This was the response. :]

All photos were taken courtesy of Gerardo J. Flores. You can visit his website here.

Thank you guys for coming out to Winter Anime Day!!!!! Hope to see you guys again soon!

Oblivion Island to Premiere at New York Int'l Children's Film Festival (NYICFF) on Saturday February 27 & March 6

samurai beat radio — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:00:00 GMT

Oblivion Island to Premiere at New York Int'l Children's Film Festival (NYICFF)

Oblivion Island is a computer animated feature made by Production I.G. and directed by Shinsuke Sato. It will make its U.S. premiere at the New York International Children's Film Festival. (NYICFF)

Ever wondered where your childhood toys and household items have disappeared too, including your missing left sock? Well, Oblivion Island has the answer. Whether or not you like the animation style, what makes this movie great is its strong story line and character depth which children will love, especially Cotton, a stuffed toy that was brought to life. The story follows a girl named Haruka as she discovers a world where all childhood keepsakes and memorabilia go. There she runs into incredible creatures and experiences a whirlwind of an adventure, and non-stop action.

It is a film not to be missed.

Show times are Saturday, February 27 & March 6

Click here to purchase tickets: http://www.gkids.tv/intheaters.cfm

New York International Children's Film Festival: http://www.gkids.tv/

The Official site of Oblivion Island : http://www.hottarake.jp/index.html

You can check out this in depth review written by our colleague,

Scott VonSchilling from The Anime Almanac:

http://animealmanac.com/2009/11/06/an-exclusive-look-at-oblivion-island/

Echostream This February 12 at Webster Hall!!!!

samurai beat radio — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:40:00 GMT

Hey fans, there's another concert we forgot to tell you about! One of our personal favorite bands (well, one staff member's favorite ), Echostream, will be performing at Webster Hall this Friday, February 12!!!!

Echostream is planning to showcase a new type of sound and they want to give you guys a sneak peek of their new direction. This event is sponsored by The Deli Magazine, a well-known indie rock magazine based in NYC.

Tickets are $10 and the age limit is 19 and over. The show will start at 7:45PM. If you need a special reason to go, the band will be giving away FREE posters of Ryoko for those who come. C'mon, you know you want a poster of her to look at while you go to sleep at night. :]

Echostream is an amazing band to see live, so what are you waiting for?

Information about this event can be here. Echostream's official website is at: http://www.myspace.com/echostream.

Two Awesome Concerts on February 13, 2010!

samurai beat radio — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:06:00 GMT

Hey guys, what's up!? We like to let you know guys that Polysics (one of the artists we featured at Winter Anime Day) will be performing at Gramercy Theatre in NYC this Saturday, February 13!!!! If you enjoyed the music video we showed at Winter Anime Day, then you should go check them out LIVE. Show time is 8:00PM. The age limit for the show is 16 and over. If you want to know more about Polysics, then you can visit: http://www.myspace.com/polysics.

You can purchase tickets at: http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/416497/?c=api-000044-cj-2726396-sid-.

Another concert you can check out that's going on at the same day is "THE NOTORIOUS MSG AT SANTOS PARTY HOUSE".

If you enjoy Chinese rappers singing really funny songs, then this concert is right up your alley. They will be performing with .357 Lover and the Japanese horror-comical band, GELATINE. The show is open for ALL AGES. You can purchase tickets here.

More information about the bands can be found at:
http://www.notoriousmsg.com (Notorious MSG's Official Site)
http://www.357lover.com (.357 Lover's Official Site)
http://www.myspace.com/gelatinenyc (GELATINE's Official Site)

Happy Concert Hopping, folks!

New York Int'l Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF) kicks off its 13th season, tickets on sale NOW!!

samurai beat radio — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:05:00 GMT

New York Int’l Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF)
Tickets are on sale NOW!

Feb 1, 2010 –

The critically acclaimed New York Int’l Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF) kicks off its 13th season Feb 26-March 21, 2010 at six New York locations, with ground-breaking, fun-filled and thought-provoking new works and special events for ages 3-18.
The festival includes 100 new films from around the world with: opening gala, major feature film premieres,special filmmaker presentations, NYICFF’s award-winning short films programs, children’s film production workshops, a celebrity benefit event, a 50-year French animation retrospective, audience voting, and the NYICFF Awards Ceremony.

Opening Night Premiere– NYICFF 2010 opens with the US premiere of Summer Wars, the scintillating new feature from rising Japanese anime star Mamoru Hosoda. The event takes place Friday, Feb 26 at 6:00pm, at the Director’s Guild of America Theater, and includes a Q&A with director Mamoru Hosada and a catered reception

US Premieres Include:

Mai Mai Miracle –
Sumptuously animated film about friendship and the passing of childhood evokes a happy/sad nostalgia for the endless days of summer and is a sensitive portrayal of a young girl at the transition between childhood and adult.

Oblivion Island –
Exquisitely detailed 2D backgrounds combine with modern 3D character designs in a dazzling animated adventure that plays like Alice’s fall through the rabbit hole into a world of topsy-turvy, anime dream-logic.

and much more.

To download PDF of NYICFF 2010 schedule:

http://gkids.tv/pdf/NYICFF_2010_Brochure.pdf

To see full schedule and purchase tickets go to:

http://www.gkids.com or 212-349-0330.

Stay tuned for more coverage on NYICFF from SBR.

Video Message from Charlotte with Subtitles

samurai beat radio — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:33:00 GMT

As another treat, here's the special video message, from Charlotte, we showed at Winter Anime Day (with subtitles), of course.

Charlotte Video Message to America (Subbed)
http://blog.samuraibeatradio.com/2010/01/27/video-message-from-charlotte-with-subtitles.aspx

Charlotte - "ダイアモンドブサイク" (Diamond In The Rough) MV

samurai beat radio — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:12:00 GMT

Hey guys, we hope you enjoyed our show at Winter Anime Day! As we said at Winter Anime Day, here's the music video for
"ダイアモンドブサイク" (Diamond In The Rough) from Charlotte! You won't find this video anywhere else, not even on YouTube! Enjoy!

Charlotte - ダイアモンドブサイク (Diamond In The Rough)
http://blog.samuraibeatradio.com/2010/01/27/charlotte--diamond-in-the-rough-mv.aspx

Mai Kawamura live at The Bitter End

samurai beat radio — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:32:00 GMT

Mai Kawamura live at The Bitter End

December 27, 2009: Sara Barton

Located in the East Village, The Bitter End is well known for giving musicians their big break since 1961. Mai Kawamura’s performance follows those of music legends such as: Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, and Norah Jones (to name a few), who got their first gig here.

Mai electrifies the audience with her phenomenal vocal talents, performing along with Tsubasa Matsuda on piano; Ajia Sato on bass; Richard Davis on guitar; and John “Sully” Sullivan on percussion. As soon as she starts singing she lights up the stage with her positive energy. Hearing her live is an experience of a lifetime.

Mai sang, "Another Day",and several other hits from her new album, MAI Life; released on December 7,2009. As well as the classic, "I used to love", which she wrote 10 years ago. Mai is also talented lyrists. Her lyrics are genuine, it’s easy for the audience to identify with them. They’re upbeat, while remaining true to life. Her songs have the ability to touch the soul and evoke powerful emotions among listeners, the mark of a true artist.

MAI Life, is a pun of "my life", in essence music is Mai’s life. Like all her music, she has put her heart and soul into all her songs. It’s her personal artistic vision to sing about love and to give world hope, which is conveyed eloquently in this album. A great feature about MAI Life is that the songs are both in Japanese and English; providing a variety that listener’s will enjoy;whether you’re a avid J-pop fan or just starting to listen.

It's a tradition at The Bitter End to paint portraits of famous musicians who have played there. We look forward to the day when Mai's portrait will be painted on the wall.

MAI Life, (LUCERORECORD), is available for purchase at:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/maikawamura

More info on Mai Kawamura can be found at:

http://www.maikawamura.com/

To learn more about the The Bitter End check out:

http://www.bitterend.com/

Written by: Sara Barton

Edited by: Mandy Ng

Photo courtesy of: Austin Hansen III

Podcast: Boom Boom Satellites Interview

samurai beat radio — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:16:00 GMT

SBR would like to present Megumi's interview with the Boom Boom Satellites, who recently performed at Santos Party House. They brought the house down at Santos and after the show, they took the time to stop by & have a chat with us. Enjoy!