Xaa-Xaa

Xaa-Xaa
OriginOsaka, Japan
Years active2014–present
LabelsTimely
Members
  • Kazuki
  • Haru
  • Reiya
  • An
Past members
  • Roji
Websitexaa-xaa.com

Xaa-Xaa (Japanese: ザアザア, alternately written as XaaXaa) is a Japanese visual kei rock band formed in Osaka in 2014. They are signed with Timely Records. Their current lineup consists of Kazuki on vocals, Haru on guitar, Reiya on bass and An on drums.[1]

They were ranked 10th on visual kei artists by JRock News in 2020.[2]

Career

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The band was formed with Kazuki, Haru and Reiya, but had Roji on drums. They were mostly active around their hometown scene. On December 3, 2015, they performed at the anniversary concert for Osaka Muse venue, announcing the simultaneous release of the single "Shitai Dakedeshi yo?", and a compilation album "Chūdoku Shōjō" on March 23.[3] Roji left the band in August 2017.[4]

The single "Horror" was released on April 22, 2020[5] and, four months later, they announced a new EP called Ai (愛)「」, relesead on September 28.[6] On May 5, 2021, the EP Gogatsubyou (五月病) came out, which had its title song's video released on April.[7] It was the best selling album of the band until that point. In June, they announced their second studio album, the first in four years, called Shippaisaku (失敗作), relseased on October 10.[8]

In 2023, they released three singles: "Kumo no Ito" (蜘蛛の糸) in April, "Hishatai wa Shitai" (被写体は死体) in July, and "Draw" (ドロー) in October. The last one was released in seven versions and was the ending theme for the anime Duel Masters: WIN Duel Academy Edition, it was the first time the band had a song in an anime series.[9][10] Xaa-Xaa performed internationally for the first time at Katsucon, in the United States, in February, 2024.[11]

Influences

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Some of the band's influences are Mucc, hide, X Japan and Kuroyume.[12]

Band members

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  • Kazuki (一葵) – vocals
  • Haru () – guitar
  • Reiya (零夜) – bass
  • An (亞ん) – drums

Former members

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  • Roji (ロ弍) – drums

Discography

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Title Japanese Released on Oricon chart[13]
Chūdoku Shōjō 中毒症状 March 23, 2016
Ame ni Korosareru 雨に殺される May 25, 2016 166
Fukou na Meiro 不幸な迷路 March 27, 2017 90
Minna ga Uta みんながうた October 30, 2019 59
Chuudoku shoujou ~Ni~ 中毒症状~ニ~ December 11, 2019 148
Ai " " 愛「」 September 23, 2020 48
Gogatsubyou" 五月病 May 5, 2021 95

References

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  1. ^ "ザアザア". Tower Records (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  2. ^ NBT (2020-12-30). "Top 15 visual kei and Japanese rock artists 2020". JROCK NEWS. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  3. ^ "ザアザア、2タイトル同時発売&<リリィス記念ツアー>を開催". BARKS (in Japanese). 2015-12-03. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  4. ^ JpopAsia. "Xaa-Xaa Announces Departure of Drummer Roji". JpopAsia. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  5. ^ Midnight (2020-03-09). "Xaa-Xaa conceptualizes "Horror" in 17th single". JROCK NEWS. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  6. ^ "Xaa-Xaa – New single "Ai「」", digest, MV spot, anniversary one-man and new look". Crimson Lotus (in French). 2020-08-05. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  7. ^ Erica (2021-04-05). "XaaXaa packs a punch with album, music video "Gogatsubyou"". JROCK NEWS. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  8. ^ "ヴィジュアル系バンド「ザアザア」が10/6(水)にフルアルバム「失敗作」をリリース! (2021年6月24日)". エキサイトニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  9. ^ Erica (2023-10-23). "XaaXaa plays Russian Roulette in music video "Draw", for TV anime "Duel Masters"". JROCK NEWS. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  10. ^ "ザアザア、初のアニメタイアップとなるニューシングル「ドロー」リリース". BARKS (in Japanese). 2023-09-15. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  11. ^ Astrid (2023-07-15). "XaaXaa holds first US performance at Katsucon 2024". JROCK NEWS. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  12. ^ Midnight (2020-11-04). "Interview: Why XaaXaa members chose to become visual kei musicians". JROCK NEWS. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  13. ^ "Xaa Xaa's albums on Oricon". Oricon (in Japanese).
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