Captain Funk
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
electronic music producer, club DJ and label impresario, known for a flair in alternating between some abstract experimentation and more pop-oriented sounds.
club scene in 1998 under the alias of Captain Funk, and has since played at most of Japan's major clubs and music festivals, like the Fuji Rock Festival
, as well as overseas including UK, France, Germany, Singapore, Hong Kong.
The origins of Oe's production moniker were remarkably simple. "I used to like Captain America
," he told Simon Bartz, of The Japan Times
, in 1999. "And, in Japan, also Captain Ultra and Captain Tsubasa
- who is a soccer hero in manga comics. I liked their characters, and wanted to characterize myself. I make techno and dance music, but my roots are in funk. There's different genres of funk. Prince has Prince's funk. George Clinton has George's funk. My funk is my funk."
"There're a swath of internationally recognizable (and respected) Japanese producers of electronica at the moment: think people like Ken Ishii, Fumiya Tanaka, Takkyū Ishino
, Hideaki Ishi (a.k.a. DJ Krush), Tatsuya Kanamori (DJ Shufflemaster), Susumu Yokota, Tomoyuki Tanaka (Fantastic Plastic Machine), and Shuji Wada and Heigo Tani (Co-Fusion) - not to mention one Tatsuya Oe, better known as Captain Funk or just plain OE," wrote journalist Andrez Bergen in the Daily Yomiuri newspaper in 2006.
"Captain Funk made his very substantial mark in the latter half of the 1990s - with releases like Bustin' Loose on Sublime Records
subsidiary Reel Musiq - as a leftfield big beat artist sandwiched somewhere between Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim) and Si Begg (Buckfunk 3000), and he's spent the past eight years constantly reinventing himself."
sounds of Norman Cook and his ilk in the latter half of the 1990s.
"It may be a facile and vaguely condescending comparison, but calling Captain Funk the Japanese Fatboy Slim
isn't too far off the mark," suggested journalist Steve McClure for Japan music website Nippop.
"I'm here to make people happy. I'm here to make them dance. That's all I desire. I love parties and I make party music. It's as simple as that," Oe told Bartz back in 1999.
Bartz further reported the Norman Cook connection - referring to Captain Funk's 1998 record Bustin' Loose.
"Lord of Big Beat, Norman Cook (a.k.a Fatboy Slim), sent this fax to Captain Funk's home at Sublime Records after hearing the EP: 'What a fucking insane record. I love it. Can I have two more copies...?'"
A track called "Twist & Shout" in "Bustin' Loose" was featured as a main theme of Japanese film director SABU's "Monday" which won the International Film Critics Association Award in Berlin International Film Festival (2001).
In 2000, Oe released his second album "Songs of the Siren", on which he worked with vocalist Raj Ramayya
, and brought the singer's attention to Yoko Kanno
, who subsequently used Ramayya on the soundtrack for the anime series Wolf's Rain
.
"Her label actually tracked me down after they heard that CD," Ramayya told website Rakuen's Requiem in 2004.
On the strength of Songs of the Siren and his earlier work, Oe performed that year "in mid-July, at the Future Music Festival, Japan's first showcase for electronic-based music," reported Daily Yomiuri newspaper writers Steve Matthews and Sayaka Yakushiji later in 2000.
At the time, Oe told those journalists that "The production of electronic music does involve trial and error, but I use computerized equipment because I can't play guitar." Nevertheless, as of the following album Here and You, Oe actually plays several instruments such as guitar, bass and keyboards. In most of recordings, Oe finishes all steps of the production process including programming, recording, mixing and mastering all by himself.
or Mille Plateaux
might've been quite chuffed to release," Rave Magazine reported five years later,
and with that release Oe changed course to start another solo project, simply known as OE, in which he pursued more innovative musical terrains.
"Captain Funk is my main solo project, and OE is kind of my alter ego; an experimental or more personal side," he explained to Rave in that same article.
After collaborating with Yoshihide Otomo
on the experimental album ONJQ + OE (2003), he promptly released two more long-players: Physical Fiction (as Tatsuya Oe) and Director's Cut (as OE).
The following year he collaborated with Yoshihide Otomo
's New Jazz Quintet to produce the improvisation piece ONJQ + OE (2003), and in 2004 he released Director's Cut (as just plain OE), mixing and matching old skool vocoder riffs with some innovative studio tinkering.
, as Captain Funk, Oe launched his own company, Model Electronic Inc., which he manages. The company focuses on music production, sound design and label/publishing management to provide cutting edge music internationally and in one-stop, not only to general listeners but also to advertising, films, TV and video game industries.
In 2007 Oe released two new Captain Funk albums, titled "HEAVY METAL" and "HEAVY MELLOW", through Model Electronic. In these albums Oe found a way of fusing together the early Captain Funk’s uplifting vibes and his songwriting skills acquired through OE era.
In 2008 his company Model Electronic Inc launched a new online shop called "Club Model Electronic". “It's a membership based company/label's "direct shop" to deliver our sounds & exclusive info to listeners, especially in the areas where our products have been hardly purchasable.”
While continuing collaboration and remix work for other artists such as Dune, Radiopilot and Ami Suzuki, he released Captain Funk's album "SUNSHINE" (in Japan, August 2009. Worldwide, October 2010), which includes "Weekend (kissing, touching, tasting, loving)" feat. Adnan Kurtov and "Piece of you" feat. Meri Neeser.
In November 2010, "Piece of you" was used and featured by Forever 21
TV for their promotion video, which was aired in movie theaters as well as in Forever 21’s 400+ stores in the United States.
, Chic
, Serge Gainsbourg
, The Supremes
, Ron Sexsmith
, Fantastic Plastic Machine, Puffy
, Anna Tsuchiya
, Ken Ishii
, Denki Groove
, and Tommy February 6
. J-Pop World website (the United States) called him "Remix Wizard".
, Shiseido
, Uniqlo
, Canon, Mitsubishi Motors
, Konami
, Sega
, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
etc. Panasonic
Viera’s global branding website "Experience Color", in which Oe was responsible for composition and sound design, won "The Finalist Award 2007" in New York Festivals as well as the "Silver Prize" in Tokyo Interactive Ad Awards 2007.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
electronic music producer, club DJ and label impresario, known for a flair in alternating between some abstract experimentation and more pop-oriented sounds.
Career
Tatsuya Oe started full-fledged music composition in 1996. Soon after that, he released his debut 12 inches from Italian techno label called ACV. With “Encounter with…” album (’98), Oe launched himself on the TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
club scene in 1998 under the alias of Captain Funk, and has since played at most of Japan's major clubs and music festivals, like the Fuji Rock Festival
Fuji Rock Festival
Fuji Rock Festival is an annual rock festival held in Naeba Ski Resort, in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The 3 day event, organized by Smash Japan, features more than 200 Japanese and international musicians, making it the largest outdoor music event in Japan...
, as well as overseas including UK, France, Germany, Singapore, Hong Kong.
The origins of Oe's production moniker were remarkably simple. "I used to like Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
," he told Simon Bartz, of The Japan Times
The Japan Times
The Japan Times is an English language newspaper published in Japan. Unlike its competitors, the Daily Yomiuri and the International Herald Tribune/Asahi Shimbun, it is not affiliated with a Japanese language media organization...
, in 1999. "And, in Japan, also Captain Ultra and Captain Tsubasa
Captain Tsubasa
, also known as Flash Kicker, is a popular long running Japanese manga, animation, and video game series, originally created by Yōichi Takahashi in 1981...
- who is a soccer hero in manga comics. I liked their characters, and wanted to characterize myself. I make techno and dance music, but my roots are in funk. There's different genres of funk. Prince has Prince's funk. George Clinton has George's funk. My funk is my funk."
"There're a swath of internationally recognizable (and respected) Japanese producers of electronica at the moment: think people like Ken Ishii, Fumiya Tanaka, Takkyū Ishino
Takkyu Ishino
, born December 26, 1967 in Shizuoka, Japan, is a Japanese composer and music producer. He is a member of the technopop group Denki Groove.- Singles :* anna - letmein letmeout （1999）* Stereo Nights （2001）* Takbam （2001）...
, Hideaki Ishi (a.k.a. DJ Krush), Tatsuya Kanamori (DJ Shufflemaster), Susumu Yokota, Tomoyuki Tanaka (Fantastic Plastic Machine), and Shuji Wada and Heigo Tani (Co-Fusion) - not to mention one Tatsuya Oe, better known as Captain Funk or just plain OE," wrote journalist Andrez Bergen in the Daily Yomiuri newspaper in 2006.
"Captain Funk made his very substantial mark in the latter half of the 1990s - with releases like Bustin' Loose on Sublime Records
Sublime Records
Sublime Records has been the name of several record companies:*Sub•Lime Records, a US-based Christian label*Sublime Records *Sublime Records , a UK based dance and DUB label *SUBLime Recordings, a UK based Drum & Bass label...
subsidiary Reel Musiq - as a leftfield big beat artist sandwiched somewhere between Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim) and Si Begg (Buckfunk 3000), and he's spent the past eight years constantly reinventing himself."
Big Beat legacy
One of Oe's resounding early comparisons was his link with the big beatBig beat
Big beat is a term employed since the mid-1990s by the British music press to describe much of the music by artists such as The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, The Crystal Method, and Propellerheads typically driven by heavy breakbeats and synthesizer-generated loops and patterns in...
sounds of Norman Cook and his ilk in the latter half of the 1990s.
"It may be a facile and vaguely condescending comparison, but calling Captain Funk the Japanese Fatboy Slim
Fatboy Slim
Norman Quentin Cook better known by his former stage name Fatboy Slim, is a British DJ, electronic dance music musician, and record producer. He is a pioneer of the big beat genre that achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s...
isn't too far off the mark," suggested journalist Steve McClure for Japan music website Nippop.
"I'm here to make people happy. I'm here to make them dance. That's all I desire. I love parties and I make party music. It's as simple as that," Oe told Bartz back in 1999.
Bartz further reported the Norman Cook connection - referring to Captain Funk's 1998 record Bustin' Loose.
"Lord of Big Beat, Norman Cook (a.k.a Fatboy Slim), sent this fax to Captain Funk's home at Sublime Records after hearing the EP: 'What a fucking insane record. I love it. Can I have two more copies...?'"
A track called "Twist & Shout" in "Bustin' Loose" was featured as a main theme of Japanese film director SABU's "Monday" which won the International Film Critics Association Award in Berlin International Film Festival (2001).
In 2000, Oe released his second album "Songs of the Siren", on which he worked with vocalist Raj Ramayya
Raj Ramayya
Raj Ramayya is a Session Singer/Composer and part of the duo Beautiful Losers with guitarist Brett Boyd. Ramayya was born in Saskatchewan, and is of Indian heritage...
, and brought the singer's attention to Yoko Kanno
Yoko Kanno
is a composer, arranger and musician best known for her work on the soundtracks for many games, anime films, TV series, live-action movies, and advertisements...
, who subsequently used Ramayya on the soundtrack for the anime series Wolf's Rain
Wolf's Rain
is an anime series created by writer and story editor Keiko Nobumoto and produced by Bones Studio. The series was directed by Tensai Okamura and featured character designs by Toshihiro Kawamoto with a soundtrack produced and arranged by Yoko Kanno. It focuses on the journey of four lone wolves...
.
"Her label actually tracked me down after they heard that CD," Ramayya told website Rakuen's Requiem in 2004.
On the strength of Songs of the Siren and his earlier work, Oe performed that year "in mid-July, at the Future Music Festival, Japan's first showcase for electronic-based music," reported Daily Yomiuri newspaper writers Steve Matthews and Sayaka Yakushiji later in 2000.
At the time, Oe told those journalists that "The production of electronic music does involve trial and error, but I use computerized equipment because I can't play guitar." Nevertheless, as of the following album Here and You, Oe actually plays several instruments such as guitar, bass and keyboards. In most of recordings, Oe finishes all steps of the production process including programming, recording, mixing and mastering all by himself.
Experimental music
With "Here and You" (2002), "Oe assembled a pop album fused with sneaky electronica that a more subversive label like Warp RecordsWarp Records
Warp, commonly referred to as Warp Records, is a pioneering independent British record label, founded in Sheffield in 1989, notable for discovering some of the more enduring artists in electronic music....
or Mille Plateaux
Mille Plateaux
Mille Plateaux is an influential electronica record label founded 1993 by Achim Szepanski in Frankfurt, Germany. It is known for mostly releasing minimal techno, glitch music and other experimental electronic music.-History:...
might've been quite chuffed to release," Rave Magazine reported five years later,
and with that release Oe changed course to start another solo project, simply known as OE, in which he pursued more innovative musical terrains.
"Captain Funk is my main solo project, and OE is kind of my alter ego; an experimental or more personal side," he explained to Rave in that same article.
After collaborating with Yoshihide Otomo
Yoshihide Otomo
is a Japanese composer and multi-instrumentalist.He first came to international prominence in the 1990s as the leader of the noise rock group Ground Zero, and has since worked in a variety of contexts, ranging from free improvisation to noise, jazz, avant-garde and contemporary classical...
on the experimental album ONJQ + OE (2003), he promptly released two more long-players: Physical Fiction (as Tatsuya Oe) and Director's Cut (as OE).
The following year he collaborated with Yoshihide Otomo
Yoshihide Otomo
is a Japanese composer and multi-instrumentalist.He first came to international prominence in the 1990s as the leader of the noise rock group Ground Zero, and has since worked in a variety of contexts, ranging from free improvisation to noise, jazz, avant-garde and contemporary classical...
's New Jazz Quintet to produce the improvisation piece ONJQ + OE (2003), and in 2004 he released Director's Cut (as just plain OE), mixing and matching old skool vocoder riffs with some innovative studio tinkering.
Current
After touring Japan in 2005 and 2006 with Space CowboySpace Cowboy (music)
Nick Dresti , better known by his stage name Space Cowboy, is a DJ and twice Grammy Award nominated producer, who was born in Paris and raised in England.-Biography:...
, as Captain Funk, Oe launched his own company, Model Electronic Inc., which he manages. The company focuses on music production, sound design and label/publishing management to provide cutting edge music internationally and in one-stop, not only to general listeners but also to advertising, films, TV and video game industries.
In 2007 Oe released two new Captain Funk albums, titled "HEAVY METAL" and "HEAVY MELLOW", through Model Electronic. In these albums Oe found a way of fusing together the early Captain Funk’s uplifting vibes and his songwriting skills acquired through OE era.
In 2008 his company Model Electronic Inc launched a new online shop called "Club Model Electronic". “It's a membership based company/label's "direct shop" to deliver our sounds & exclusive info to listeners, especially in the areas where our products have been hardly purchasable.”
While continuing collaboration and remix work for other artists such as Dune, Radiopilot and Ami Suzuki, he released Captain Funk's album "SUNSHINE" (in Japan, August 2009. Worldwide, October 2010), which includes "Weekend (kissing, touching, tasting, loving)" feat. Adnan Kurtov and "Piece of you" feat. Meri Neeser.
In November 2010, "Piece of you" was used and featured by Forever 21
Forever 21
Forever 21 is an American chain of clothing retailers with branches in major cities in The United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East that offers fashion and accessories for young women and men....
TV for their promotion video, which was aired in movie theaters as well as in Forever 21’s 400+ stores in the United States.
Remix/Collaboration
While Oe has released several successful original albums, he has remixed and collaborated with more than 200 musicians, including James BrownJames Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
, Chic
Chic (band)
Chic was an African American disco and R&B band that was organized during 1976 by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards. It is known best for its commercially successful disco songs, including "Dance, Dance, Dance " , "Everybody Dance" , "Le Freak" , "I Want Your Love" , "Good Times"...
, Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg, born Lucien Ginsburg was a French singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's extremely varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorize...
, The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
, Ron Sexsmith
Ron Sexsmith
Ronald Eldon "Ron" Sexsmith is a Canadian singer-songwriter from St. Catharines, Ontario, currently based in Toronto. He started his own band when he was fourteen years old, and released the first recordings of his own material seven years later, in 1985...
, Fantastic Plastic Machine, Puffy
Puffy AmiYumi
or Puffy AmiYumi is a Japanese rock duo that is currently signed with Sony Music Japan. The group continues to go by the moniker of PUFFY in Japan, but in order to avoid legal naming conflicts with Sean Combs, it has adopted the name Puffy AmiYumi outside of Japan...
, Anna Tsuchiya
Anna Tsuchiya
is a Japanese singer, lyricist, actress and semi-retired model.Tsuchiya was born to a Japanese mother and an American father of Polish-Irish descent from Buffalo, New York. In her earliest years, she spoke English and Japanese...
, Ken Ishii
Ken Ishii
is a Japanese techno DJ and producer from Sapporo. He graduated from Hitotsubashi University. He has released work under his own name as well as under the pseudonyms: FLR, Flare, UTU, Yoga, and Rising Sun....
, Denki Groove
Denki Groove
is a Japanese technopop group influenced by YMO and Kraftwerk, founded in 1989. It is a part of Sony Music Japan's Ki/oon Records sublabel. Current members are Fumitoshi Ishino and Masanori Taki...
, and Tommy February 6
Tomoko Kawase
Tomoko Kawase is a Japanese female singer. Tomoko is the lead vocalist of the rock/pop group The Brilliant Green, and as a solo artist she has released music under the alter-ego pseudonyms Tommy february6 and later as Tommy heavenly6.-1995-2002: The Brilliant Green:In 1995, after bassist Shunsaku...
. J-Pop World website (the United States) called him "Remix Wizard".
Music Production for Corporate Branding
Oe has produced a large amount of music and sound design for advertising and corporate branding films such as Sony EricssonSony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB is a joint venture established on October 1, 2001 by the Japanese consumer electronics company Sony Corporation and the Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson to manufacture mobile phones....
, Shiseido
Shiseido
is a major Japanese hair care and cosmetics producer. It is the oldest cosmetics company in the world and the fourth largest cosmetics company in the world.-History:...
, Uniqlo
UNIQLO
is a Japanese casual wear designer, manufacturer and retailer.The company was originally a division of Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.. On November 1, 2005, it was restructured as a separate wholly owned subsidiary called Uniqlo Co., Ltd. , which is listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock...
, Canon, Mitsubishi Motors
Mitsubishi Motors
is a multinational automaker headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. In 2009 it was the fifth-largest Japan-based automaker and the 17th-largest in the world measured by production...
, Konami
Konami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
, Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa is a museum of contemporary art located in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.It was designed by Japanese architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of the architect office SANAA in 2004...
etc. Panasonic
Panasonic
Panasonic is an international brand name for Japanese electric products manufacturer Panasonic Corporation, which was formerly known as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd...
Viera’s global branding website "Experience Color", in which Oe was responsible for composition and sound design, won "The Finalist Award 2007" in New York Festivals as well as the "Silver Prize" in Tokyo Interactive Ad Awards 2007.