Hifana
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese breakbeat
musical duo, composed of KEIZOmachine! (Keizo Fukuda) and Juicy (Jun Miyata). The group formed in 1998, in the Tokyo neighbourhood of Kichijōji
.
Hifana's first album, Fresh Push Breakin (2003) included a music video for the track "Fatbros", for which they won the 2004 Space Shower Music Video Award for "Best CG / Animation". Their second album, Channel H (2005), came with 15 music tracks and 13 music videos, for which the track "Wamono" won the 2005 Japan Media Arts Festival
Excellence Award. In 2008 they released a third album, Connect, which included 8 music tracks and 15 videos segments. Their fourth album, 24H, was released in early 2010, and contained 12 music tracks and 12 music videos.
As Hifana, their albums are released on the ad agency Wieden+Kennedy
’s independent music label, W+K Tokyo Lab. The visuals for their music videos are created by a collaboration of Juicy, +cruz (Eric Cruz, creative director for W+K Tokyo Lab), VJ Gec (a group of audio-visual creators and graphic designers), and Maharo (illustrator).
They frequently collaborate with other musicians and artists, and have curated a series of Zamurai Mix Up parties. In 2004, the Zamurai 5 event was filmed by Space Shower TV and edited into the DVD Zamurai TV (2005), featuring music from Hifana, DJ Kentaro
, Afra
, Tucker, and Gagle. The packaging for the box was designed by Kymgym, a member of VJ Gec.
Hifana have performed at various music festivals, including the Fuji Rock Festival
and Sonarsound in 2004, Sónar
and the New York–Tokyo Music Festival in 2006, and on the main stage of the Transmusicales
festival in 2008.
The group also run their own label called Nampooh, through which they have released two compilation albums of other musicians, Hifana presents Nampooh Cable (2006) and Hifana presents Nampooh Cable 2 (2009).
, cymbals, woodblocks and cowbells. They also spend many hours playing with pairs of asalato, a West African percussion instrument.
Other releases:
Breakbeat
In 1992, a new style called "jungalistic hardcore" emerged, and for many ravers it was too funky to dance to. Josh Lawford of Ravescene prophesied that the breakbeat was "the death-knell of rave" because the ever changing drumbeat patterns of breakbeat music didn't allow for the same zoned out,...
musical duo, composed of KEIZOmachine! (Keizo Fukuda) and Juicy (Jun Miyata). The group formed in 1998, in the Tokyo neighbourhood of Kichijōji
Kichijoji
is a neighborhood in the city of Musashino in Tokyo, Japan. It is centered on the commercial area to the north of its train station and has a youthful, artistic, slightly countercultural reputation...
.
History
Prior to forming as Hifana, the duo were collaborating with Yamatsuka Eye (front man for Boredoms) in a "belly-dancing percussion group" called Tribal Circus, and they released a self-titled album in 2000.Hifana's first album, Fresh Push Breakin (2003) included a music video for the track "Fatbros", for which they won the 2004 Space Shower Music Video Award for "Best CG / Animation". Their second album, Channel H (2005), came with 15 music tracks and 13 music videos, for which the track "Wamono" won the 2005 Japan Media Arts Festival
Japan Media Arts Festival
The Japan Media Arts Festival is an annual festival held by Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs since 1997. The festival for a nominal year was usually held during February or March next year, rather than at the end of the nominal year. For instance, the 2010 Japan Media Arts Festival, where...
Excellence Award. In 2008 they released a third album, Connect, which included 8 music tracks and 15 videos segments. Their fourth album, 24H, was released in early 2010, and contained 12 music tracks and 12 music videos.
As Hifana, their albums are released on the ad agency Wieden+Kennedy
Wieden+Kennedy
Wieden+Kennedy is an independently owned American advertising agency best known for its work for Nike...
’s independent music label, W+K Tokyo Lab. The visuals for their music videos are created by a collaboration of Juicy, +cruz (Eric Cruz, creative director for W+K Tokyo Lab), VJ Gec (a group of audio-visual creators and graphic designers), and Maharo (illustrator).
They frequently collaborate with other musicians and artists, and have curated a series of Zamurai Mix Up parties. In 2004, the Zamurai 5 event was filmed by Space Shower TV and edited into the DVD Zamurai TV (2005), featuring music from Hifana, DJ Kentaro
DJ Kentaro
DJ Kentaro is a hip hop DJ from Japan. He came 3rd in the Technics DMC World DJ Final in 2001 and won it in 2002 at the age of 20. In doing so, he became one of the first ever Asians to win the DMC World DJ Final, receiving the highest score in DMC history in the process.He was signed to Ninja Tune...
, Afra
Afra (beatboxer)
, better known by his stage name of Afra, is a Japanese beatboxer from the Osaka metropolitan area. He formed the beatboxing band Afra & Incredible Beatbox Band in 2005 with Kei and K-Moon...
, Tucker, and Gagle. The packaging for the box was designed by Kymgym, a member of VJ Gec.
Hifana have performed at various music festivals, including 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...
and Sonarsound in 2004, Sónar
Sónar
Sónar is an annual three-day music festival held in Barcelona, Spain. It is described officially as a festival of Advanced Music and Multimedia Art. Music is by far the main aspect of the festival....
and the New York–Tokyo Music Festival in 2006, and on the main stage of the Transmusicales
Transmusicales
Les Rencontres Trans Musicales is a three-day music festival held annually in December in Rennes, Brittany, France.Since its first years, the festival has been renowned for revealing the "next big thing."...
festival in 2008.
The group also run their own label called Nampooh, through which they have released two compilation albums of other musicians, Hifana presents Nampooh Cable (2006) and Hifana presents Nampooh Cable 2 (2009).
Music
Hifana are notable for using a variety of devices and instruments, both in the studio, and during their live performances which they play without pre-recordings, including: turntables, Akai MPC sampler, Roland HandSonic (percussion multi-pad), DJM-909 battle mixer, DJM-800 mixer, and DVJ (DVD/CD) decks which they helped to develop with Pioneer, and a set of drums with timbalesTimbales
Timbales are shallow single-headed drums with metal casing, invented in Cuba. They are shallower in shape than single-headed tom-toms, and usually much higher tuned...
, cymbals, woodblocks and cowbells. They also spend many hours playing with pairs of asalato, a West African percussion instrument.
Discography
Albums:- Fresh Push Breakin', 2003, W+K Tokyo Lab (CD + DVD-V)
- Channel H, 2005, W+K Tokyo Lab/3D (CD + DVD)
- Connect, 2007, W+K Tokyo Lab/EMI (CD + DVD-V)
- 24H, 2010, W+K Tokyo Lab/EMI (CD + DVD)
Other releases:
- Sound Touchable, 2002, Kohma (LP, a battle record)
- Zamurai TV, 2005, 3D System
- Hifana presents Nampooh Cable, 2006, Sony/Columbia (CD compilation of various artists)
- Harvest Dance, 2007, Beat Records (CD maxi singleMaxi singleA maxi single or maxi-single is a music single release with more than the usual two tracks of an a-side song and a b-side song.-The first maxi singles:...
) - Hifana presents Nampooh Cable 2, 2009, EMI Music Japan (CD compilation of various artists)
- Sound Touchable 2, 2010, Ground Riddim Japan (LP, a battle record)
- Zamurai TV 2, 2010, EMI Music Japan
External links
Hifana.com, official site (nampooh)- W+K Tokyo Lab, label