I've Sound
Encyclopedia
I've Sound, or simply called , is a Japan
ese techno
/trance music
production group based in Sapporo, Hokkaidō
, Japan
. Led by Kazuya Takase, it features the talents of seasoned "sound creators" and many different female vocalists, known as to their fans.
They have created the theme songs for many Japanese adult games
, most famously the opening "Tori no Uta
" to Key
's popular adult visual novel and anime Air. More recently, they have been creating the theme songs to anime series. Among anime fans, I've Sound is well known for providing the theme songs to such series as Black Lagoon
, the Please! franchise (Please Teacher!
and Please Twins!
), the Shakugan no Shana
series, Starship Operators
, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
, the Hayate the Combat Butler
series, Nanatsuiro Drops
, and Toaru Majutsu no Index.
and adult game brands based in Hokkaidō. They also made two tracks for the Dancemania
series, If You Were Here (by Jennifer) and Is This The Way You Kill A Love (by Gina), both featured in Dance Dance Revolution
.
They first assumed the name "I've" when they were going to work on the adult game Lips: egao no yukue in the autumn of 1998. Production for the game was later cancelled, but this, however, sparked their ties with Visual Art's
, a computer game and software maker that most of I've's subsequent works are released under.
The first game I've officially produced music for was Hakidame: Trash, produced by Zero (a brand of Visual Art's) and released in February 1999, where they were credited as I've Sound. The game featured the songs Fuck Me and Utsukushiku Ikitai.
I've's big break came when the popular adult PC game Kanon
by Key
was released in 1999, featuring the theme songs Last Regrets and Kaze no Tadoritsuku Basho, both arranged by I've. This gained them a burst of fame among eroge
gamers. These songs were used later as Inside soundtracks at Kanon (2002 Version) and as opening and ending credits (2006 remake).
They released their first compilation album, Regret in December 1999.
In 2002, I've was hired to produce the music for their first anime series, Please Teacher!
, which helped to further spread their name among otaku
, and exposed them internationally.
In April 2004, Kotoko, one of I've's vocalists who worked on Please Teacher, made her major debut with the album Hane. This was followed by Mami Kawada's major debut (Radiance single) in February 2005, and Eiko Shimamiya's (Ulysses album) the same year in April. Mell and sound creator C.G mix made their major releases in 2006 (Red Fraction single and In Your Life album respectively). Most recently, Kaori Utatsuki also joined the ranks in August 2007 with the single Shining Stars Bless.
I've held their first concert on October 15, 2005 at Nippon Budokan
.
In the weeks before the concert approached they launched a web radio I've Talk Jam, hosted by SHIHO with Kazuya Takase and Tomoyuki Nakazawa as regulars, and had a different I've vocalist appear as guest for each show. It ended after nine shows, shortly before the Budokan concert took place.
I've Sound provided their first live-action theme for the movie Real Onigokko, with Kotoko singing the theme song of the same name. Another live-action tie-in song was for the live-action movie of the anime Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
which was released in 2008 with Eiko Shimamiya
performing the intro and outro themes (Wheel of Fortune (Unmei no Wa) and Diorama respectively).
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
/trance music
Trance music
Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that developed in the 1990s.:251 It is generally characterized by a tempo of between 125 and 150 bpm,:252 repeating melodic synthesizer phrases, and a musical form that builds up and breaks down throughout a track...
production group based in Sapporo, Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Led by Kazuya Takase, it features the talents of seasoned "sound creators" and many different female vocalists, known as to their fans.
They have created the theme songs for many Japanese adult games
Eroge
An or Ero-ga is a Japanese video or computer game that features erotic content, usually in the form of anime-style artwork. Eroge originated from galge, but unlike galge, they feature erotic/pornographic content.-History:...
, most famously the opening "Tori no Uta
Tori no Uta
is a Japanese trance song sung by Lia, written by Jun Maeda, composed by Shinji Orito, and arranged by Kazuya Takase. The song was recorded at Paramount Studio by the software company Key through their record label Key Sounds Label for use as the opening theme of Key's 2000 visual novel Air...
" to Key
Key (company)
Key is a Japanese visual novel studio which formed on July 21, 1998 as a brand under the publisher Visual Art's and is located in Kita, Osaka, Japan. Key released their debut visual novel Kanon in June 1999, which combined an elaborate storyline, an up-to-date anime-style drawing style, and a...
's popular adult visual novel and anime Air. More recently, they have been creating the theme songs to anime series. Among anime fans, I've Sound is well known for providing the theme songs to such series as Black Lagoon
Black Lagoon
is a manga series written and illustrated by Rei Hiroe, and published in Shogakukan's Sunday GX since 2002. An animated television series based on the manga aired in Japan from April 8, 2006, to June 24, 2006, totaling twelve episodes. A second season, subtitled "The Second Barrage", ran for twelve...
, the Please! franchise (Please Teacher!
Please Teacher!
, is a Japanese anime series, directed by Yasunori Ide and written by Yōsuke Kuroda, and produced by Bandai Visual, which was adapted into a manga and light novel, centering around a group of friends and the odd things that happen to them after they get a new teacher.The Please Teacher! anime...
and Please Twins!
Please Twins!
, is an anime television series, scripted by Yousuke Kuroda and produced by Bandai Visual, which was later adapted into a light novel and one-volume manga series. It centers on a family of three teenagers in high school all living together who are unsure which two of them are related to each other...
), the Shakugan no Shana
Shakugan no Shana
, also known simply as Shana, is a Japanese light novel series written by Yashichiro Takahashi, with illustrations by Noizi Ito. The series includes 25 novels released between November 2002 and October 2011 published by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko imprint...
series, Starship Operators
Starship Operators
is an anime series based upon science fiction novels written by Ryo Mizuno. The series, animated by J.C.Staff, was aired on TV Tokyo in Japan. Starship Operators is licensed in English in the United States by Geneon....
, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
, known simply as When They Cry for the North American release of the anime adaptation, is a Japanese murder mystery dōjin soft sound novel series produced by 07th Expansion. The games are built on the NScripter game engine and are playable on Microsoft Windows PCs...
, the Hayate the Combat Butler
Hayate the Combat Butler
is a Japanese manga series, written and illustrated by Kenjiro Hata, about a boy who starts a new job as a butler and the events he experiences with his employer. Shogakukan have released 29 volumes in Japan. The English edition of the series has been licensed by Viz Media for distribution in North...
series, Nanatsuiro Drops
Nanatsuiro Drops
is a Japanese visual novel developed by UNiSONSHIFT and released on April 21, 2006. The first version, available on the PC, contains adult-only content. A version ported to the PlayStation 2 by MediaWorks was released without this content on September 20, 2007...
, and Toaru Majutsu no Index.
History
I've has been active since 1998, although at the time they were not known as "I've". They are formed by members of the six-member Takase Fight. During this time they produced music for tsushin karaokeKaraoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
and adult game brands based in Hokkaidō. They also made two tracks for the Dancemania
Dancemania
Dancemania is a series of remix compilation albums by i-DANCE. The series deals primarily with dance music, especially eurodance. Despite its tracks have been made by various musicians from all over the world mainly from the European continent, the albums have been released exclusively in Japan.The...
series, If You Were Here (by Jennifer) and Is This The Way You Kill A Love (by Gina), both featured in Dance Dance Revolution
Dance Dance Revolution
Dance Dance Revolution, abbreviated DDR, and previously known as Dancing Stage in Europe and Australasia, is a music video game series produced by Konami. Introduced in Japan in 1998 as part of the Bemani series, and released in North America and Europe in 1999, Dance Dance Revolution is the...
.
They first assumed the name "I've" when they were going to work on the adult game Lips: egao no yukue in the autumn of 1998. Production for the game was later cancelled, but this, however, sparked their ties with Visual Art's
Visual Art's
, formally , is a Japanese publishing company specializing in the publishing and distribution of visual novels for a large list of game developers. Visual Art's has developed the game engines their brands currently use, including the current engine, called Siglus, and older engines RealLive and...
, a computer game and software maker that most of I've's subsequent works are released under.
The first game I've officially produced music for was Hakidame: Trash, produced by Zero (a brand of Visual Art's) and released in February 1999, where they were credited as I've Sound. The game featured the songs Fuck Me and Utsukushiku Ikitai.
I've's big break came when the popular adult PC game Kanon
Kanon
is a Japanese visual novel developed by Key and originally released as an adult game on June 4, 1999, playable on a Microsoft Windows PC. An all ages version for the PC was released in January 2000, and was later ported to the Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable...
by Key
Key (company)
Key is a Japanese visual novel studio which formed on July 21, 1998 as a brand under the publisher Visual Art's and is located in Kita, Osaka, Japan. Key released their debut visual novel Kanon in June 1999, which combined an elaborate storyline, an up-to-date anime-style drawing style, and a...
was released in 1999, featuring the theme songs Last Regrets and Kaze no Tadoritsuku Basho, both arranged by I've. This gained them a burst of fame among eroge
Eroge
An or Ero-ga is a Japanese video or computer game that features erotic content, usually in the form of anime-style artwork. Eroge originated from galge, but unlike galge, they feature erotic/pornographic content.-History:...
gamers. These songs were used later as Inside soundtracks at Kanon (2002 Version) and as opening and ending credits (2006 remake).
They released their first compilation album, Regret in December 1999.
In 2002, I've was hired to produce the music for their first anime series, Please Teacher!
Please Teacher!
, is a Japanese anime series, directed by Yasunori Ide and written by Yōsuke Kuroda, and produced by Bandai Visual, which was adapted into a manga and light novel, centering around a group of friends and the odd things that happen to them after they get a new teacher.The Please Teacher! anime...
, which helped to further spread their name among otaku
Otaku
is a Japanese term used to refer to people with obsessive interests, particularly anime, manga or video games.- Etymology :Otaku is derived from a Japanese term for another's house or family , which is also used as an honorific second-person pronoun...
, and exposed them internationally.
In April 2004, Kotoko, one of I've's vocalists who worked on Please Teacher, made her major debut with the album Hane. This was followed by Mami Kawada's major debut (Radiance single) in February 2005, and Eiko Shimamiya's (Ulysses album) the same year in April. Mell and sound creator C.G mix made their major releases in 2006 (Red Fraction single and In Your Life album respectively). Most recently, Kaori Utatsuki also joined the ranks in August 2007 with the single Shining Stars Bless.
I've held their first concert on October 15, 2005 at Nippon Budokan
Nippon Budokan
The , often shortened to simply Budokan, is an indoor arena in central Tokyo, Japan.This is the location where many "Live at the Budokan" albums were recorded...
.
In the weeks before the concert approached they launched a web radio I've Talk Jam, hosted by SHIHO with Kazuya Takase and Tomoyuki Nakazawa as regulars, and had a different I've vocalist appear as guest for each show. It ended after nine shows, shortly before the Budokan concert took place.
I've Sound provided their first live-action theme for the movie Real Onigokko, with Kotoko singing the theme song of the same name. Another live-action tie-in song was for the live-action movie of the anime Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
, known simply as When They Cry for the North American release of the anime adaptation, is a Japanese murder mystery dōjin soft sound novel series produced by 07th Expansion. The games are built on the NScripter game engine and are playable on Microsoft Windows PCs...
which was released in 2008 with Eiko Shimamiya
Eiko Shimamiya
, born April 20, is a female J-pop singer and member of the production group I've Sound since their first album. She is best known for singing the opening themes of the anime series Higurashi no Naku Koro ni. Eiko also handles a school called Shimamiya Size in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan...
performing the intro and outro themes (Wheel of Fortune (Unmei no Wa) and Diorama respectively).
Sound creators
- C.G mixC.G mixis one of the main composers of the Japanese music production I've Sound.The meaning of his name is "Communication Groove mix". C.G mix has already composed many songs for visual novel games and recently, anime theme songs for the I've Sound singers. Also a singer, he also performs songs for visual...
- Kazuya Takase (高瀬一矢) - the founder of I've Sound
- Maiko Iuchi (井内舞子) - also known as Miu Uetsu (羽越実有)
- Tomoyuki Nakazawa (中沢伴行)
Current artists
- C.G mixC.G mixis one of the main composers of the Japanese music production I've Sound.The meaning of his name is "Communication Groove mix". C.G mix has already composed many songs for visual novel games and recently, anime theme songs for the I've Sound singers. Also a singer, he also performs songs for visual...
- Kaori UtatsukiKaori Utatsukiis a J-pop singer and a member of the I've Sound based on Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. She has performed several songs for eroge together with the other I've Sound members...
(詩月カオリ) - Mami KawadaMami Kawadais a J-pop singer who is currently signed to Geneon Entertainment Inc. She is also a member of the I've Sound who performs soundtracks for some eroge. Mami was usually paired up with co-I've member Kotoko when making soundtracks for anime...
(川田まみ) - MellMellMell is a female Japanese singer from Sapporo, Japan. She is a senior vocalist of I've Sound, and one of the main vocalists. She has released six singles and one solo album...
(める) - Airi Kirishima (桐島愛里)
- Nami Maisaki (舞崎なみ)
- Rin Asami (朝見琳)
Former and guest artists
- Aki (also known as Y.Aki)
- AyanaAyanais a Japanese singer-songwriter. She debuted in 1999 as the singer of the opening and ending themes to Key's visual novel Kanon. In 2000, she formed the two-member group Blue Velvet with Shūichi Aoki. She later became a guest vocalist for I've Sound and appeared at the Nippon Budokan on October 15,...
(彩菜) - Asame Miyazaki (宮崎麻芽) - Kotoko under a different name.
- Asuka Katagiri (片桐明日香) - Aki under a different name.
- Atsuhiko Nakatsubo (中坪淳彦), better known as FISH TONE
- Chiyo
- Eiko ShimamiyaEiko Shimamiya, born April 20, is a female J-pop singer and member of the production group I've Sound since their first album. She is best known for singing the opening themes of the anime series Higurashi no Naku Koro ni. Eiko also handles a school called Shimamiya Size in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan...
(島みやえい子) - also known as Eiko, Peko, 島宮えい子 (before 2006) - Fuuran (風蘭) - Lia under a different name.
- Hiromi SatōHiromi Satois a Japanese female singer-songwriter from Iwate Prefecture. She has performed for songs for games and anime, such as Mizuiro, Onegai Twins, Green Green, and the Galaxy Angel games. She has also written songs for other artists. Prior to December 10, 2005, her name was written as 佐藤裕美. She is...
(佐藤裕美) - IkuIKU (singer)Iku is a Japanese pop singer who is currently signed to Geneon Entertainment Inc. She debuted in 2008 with on March 19. Iku is only part of Geneon but not I've Sound. It was initially thought she might be part of I've Sound because Kazuya Takase, a producer of I've Sound, worked on her songs...
- Inosuke Tsutsumi (堤伊之助) - since Inosuke Tsutsumi is a fictitious person, the singer's real identity is unknown, but there are unconfirmed rumors that he is actually Kazuya Takase.
- Kotoko (ことこ)
- LiaLia (singer)Lia is a female Japanese singer-songwriter who is a former member of I've Sound. Lia has also participated in happy hardcore singing, producing four such albums with this style of singing; these albums have her name in all capital letters. She is notable as the singer for the opening and ending...
- MAKO
- Mary
- Mihi (美妃, occasionally mistaken for Miki)
- Miki
- MomoMOMO (singer)is a J-pop singer, songwriter who is a member of Por, a duo which she and Ryo formed. Momo is a former member of the Japanese music production, I've Sound.- Chronology :* 1995—P・o・r was formed* 2001—The name "P・o・r" changed as "Por"...
- Orihime (織姫) - Mell under a different name.
- Outer - Kotoko under a different name.
- Reina (怜奈)
- R.I.E
- Rimikka
- Shiho
- Takami
- Usagi Tachibana (橘うさぎ) - Miki under a different name.
- Wata (NueroSocietia)
- Yucco (Yukko)
- Yumi MatsuzawaYumi Matsuzawais a Japanese singer from Saitama, Saitama Prefecture. She is best known for her debut release "YOU GET TO BURNING", the opening theme for Martian Successor Nadesico, as well as the movie version's theme song "Dearest"....
(松澤由美)
Other staff
- Fukuko Tsujiuchi (辻内富久子) - artist manager
- Haruhiko "Harry" Yoshida (吉田春彦) - live band member for I've concerts, drums
- Hiroyuki Kobayashi (小林拡幸) - tour driver/at large
- Michihito Terayama (寺山亨史) - artist manager
- Naoki Itagaki (板垣直基)
- Takeshi Ozaki (尾崎武士)- guitar arrangements, live band member for I've concerts
- Yasutaka Ipposhi (一法師康孝) Executive Producer of I've Sound.
Girls Compilation albums
- regretRegret (album)Regret is the first compilation album by Japanese music production unit I've Sound and volume one in their Girls Compilation album series. Released on December 24, 1999, the album is a collection of songs they have produced for various adult PC games. It features vocals by Aki, Ayana, Eiko...
(1999) - vergeVerge (album)Verge is a two-disc compilation album by Japanese music production unit I've Sound and volume two in their Girls Compilation album series. It was released on July 17, 2000, compiling the songs they have produced for various adult PC games as well as some new tracks. The album features vocals by...
(2000) - disintegrationDisintegration (I've album)Disintegration is a compilation album by Japanese music production unit I've Sound and volume three in their Girls Compilation album series. It was released on June 26, 2002, compiling the songs they have produced for various PC games and CDs as well as some new tracks. The album features vocals by...
(2002) - LamentLament (I've album)Lament is a compilation album by Japanese music production unit I've Sound and volume four in their Girls Compilation album series. It was released in a limited edition box set with the Out Flow album and the I've P.V Collection Vol.3: See You DVD on September 5, 2003...
(2003) - Out FlowOut FlowOut Flow is a compilation album by Japanese music production unit I've Sound and volume five in their Girls Compilation album series. It was released in a limited edition box set with the Lament album and the I've P.V Collection Vol.3: See You DVD on September 5, 2003...
(2003) - CollectiveCollective (I've album)Collective is a compilation album by Japanese music production unit I've Sound and volume six in their Girls Compilation album series, released on September 30, 2005. The album is a compilation of songs they have contributed to various adult PC games and CDs. It includes a newly recorded title...
(2005) - Extract (2010)
Concept albums
- Short CircuitShort Circuit (album)Short Circuit is a concept album by Japanese music production unit I've Sound, released on November 27, 2003. It is the first in the Short Circuit album series, centering on their denpa songs. The album contains songs from various adult PC games and CDs, several of them being album versions, and...
(2003) - Short Circuit IIShort Circuit II (album)Short Circuit II is a concept album by Japanese music production unit I've Sound, released on June 22, 2007. It is the second album in the Short Circuit series, centering on their denpa songs. The album is made up of a compilation of songs from various adult PC games and three new originals...
(2007) - Short Circuit IIIShort Circuit IIIShort Circuit III is a concept album by Japanese music production unit I've Sound, released on June 25, 2010. It is the third album in the Short Circuit series, centering on their denpa songs. The album is a compilation of songs from various video games with two newly recorded original songs...
(2010)
Comic Market releases
- Dirty GiftDirty GiftDirty Gift is an extended play by Japanese music production unit I've Sound, released on December 29, 2002 at the 2002 Winter Comic Market event. It was sold as a set with the I've P.V Collection Vol.2 DVD...
(2002) - Mixed Up: I've Remix StyleMixed Up (I've album)Mixed Up: I've Remix Style is a remix album by Japanese music production unit I've Sound. It was released on December 29, 2004 at the 2004 winter Comic Market event. Each of the I've Sound composers contribute to the rearrangement of one or more of the ten tracks performed by ten different...
(2004) - I've Mania Tracks Vol.II've Mania Tracks Vol.II've Mania Tracks Vol.I is a compilation album by Japanese music production unit I've Sound. It was released on December 29, 2007 at the Winter 2007 Comic Market event, sold as a set with the Short Circuit II Premium Show in Tokyo DVD...
(2007) - The Front Line CoversThe Front Line CoversThe Front Line Covers is a remix album by Japanese music production unit I've Sound, released onDecember 28, 2008 at the 2008 Winter Comic Market event. It later received a commercial release on March 25, 2009...
(2008) - I've Mania Tracks Vol.II (2009)
- I've Mania Tracks Vol.III (2010)
Other CDs
- I've Hard Stuff - Luding Out (?)
- I've Cure Trance Vol.1 - Psychedelic (?)
- I've Cure Trance Vol.2 - Psychedelic GOA (?)
- I've Trance Magic Vol.1 (?)
- I've Trance Magic Vol.2 (?)
- I've Trance Magic Vol.3 (?)
- I've verve - circle001 - Beyond the underground groove (?)
- I've verve - circle002 - beat spellbound-agitation mix (?)
- I've verve - circle003 - electronica-mayhem (?)
- I've verve - circle004 - Psychedelic Trance Edition (?)
- I've verve - circle005 - Psychedelic Trance Edition - Journey of Space Exploration- (?)
- I've Cure Trance Vol.3 - Psychedelic IBIZA (?)
- Master Groove Circle (2008)
- I've Sound 10th Anniversary: Departed to the future Special CD Box (2009)
- Master Groove Circle 2 (2009)
- I've Sound 10th Anniversary Departed to the Future (2009)
Videos
- I've in Budokan 2005: Open the Birth Gate (2006)
- Short Circuit II Premium Show in Tokyo (2007)
- I've in Budokan 2009: Departed to the future (2009)