Kero Kero Bonito

Kero Kero Bonito
Kero Kero Bonito performing in Brighton in October 2018.
Background information
Origin London, England, United Kingdom
Genres
Years active 2011 (2011)–present
Labels
Associated acts bo en
マクロスMACROSS 82-99
Spazzkid
Website kerokerobonito.com
Members
  • Sarah Midori Perry
  • Gus Lobban
  • Jamie Bulled

Kero Kero Bonito (KKB) are a British band from London, England. The band consists of vocalist Sarah Midori Perry and producers Gus Lobban & Jamie Bulled. Their name's meaning is intentionally ambiguous, with one derivation from the Japanese onomatopoeic words for frog croaks and a type of fish.[4] Other meanings include the Brazilian quero-quero bird, and the Portuguese translation of "I want, I want, Beautiful".[5]

The band's earlier work was influenced by J-pop such as Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, as well as dancehall, and video game music;[6] however, their work following the band's 2018 EP TOTEP was influenced by indie rock bands such as Mount Eerie.[7] They write many of their songs using a Casio SA-45 mini-keyboard.[8] Perry, who is half-Japanese, raps in both Japanese and English.[6]

History

Jamie Bulled (left) and Gus Lobban (right)

Lobban and Bulled grew up in the suburbs south of London and went to school together.[9] In search for a new band member, they posted advertisements, including on MixB, an online bulletin board for Japanese expatriates, largely due to their interest in "Japanese rap".[9][10] Perry was one of the first respondents. They selected her based on her background in art, and their interest in her bilingual ability.[10] Although she had collaborated with a Japanese girl group previously,[10] Perry did have a background in professional singing; instead, she was interested in collaborating with Lobban and Bulled simply because she "wanted to try it".[11]

The group released their debut mixtape Intro Bonito through Double Denim Records in August 2014.[12][13] The band contributed "Flamingo" to Ryan Hemsworth's compilation EP shh#ffb6c1.[14] In September 2014, Kero Kero Bonito released Bonito Recycling, a compilation of Intro Bonito remixes by artists including Danny L Harle and Spazzkid.[15] The band released the single "Build It Up", on which Perry sings in a call and response pattern, in November 2014.[16] On August 10, 2015 Kero Kero Bonito announced their first North American tour, which took place during October 2015.[17] On 21 October 2016, the group released their first album Bonito Generation through Double Denim Records.[18]

On February 12, 2018, the band released the single Only Acting. It departs from the band's previous electronic sound with a darker, rock-influenced style.[19] Later, on 20 February 2018, the band released the EP TOTEP. The EP included the aforementioned single Only Acting, and other songs following the rock-influenced style.

On April 13, 2018 the band performed their first 'full band' show. This involved two extra members, James Rowland on electric guitar and Jennifer Walton on drums and sampler, as well as Lobban on drums and keyboards and Bulled on bass guitar. Rowland previously played guitar on TOTEP. This change in live lineup reflected their change in sound following the EP.

On May 8, 2018, the band released the single, Time Today, and announced their second studio album, Time 'n' Place, which was released on Oct. 1, 2018.

Other projects

Cover artwork for Kane West's Western Beats EP

Electronic musician Spazzkid was a fan of Kero Kero Bonito and enlisted Perry to rap on "Truly" from his 2014 Promise EP.[20] In 2015 she was featured on "Everyday", the debut single by producer Chroma-kei.[21]

Lobban also records music under the name Kane West.[22] He won a remix contest for Tiga's "Let's Go Dancing" with Audion. He contributed to PC Music's mix for DISown. He later released his Western Beats EP through the label.[23] Tiny Mix Tapes ranked the EP 31st on their list of "Favorite 50 Music Releases of 2014",[24] and Fact placed Western Beats 33rd on its year-end list.[25] The following year, his song "T.R.U.E.L.O.V.E." appeared on Folie Douce's second Confessions compilation.[26]

As well as Kane West, Lobban also releases solo work as Augustus, a project influenced heavily by Japanese city pop music. Under this name he has released an original song entitled "Vs." (as part of a promotional compilation for Zoom Lens), as well as cover versions of songs by GFOTY and Perfume. He also provides vocals on the song "money won't pay" by fellow London musician bo en.

Prior to Kero Kero Bonito, Bulled was a member of the band Kabogaeries. Since forming Kero Kero Bonito, Bulled now records music under the name Wharfwhit,[27] with the 2016 single 'Elbows' and 2017 albums 'Evidently' and 'WHARFWHAT!?'[28] released under this name.

Band members

  • Sarah Midori Perry – vocals
  • Gus Lobban – drums, keyboards, sampler, backing vocals, production
  • Jamie Bulled – keyboards, electric guitar, bass guitar, sampler, production

Live band members

The band perform live as both a traditional band, and as a trio using a sequencer and samplers. The full live band consists of these members:

  • Sarah Midori Perry – vocals, keyboards
  • Gus Lobban – backing vocals, keyboards, drums
  • Jamie Bulled – bass guitar
  • Jennifer Walton - drums, sampler
  • James Rowland - guitar

Discography

Albums

YearTitle
2016Bonito Generation
2018Time 'n' Place

Mixtapes

YearTitle
2014Intro Bonito

EPs

YearTitle
2014Bonito Recycling
2017Bonito (Retakes)
2018TOTEP

Singles

Year Title
2011 "Weapons Grade"
2012 "Coursework Story"
"(Getting To) The Top"
"Ms.World"
"Laser Quest"
2013 "Why Aren't You Dancing?"
"Homework"
2014 "Flamingo"
"Build It Up"
"Sick Beat"
"Flamingo"
2015 "Picture This"
"Chicken"
2016 "Lipslap"
"Break"
"Graduation"
"Trampoline"
2017 "Forever Summer Holiday"
"Rock 'n' Roll Star"
2018 "Only Acting"
"Time Today"
"World Tour 2018"
"Make Believe"

Remixes

YearArtistTitle
2015Spazzkid"Daytime Disco" (Kero Kero Bonito Remix) featuring Neon Bunny

References

  1. ↑ Sauers, Camille (July 19, 2018). "Kero Kero Bonito To Bring Weird British Bubblegum To San Antonio". San Antonio Current. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  2. ↑ Gaca, Anna (October 14, 2016). "New Music: Kero Kero Bonito – Bonito Generation". Spin. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  3. ↑ "KERO KERO BONITO - SURPRISE! IT'S AN ALBUM". Flaunt. October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  4. ↑ Lester, Paul (28 November 2014). "New band of the week: Kero Kero Bonito (No 33)". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  5. ↑ Lawrence, Iyas (18 November 2016). "Kero Kero Bonito Tell Us Why Positivity Is Punk AF". Vice (magazine). Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  6. 1 2 Mack, Tommy (28 August 2014). "DiScover: Kero Kero Bonito". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "Kero Kero Bonito are smiling through it all". The FADER. Retrieved October 12, 2018. ,
  8. ↑ Hunt, El (24 December 2014). "Dear Santa... Love Kero Kero Bonito". DIY. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  9. 1 2 Song, Sandra (16 September 2014). "Going Global with Kero Kero Bonito". Impose. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 Bulut, Selim (29 August 2014). "Next: Kero Kero Bonito". Dummy. Archived from the original on 1 September 2014.
  11. ↑ Aroseti, Rachel (7 April 2017). "Kero Kero Bonito: 'It's just a bassline, vocals, super clear message and that's it'". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  12. ↑ Raymer, Miles (13 August 2014). "Get hooked on Kero Kero Bonito's 'Sick Beat'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  13. ↑ McDermott, Patrick D. (2 September 2014). "Hear London Producer bo en's Cutely Delirious Remix of Kero Kero Bonito". The Fader. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  14. ↑ "Kero Kero Bonito share new free download on Ryan Hemsworth compilation". DIY. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  15. ↑ Cliff, Aimee (1 October 2014). "Stream Kero Kero Bonito's 6-track remix 'Recycling' EP". Dazed. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  16. ↑ Carrasco, Alexa (17 November 2014). "Listen to Kero Kero Bonito's New Track 'Built it Up'". Paste. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  17. ↑ https://twitter.com/KeroKeroBonito/status/630747014268092416
  18. ↑ Richards, Will (19 October 2016). "Interview: My Generation: Kero Kero Bonito". DIY. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  19. ↑ http://www.thefader.com/2018/02/12/kero-kero-bonito-drops-new-single-and-video-only-acting
  20. ↑ "Stream Spazzkid's neon-washed Promise EP, out soon on Daedelus' Magical Properties imprint". Fact. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  21. ↑ Milton, Jamie (16 February 2015). "The Neu Bulletin (16th February 2015)". DIY. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  22. ↑ Sherburne, Philip (24 September 2014). "Kero Kero Bonito: "Cat vs. Dog (Kane West Remix)"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  23. ↑ Sherburne, Philip (17 September 2014). "PC Music's Twisted Electronic Pop: A User's Manual". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  24. ↑ "2014: Favorite 50 Music Releases of 2014". Tiny Mix Tapes. December 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  25. ↑ "The 50 best albums of 2014". Fact. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  26. ↑ Mr P (25 February 2015). "Kane West - 'T.R.U.E.L.O.V.E.'". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  27. ↑ "WHARFWHIT Makes Awkward, Double-Jointed Bubblegum Electro-Pop and You Need to Listen to Him Now". Thump (Vice). 10 November 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  28. ↑ "WHARFWHAT!? by WHARFWHIT". 14 November 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
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