Raise A Suilen

Raise A Suilen (stylized as RAISE A SUILEN), sometimes referred to as RAS, is a Japanese all-female electronic rock band that is part of Bushiroad's media franchise BanG Dream!. Formed in 2018, the group's members portray fictional characters in the project's anime series and mobile game BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! in addition to performing their characters' respective instruments in live concerts.

Raise A Suilen
Background information
OriginJapan
GenresElectronic rock, J-rock, J-pop
Years active2018–present
LabelsBushiroad Music (2018–present)
Associated actsBanG Dream!
Websiteen.bang-dream.com/artists/raise-a-suilen/
Members
  • Raychell (Rei Wakana)
  • Natsume (Masuki Satō)
  • Riko Kohara (Rokka Asahi)
  • Risa Tsumugi (Chiyu Tamade)
  • Reo Kurachi (Reona Nyūbara)

Raise A Suilen consists of Raychell (vocals, bass), Riko Kohara (guitar), Risa Tsumugi (disc jockey), Natsume (drums), and Reo Kurachi (keyboard). In-universe, the band is represented by Rei Wakana (Raychell), Rokka Asahi (Kohara), Chiyu Tamade (Tsumugi), Masuki Satō (Natsume), and Reona Nyūbara (Kurachi).

Of the seven bands in BanG Dream!, Raise A Suilen is one of four whose members perform their own music. The group has produced four singles and their first album is slated for a July 2020 release.

History

Raise A Suilen started as a backup band that performed music for the in-universe bands whose members are unable to play their own instruments. In a 2018 interview with Real Sound, franchise creator and Bushiroad head Takaaki Kidani explained he was reluctant to hire a male backup band for an all-female franchise, prompting the group's formation. Kidani also envisioned the band as a female version of One Ok Rock and provided them with more freedom in playing music for non-Bushiroad properties than fellow BanG Dream! groups Poppin'Party and Roselia.[1]

The group debuted with Raychell, Natsume, Kurachi, and Poppin'Party guitarist Sae Ōtsuka in the Garupa Live and Garupa Party! at Tokyo Big Sight on January 13–14, 2018, where they filled the instrumentals for Afterglow, Hello, Happy World!, and Pastel＊Palettes.[2] The band was formally announced as a standalone unit during the event's second day;[3][4] they were initially named The Third (Beta) as the third live-action music group in the franchise after Poppin'Party and Roselia.[5][6]

Their first live concert, known as The Third (Beta) 1st Live, took place on March 25 at Shimokitazawa Garden with Raychell, Natsume, and Kurachi; Ōtsuka was a guest performer and played with the group for the first nine songs, which were pre-existing pieces from the BanG Dream! franchise. Ohara was introduced as the band's permanent guitarist for their original track "R・I・O・T".[7] It would be released as the band's debut single on December 12 as part of a triple-release day for the franchise along with Poppin'Party and Roselia's respective singles; "R・I・O・T" peaked at sixth on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.[8] The music from the live was compiled into an album and released on September 26.[9]

On May 12, 2018, The Third served as the opening act for the BanG Dream! 5th☆Live at Makuhari Messe.[10] Tsumugi joined the band at their second live at Akasaka Blitz on July 17, where they were formally renamed Raise A Suilen.[11] A "suilen" is a bamboo screen, and the name alludes to "raising the screen" for performances.[6] In November, the band participated in its first overseas performance at CharaExpo USA in Anaheim, California, with Poppin'Party and Roselia.[2][12] Raise A Suilen's first official concert with the new name and full lineup, titled Brave New World, took place on December 7 in the BanG Dream! 6th☆Live at Ryōgoku Kokugikan.[13]

The band's second single "A Declaration of ×××" came out on February 20, 2019, as part of a six-single release by the franchise (each band released a song).[14] Every single appeared on the Oricon Daily Chart for February 19, with Raise A Suilen's ranking eighth.[15] Two days later, the band played in the BanG Dream! 7th☆Live at the Nippon Budokan, where their Genesis show was supported by Hello, Happy World!'s Miku Itō, Pastel＊Palettes' Ami Maeshima, Afterglow's Sachika Misawa, Glitter*Green's Suzuko Mimori, and the franchise's male-centric group Argonavis.[16] On June 19, RAS released their third single "Invincible Fighter"; the single's self-titled track and B-side "Takin' My Heart" were used as theme music for the anime Cardfight!! Vanguard: High School Arc Cont..[17] Raise A Suilen would also perform the opening theme song for the 2020 show Assault Lily Bouquet, titled "Sacred world".[18]

RAS held their first standalone show, called Heaven and Earth, on July 13–14, 2019 at World Memorial Hall. Itō, Maeshima, and Ōtsuka made guest appearances at the live.[19] The band would also have guest performances of their own during the year, appearing at the debut live for fellow Bushiroad franchise D4DJ on July 21,[20] Animelo Summer Live on August 31,[21] Aso Rock Festival on September 29,[22] and Mag Rock Festival and Animax Musix 2019 Kobe on October 5 and 26.[23][24] On November 30–December 1, Raise A Suilen partnered with Roselia for the joint concert Rausch und/and Craziness at Makuhari Messe;[25] a second Craziness live by RAS took place at Ecopa Arena on February 9, 2020.[26] A second solo live, The Creation ~We are Raise A Suilen~, was conducted at Line Cube Shibuya on December 29, 2019.[27]

"Drive Us Crazy", their fourth single, was released on January 22, 2020; it reached fifth on the Oricon Weekly Chart.[28] In April, Tsumugi and Kurachi began hosting the franchise-centric variety show Radio R･I･O･T.[29] A stage play by the band's members called We are Raise A Suilen -BanG Dream! The Stage- was planned to premiere in July with nine shows before being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[30][31] Raise A Suilen's first album Era is scheduled for release on August 19.[32]

Members
  • Raychell (Rei Wakana/Layer, vocals/bass) – Prior to Raise A Suilen, Raychell had no voice acting experience. From 2010 to 2013, she was a solo singer under the moniker "Lay". In 2017, she performed the ending theme song to Bushiroad's Cardfight!! Vanguard G: NEXT and was approached by Kidani about joining the backup band for BanG Dream!'s groups. Prior to BanG Dream!, she was acquainted with Natsume and Ōtsuka as colleagues at the Ace Crew Entertainment talent agency.[6]
  • Riko Kohara (Rokka Asahi/Lock, guitar) – Kohara joined the band at The Third (Beta) 1st Live.[7] She started playing guitar when she was 18 years old and attended a music school.[33] She was a member of The Sketchbook, a band based on the fictional group from the anime Sket Dance, from 2011 until its disbandment in 2015.[34][35]
  • Natsume (Masuki Satō/Masking, drums) – Masuki was Natsume's debut role as a voice actress. She began drumming in high school after being invited to perform with the school band, and later attended the vocational school ESP Gakuen where she formed a band with her classmates.[6] After playing in the backup band for the festival A-Nation,[36] she performed at Bushiroad's tenth anniversary concert and was recruited by Kidani to join BanG Dream!.[1]
  • Reo Kurachi (Reona Nyūbara/Pareo, keyboard) – Kurachi learned to play the piano during her youth, while her interest in voice acting began in junior high school after watching the anime K-On! and Fullmetal Alchemist. She entered the voice acting industry in 2016 with S Inc.[37]
  • Risa Tsumugi (Chiyu Tamade/CHU2, disc jockey) – Tsumugi joined Raise A Suilen at their second live.[11] She began voice acting after hearing Aya Hirano's performance in the Haruhi Suzumiya series.[38] As Tsumugi is fluent in English due to her overseas education, Kidani noted she would be a major asset in helping BanG Dream! grow internationally;[1] her character CHU2 is also bilingual and regularly includes English words in her speech.[38]

In-universe band
See also: List of BanG Dream! characters § Raise A Suilen

Raise A Suilen's fictional counterparts were revealed at the BanG Dream! 6th☆Live.[5] The band is described by anime streaming service HIDIVE as an "eclectic blend of aesthetics that reflects the mad mix of styles found in their infectious music", which includes the use of electronic rock themes in their songs.[39]

The group first appears in the anime's second season. After her offer to become Roselia's producer is rejected, Chiyu Tamade forms Raise A Suilen to get her revenge, which includes trying to recruit Tae Hanazono from the lead group Poppin'Party.[40][41] RAS becomes a main band in the third season as they enter the BanG Dream! Girls Band Challenge.[42] The group was added to the BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! mobile game on June 10, 2020.[43]

A manga series focusing on RAS titled RAiSe! The story of my music began serialization in Monthly Bushiroad in January 2019. Kō Nakamura and Ryū Shihara wrote and illustrated the manga, respectively.[44]

Discography
See also: BanG Dream! discography

The band's songs are composed and arranged by Elements Garden.[45]

Singles
Year Title Coupling track[lower-alpha 1] Release date Peak Oricon chart position Notes Ref
2018 "R・I・O・T" "Unstoppable"[lower-alpha 2] December 12 6 [46]
2019 "A Declaration of ×××"[lower-alpha 2] "EXPOSE 'Burn out!!!'" February 20 10 [47]
"Invincible Fighter" "Takin' My Heart" June 19 7 [48]
2020 "Drive Us Crazy"[lower-alpha 2] "HELL! or HELL?" January 22 5 [49]

Albums
Year Title Release date Peak Oricon chart position Notes Ref
2018 "The Third (Beta) 1st Live" (THE THIRD（仮）1st ライブ) September 26 17 Recorded at their first live [50]
2019 BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Cover Collection Vol. 3 (バンドリ！ ガールズバンドパーティ！ カバーコレクション Vol.3) December 18 4 Joined by Poppin'Party, Afterglow, Pastel＊Palettes, and Hello, Happy World![lower-alpha 3] [51]
2020 BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Cover Collection Vol. 4 (バンドリ！ ガールズバンドパーティ！ カバーコレクション Vol.4) May 27 1 [52]
Era[lower-alpha 2] August 19 TBD

Notes
  1. Instrumental versions of both songs are also included.
  2. Officially stylized in all caps
  3. Joined by Morfonica in Volume 4

References
  1. Kidani, Takaaki (May 19, 2019). "BanG Dream! Interview with Bushiroad's Takaaki Kidani — The Path and Future of BanG Dream! Project" (Interview). Interviewed by Real Sound. MagnAvaloN. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  2. "RAISE A SUILEN". BanG Dream!. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  3. Kurachi, Reo (January 14, 2018). "「ガルパライブ&ガルパーティ！in東京」2日目" ["Garupa Live & Garupa Party! in Tokyo" Day 2] (in Japanese). Line Blog. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  4. "『ガルパライブ&ガルパーティ！in東京』へのご来場、ありがとうございました！2日間での総来場者数はなんと18,452名！アフターレポートを掲載！" ["Garupa Live & Garupa Party! Thank you for visiting us in Tokyo! The total number of visitors in two days was 18,452! Post after-sales report!]. Bushiroad (in Japanese). January 15, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  5. "RAISE A SUILENのパワフルなライブが披露された「BanG Dream! 6th☆LIVE」DAY1レポート" [RAISE A SUILEN's powerful live show "BanG Dream! 6th☆LIVE" DAY1 report]. Gamer (in Japanese). December 10, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  6. Raychell; Natsume. "＜Raychell＆夏芽 スペシャル対談＞RAISE A SUILEN ～2人がたどり着いた頂～" [<Raychell & Natsume Special Talk> RAISE A SUILEN] (Interview) (in Japanese). Interviewed by Gorō Shindō. Billboard Japan. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  7. "『THE THIRD(仮)1st ライブ』にて新情報解禁！" [New information has been released at "THE THIRD (Tentative) 1st Live"!]. Bushiroad (Press release) (in Japanese). PR Times. March 26, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  8. "『バンドリ!』、イベント『BanG Dream! 2nd Season 制作発表会』のアーカイブ動画を公開" [Archived videos of "Bandori!" and the event "BanG Dream! 2nd Season Production Presentation"]. Real Sound (in Japanese). December 20, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  9. "BanG Dream! "第三のリアルライブバンド"、THE THIRD（仮）の正式名称が"RAISE A SUILEN"に決定！ライヴ・アルバム9/26リリース＆12/7-8開催"BanG Dream! 6th☆LIVE"出演も！" [BanG Dream! The third real live band, THE THIRD (tentative), has been officially named "RAISE A SUILEN"! Live album 9/26 release & 12/7-8 "BanG Dream! 6th ☆ LIVE" appearance!]. Geki Rock (in Japanese). July 18, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  10. "「BanG Dream! 5th☆LIVE」2days開催！　新アニメシリーズ制作決定！　6人目のRoseliaとして中島由貴さんの新加入も発表！" ["BanG Dream! 5th ☆ LIVE" 2days held! New anime series production decision! Yuki Nakashima is announced as the sixth Roselia member!]. Animate (in Japanese). May 14, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  11. Komatsu, Mikikazu (July 18, 2018). "BanG Dream! Franchise's 3rd Girls Band Reveals Their Official Name "RAISE A SUILEN"". Crunchyroll. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  12. "アフターレポート" [CharaExpo 2018 After Report]. Bushiroad (in Japanese). Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  13. "Poppin'Party＆RAISE A SUILENら放つ"彼女たちだけの輝き"　ライブに見るバンドリ！の多様性" [Poppin’Party & RAISE A SUILEN “Brightness only for them” released from the band!]. Real Sound (in Japanese). December 30, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  14. "2019年2月20日（水）発売　BanG Dream!シングル6タイトル連動同時購入特典実施決定！" [Wednesday, February 20, 2019: BanG Dream! 6-single simultaneous release]. Bushiroad Music (in Japanese). December 20, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  15. Dennison, Kara (February 21, 2019). "BanG Dream! Holds 6 Spots in the Oricon Top 10". Crunchyroll. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  16. "日本武道館をRASの色で染め上げた「BanG Dream! 7th☆LIVE」DAY2をレポート" [Report on DAY2 of "BanG Dream! 7th ☆ LIVE", which dyed Nippon Budokan with RAS color]. Gamer (in Japanese). February 24, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  17. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (April 18, 2019). "Cardfight!! Vanguard: High School Arc Cont. Anime's Promo Video Reveals May 11 Premiere". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  18. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 6, 2020). "Assault Lily Bouquet Anime's 2nd Teaser Video Previews Theme Song". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  19. "「RAISE A SUILEN」神戸の単独ライブでアニメとリアルがリンク、前島亜美と大塚紗英がライブの熱を加速させる【速報レポート】" [RAISE A SUILEN anime and real life linked in Kobe's independent live, Ami Maeshima and Sae Otsuka accelerate live heat [breaking report]]. Animedia.jp (in Japanese). July 13, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  20. "「D4DJ 1st LIVE」Argonavis・RAISE A SUILENとの合同開催が決定" ["D4DJ 1st LIVE" will be held jointly with Argonavis and RAISE A SUILEN] (Press release) (in Japanese). Animedia. April 8, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  21. "「Animelo Summer Live 2019 -STORY-」鈴木雅之さん、RAISE A SUILEN、今井麻美さん出演決定！" ["Animelo Summer Live 2019 -STORY-" Masayuki Suzuki, RAISE A SUILEN and Asami Imai will be appearing!]. Animate (in Japanese). June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  22. "RAISE A SUILEN、9/29ミクニワールドスタジアム北九州にて開催の"阿蘇ロックフェスティバル2019 in 北九州"出演決定！オフィシャル動画"～泉谷しげる×RAISE A SUILEN編～"公開！" [RAISE A SUILEN, 9/29 Mikuni World Stadium "Aso Rock Festival 2019 in Kitakyushu" will be held at Kitakyushu! Official video "-Shigeru Izumiya x RAISE A SUILEN-" released!]. Geki Rock (in Japanese). July 24, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  23. "静岡・清水のロックフェス『マグロック2019』 今年のヘッドライナーはヤバTとキュウソに決定！ そして最終ライブアクトがついに明らかに！" [Shizuoka Shimizu Rock Festival "Magrock 2019" Yaba T and Kyuso will be the headlines this year! And finally the final live act is revealed!]. Mag Rock Festival (in Japanese). September 13, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  24. Raise A Suilen (January 28, 2020). "数々のフェスやライブを経て進化したRAISE A SUILEN、それぞれが抱く「ANIMAX MUSIX」への想いーーコラボしたいアーティストは憧れの存在【インタビュー】" [RAISE A SUILEN, who has evolved through numerous festivals and live performances, has a passion for "ANIMAX MUSIX" that each holds.]. Animedia (Interview) (in Japanese). Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  25. "Roselia×RAISE A SUILENによる『バンドリ！』技巧派バンド頂上決戦　合同ライブから感じた双方のリスペクト" ["Bandori!" by Roselia x RAISE A SUILEN. Respect of both sides felt from the joint live of the technical bands' top decisive battle]. Real Sound (in Japanese). December 21, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  26. "「バンドリ！」，RAISE A SUILEN主演の舞台が上演決定。静岡ライブのセットリストもSpotifyで公開" ["Bandori!", The stage of RAISE A SUILEN starring will be staged. Shizuoka live set list also released on Spotify]. Bushiroad (Press release) (in Japanese). 4Gamer.net. February 10, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  27. "RAISE A SUILEN単独ライブ「THE CREATION～We are RAISE A SUILEN～」が開催！ 初披露曲2曲を含む全14曲で観客を魅了【セットリストも公開】" [RAISE A SUILEN's solo live "THE CREATION-We are RAISE A SUILEN-" was held! Attracted the audience with all 14 songs including 2 songs that were unveiled]. Animedia.jp (in Japanese). December 31, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  28. Komatsu, Mikikazu (January 29, 2020). "BanG Dream! Three New Singles Have Shipped 150,000 Units in Total". Crunchyroll. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  29. "ニッポン放送にて「BanG Dream! Presents RAISE A SUILENのRADIO R・I・O・T」4月6日(月)20:30からスタート！" [Nippon Broadcasting, "BanG Dream! Presents RAISE A SUILEN's RADIO R・I・O・T" Starts April 6 (Mon) at 20:30!]. PR Times (in Japanese). March 30, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  30. Komatsu, Mikikazu (April 6, 2020). "BanG Dream! Franchise's 1st Stage Play "We are RAISE A SUILEN" Reveals Key Visual". Crunchyroll. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  31. NBT (June 9, 2020). "RAISE A SUILEN delivers new song "REIGNING" for BanG Dream stage play". JRock News. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  32. Komatsu, Mikikazu (June 2, 2020). "RAISE A SUILEN from BanG Dream! Rocks Out in Anime MV "EXPOSE 'Burn out!!!'"". Crunchyroll. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  33. Kohara, Riko; Tada, Hiroshi; Watanabe, Yu. "The Sketchbook 『Message』インタビュー" [Interview with The Sketchbook "Message"] (Interview) (in Japanese). Interviewed by Yuki Sugiota. Billboard Japan. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  34. "TVアニメ『SKET DANCE』に登場するバンドメンバー"The Sketchbook"が決定！今週放送回から登場!!" [Band members of "The Sketchbook", appearing in the TV animation "SKET DANCE", is decided!]. Animate (in Japanese). July 19, 2011. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  35. Valdez, Kiara (February 2, 2015). "Sket Dance-Inspired Band The Sketchbook to Break Up". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  36. Raychell; Natsume. "RAISE A SUILEN" (Interview) (in Japanese). Interviewed by Daiki Miyazaki. Billboard Japan. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  37. Kurachi, Reo (May 22, 2020). "倉知玲鳳「RASのキーボードが"私でいい"という存在意義がほしかった」声優図鑑" [Rei Kurachi: "I wanted the significance of existing as RAS' keyboard to be 'I am good'."]. DDNavi (Interview) (in Japanese). Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  38. Tsumugi, Risa (April 8, 2019). "『BanG Dream!』で「RAISE A SUILEN」のDJを担当する紡木吏佐が新人声優直撃企画「お前は誰だ？」に登場【インタビュー】" [DJ Risa Tsumugi appeared in the new voice actor direct hit project: "Who are you?" [Interview]]. Animedia (Interview) (in Japanese). Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  39. "The Aesthetics of the "BanG Dream!" Bands". HIDIVE. Sentai Filmworks. April 10, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  40. "Sing Girls". BanG Dream!. Season 2. Episode 16 (in Japanese). January 17, 2019.
  41. "Star Tears". BanG Dream!. Season 2. Episode 24 (in Japanese). March 14, 2019.
  42. Kakimoto, Kōdai (February 21, 2020). "「BanG Dream!」柿本監督、第3期のポピパは「楽しく嬉しく夢に向かって走っていく」" ["BanG Dream!" director Kakimoto, PoPiPa as third years "runs towards a dream happily and happily"] (Interview) (in Japanese). Interviewed by Ichibo, Harada. AbemaTV. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  43. "「バンドリ！ガルパ！」，RAISE A SUILENの登場を記念したイベントが6月10日から開始" ["Bandori! Garupa!", an event commemorating the appearance of RAISE A SUILEN will start on June 10]. Craft Egg (Press release) (in Japanese). 4Gamer.net. June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  44. "RAISE A SUILENのコミカライズ「RAiSe!」連載決定！" [RAISE A SUILEN's comic adaptation "RAiSe!"]. BanG Dream! (in Japanese). December 7, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  45. "Music". BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! (in Japanese). Bushimo. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  46. "R・I・O・T". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  47. "A DECLARATION OF ×××". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  48. "Invincible Fighter". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  49. "DRIVE US CRAZY". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  50. "THE THIRD(仮)1st ライブ" [The Third (Beta) 1st Live]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  51. "バンドリ! ガールズバンドパーティ! カバーコレクションVol.3" [BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Cover Collection Vol.3]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  52. "バンドリ! ガールズバンドパーティ! カバーコレクションVol.4" [BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Cover Collection Vol.4]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved June 4, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.