PSY • S
| Psy・S (Psy-S, Psy S) | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Osaka, Japan |
| Genres | Progressive rock, new wave, pop rock, electronic |
| Instruments | vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass, drums, electronics |
| Years active | 1985 – 1996 |
| Labels | Sony Music |
Psy・S [sáiz] (often written as "Psy-S" or "Psy S" in English due to the lack of the Japanese dot "・" on most Western keyboards) was a Japanese progressive pop/rock band, formed in 1983 by Masaya Matsuura alongside female vocal powerhouse Chaka (a pseudonym used by Mami Yasunori). After Japanese hits and successes throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, they disbanded in 1996.
The musical style of Psy・S was an experimental mixture of electronic synthesizers, highly accomplished electric guitar riffs, and haunting, piercing vocals. Psy・S is perhaps best known in the West for their significant role in the soundtrack of the cult anime title To-Y (adapted from Atsushi Kamijo's popular 1980s manga.Frontman Masaya Matsuura went on to create several video games for the Sony PlayStation.
(Born 16 June 1961) – from Osaka. The leader of the band, both composer and arranger. Matsuura created Psy・S' music on a Fairlight CMI synthesizer, and also able to handle keyboard, guitar and bass.
After the band's breakup, he moved into producing and creating music for video games via his own company, NanaOn-Sha, and is well known in both Japan and the west for his innovative approach to music-based gameplay. He created the well-received Sony PlayStation titles PaRappa the Rapper, UmJammer Lammy and Vib Ribbon, along with Vib Ripple for the PlayStation 2.
In 2004, Matsuura won the First Penguin Award at the Game Developers Choice Awards in San Jose. This was in recognition for his "trailblazing work with beat-rhythm and music games."
(Born 16 July 1960) – from Osaka. Chaka was the vocalist and lyricist of the band. She began her career at age eighteen, working as a professional jazz singer in an Osaka jazz club, and joined Psy・S soon after. With Psy・S, her voice was intensely powerful and lent the band a vocal style instantly recognizable amongst the pop scene of 80s and 90s Japan.
After the band's breakup, Chaka began her solo career, reverting to her jazz roots and releasing the albums Delicious Hip (1997), I Found Love (1999), Chaka Jazz (2002), and Love (2003). In 2004, she released an album titled Believin' ~Chaka Jazz in New York, in which she collaborated with famous faces from the jazz world such as Henry "Hank" Jones. Chaka also recorded some anime songs like "Hare tokidoki Buta" (theme song, 1998); "Card Captor Sakura – Ashita e no Melody" (opening theme, 2000); "Zenmai Zamurai" (opening theme, 2006).
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