Shizuka (band)

Shizuka
  • 静香
  • 靜香
Two men and a woman stand in front of a wall.
Three of Shizuka's former members.
From left to right:
Maki Miura, Shizuka Miura, Jun Kosugi.
Background information
OriginTokyo, Japan
Genres
Years active
  • 1992–2010
Labels
  • PSF
  • Persona Non Grata
  • Last Visible Dog
  • Fra, Inc.
  • An'archives
Past members

Shizuka (静香（しずか）, /ʃiːzuːkɑː/; Japanese pronunciation: [ɕizɯᵝka̠]) was a Japanese rock band formed in Tokyo in 1992.[1][2][a] The group made atmospheric, psychedelic-noise music,[4] and was regarded for its distinctive style in the Tokyo psychedelic music scene.[1][5] The band produced four albums in its eighteen years of existence[1] and constantly performed live shows,[b] but they remained little-documented and little-known.[2][6]

In 1992, Shizuka Miura (vocals and rhythm guitar) began composing music and performing by herself,[a][c][d] but she soon formed a duo with Maki Miura (lead guitar).[e] Early members also included Jun Kosugi (drums)[f] and Tomoya Hirata (bass), and later the band was established with Tetsuya "Seven" Mugishima (bass) who replaced the first bassist.[g][7] The group had many lineup changes throughout its history, having been Shizuka and Maki the only permanent members up until Shizuka's death in early 2010.[1][2]

Shizuka's musical style incorporated elements of psychedelic music, folk music, noise rock, and acid rock,[6][8][4] combined atmospheric music with the Japanese neo-psychedelia,[9] and was led by Shizuka's vocals and Maki's guitar.[8] Shizuka's vocals were slow, chanted, haunting, and tremulous—characteristics that connoted sadness and a "gothic atmosphere".[1][8][4] Maki's guitar complemented Shizuka's vocals in a gentle plucking of strings, but intermixed a psychedelic-noise guitar playing in contrast to the melodic[10] and serene proceedings.[4][11][12][5]

Of Shizuka's four albums, Heavenly Persona (天界のペルソナ, Tenkai no Perusona) (1994) was the band's debut and only studio album.[13] The other three were live albums: Live Shizuka (1995);[2][8] Tokyo Underground '95 (2000);[8] and Traditional Aesthetics (伝承美学, Denshō Bigaku) (2008).[6][14] They also released two video albums: Shizuka (静香) in 1995,[15] and Endless Dream (終わりのない夢, Owari no Nai Yume) in 2010.[5][16] Posthumous releases include Paradise of Delusion (妄想の楽園, Mousou no Rakuen) (2021).[17]

  1. ^ a b c d e Alan Cummings (11 March 2010). "Shizuka Miura". The Wire. ISSN 0952-0686. Wikidata Q105485575. Archived from the original on 6 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d Mason Jones (15 February 2010). "Shizuka R.I.P." Ongakublog. Wikidata Q105485577. Archived from the original on 6 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b ethereal (2001). "最接近天國的異界之音──靜香". The Rocker (in Chinese) (6). The Rocker: 56–60. Wikidata Q104530295.
  4. ^ a b c d Dean McFarlane. "Shizuka – Shizuka". AllMusic. Wikidata Q105485578. Archived from the original on 8 May 2018.
  5. ^ a b c P.S.F. Records. "Shizuka / Owari no Nai Yume (DVD)". P.S.F. Records. Wikidata Q105485579. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016.
  6. ^ a b c P.S.F. Records. "PSFD-178 Shizuka / Live/Traditional Aesthetics". P.S.F. Records. Wikidata Q105485580. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016.
  7. ^ Tetsuya Mugishima; Last Visible Dog Records (2000). "Shizuka — Tokyo Underground 20, Jul '95". Last Visible Dog. Wikidata Q105485581. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d e Aquarius Records; Eclipse Records (2003). "Shizuka — Tokyo Underground '95". Last Visible Dog. Wikidata Q105485582. Archived from the original on 8 August 2018.
  9. ^ Dean Suzuki (1996). "Shizuka – Live Shizuka". Sonic Options Network (66–71): 117. Wikidata Q105485597. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference jones-1995-shizukaheavenlypersona was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference meyer-2008-shizukatraditionalaesthetics was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Grayson Haver Currin (8 December 2014). "In Search of Les Rallizes Dénudés". Red Bull Music Academy. Wikidata Q105485584. Archived from the original on 16 November 2018.
  13. ^ P.S.F. Records. "静香 / 天界のペルソナ [PSFD-52]". P.S.F. Records. Wikidata Q105485585. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011.
  14. ^ P.S.F. Records. "静香 / 伝承美学 [PSFD-178]". P.S.F. Records (in Japanese). Wikidata Q105485586. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011.
  15. ^ 静香 (in Japanese), Performer: Shizuka, Japan, 1995, Wikidata Q106548749{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  16. ^ P.S.F. Records. "静香 / 終りのない夢 (DVD) [PSFDV-1004]". P.S.F. Records (in Japanese). Wikidata Q105485587.
  17. ^ Paradise of Delusion, Performer: Shizuka, 2021, Wikidata Q109721998{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)


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