Esprit D'Air

Esprit D'Air
Kai from Esprit D'Air performing in 2013
Kai from Esprit D'Air performing in 2013
Background information
OriginLondon, England
Genres
Years active2010–2013 (as a group), 2016–present (as a solo project)
LabelsStarstorm Records
MembersKai
Past membersEllis
Yoshisuke Suga
Daishi
Yuki
Coma
Tatsuya Nashimoto (Hakuren)
Websitewww.espritdair.com

Esprit D'Air ("Spirit of Air" in French) is a British-Japanese progressive metal band formed in London in 2010 with members from Japan and England. In 2013, the band increased in popularity as their single "Shizuku" became the first playable song in the J-rock category in the video game Rock Band 3 (and now Rock Band 4 since 2023) but disbanded in the same year as members went back to Japan. Since reforming in 2016, Kai appoints session musicians and support members, which included some of the original line-up to perform with him on tour.[1]

Reformed in 2016 as Kai's solo project, their debut album Constellations was released in 2017, to critical acclaim. The album won "Best Metal Album" at the Independent Music Awards, judged by a panel including Amy Lee of Evanescence, Slayer, and Sepultura and entered the Top 40 Rock & Metal Albums Chart.[2]

In 2022, Esprit D'Air released their second album Oceans, which entered the UK Official Charts peaking at #8 in the Rock & Metal Albums Chart, and #5 in the Independent Albums Breakers Charts.[3] The album later re-entered the charts for several weeks following the success of their UK Oceans tour in summer 2022.[4]

  1. ^ "Biography". Esprit D'Air. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  2. ^ "Esprit D'Air Wins Best Metal/Hardcore Album at The Independent Music Awards". Original Rock. 4 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Official Charts Company was invoked but never defined (see the help page).