Yogee New Waves

Overview

Yogee New Waves is a Japanese rock band. The "Yogee" in the name comes from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Associated with Japanese indie, city pop, Shibuya-kei and J-R&B, the group has been led by vocalist and guitarist Kengo Kakudate.

Career

Formation and early years (2013–2015)

The band formed in June 2013 around Kengo Kakudate (vocals, guitar) and Naoki Yazawa (bass, left January 2017), childhood friends since elementary school who had played in funk bands together in high school. Their first live show was an audition for SUMMER SONIC's "Derennno?! Summer Sonic 2013", where they reached the final selection. In September 2013, Tetsuji Kasuya (drums, left June 2023) and Mitsuhiro Matsuda (guitar, left May 2015) of the band GISAN, with whom they shared a bill, joined. In November they sold the self-produced EP "Climax Night" only at venues, and the first pressing sold out immediately. The 1st e.p. "Climax Night" followed in April 2014 and the debut album "PARAISO" in September. After Matsuda left following VIVA LA ROCK 2015, the band worked with support guitarists including DYGL's Yosuke Shimonaka and Takumi Yoshida, and released the 2nd e.p. "Sunset Town" in December 2015.

2016–2017

In January 2016 the band appeared with old friends Never Young Beach and Suchmos in Tower Records' "NO MUSIC, NO LIFE" poster series, and was featured solo in April 2017. Yazawa left after the Dreaming Night TOUR 2017 at Tokyo Kinema Club on January 15, 2017; support members Fumiya Takemura (guitar) and Kosei Ueno (bass) became official members. The new lineup contributed "On Your Side" to the Petrolz tribute album "WHERE, WHO, WHAT IS PETROLZ?" (March 2017).

From April 2017 to October 15, 2019, Kakudate narrated the Fuji TV/Kansai TV program "7Rule". In May 2017 the band was featured in Pia's "Pia MUSIC COMPLEX" Vol. 9, and on May 17 released its second full album "WAVES"; the video for "World is Mine" was directed by Kento Yamada. "SAYONARAMATA" was the theme song of the film released in November 2017, "Ojiichan, Shinjatte." The band also created a collaboration collection for Helly Hansen's 140th anniversary, with five items released on December 14, and Kakudate performed a solo acoustic set at the anniversary event on December 13. At the December 1 LIQUIDROOM one-man show, Kakudate announced a major debut on Victor Entertainment in spring 2018 on the label Colourful Records.

2018 onward

In March 2018 the band held a release party for the 3rd e.p. "SPRING CAVE e.p." and toured with "Bluemin' Days TOUR 2018". On July 25, 2018, it released the digital-only "CAN YOU FEEL IT", its first commercial tie-up, a collaboration with Otsuka Pharmaceutical's Pocari Sweat, with a video released the same day on YouTube. Tours followed: the CAN YOU FEEL IT TOUR (2018), TOUR BLUEHARLEM 2019 and BLUEHARLEM ASIA TOUR 2019, and WINDORGAN TOUR 2021, alongside its "Dreamin' Night" event series. Bassist Kosei Ueno left after the Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall show on March 21, 2022.

On May 14, 2023, the band announced that drummer Tetsuji Kasuya would leave after the national tour "A.Y.A TOUR 2023 SECOND", starting May 21. Kakudate and Takemura plan to continue as a duo, but because preparations will take time, the band went on hiatus.

Members and side projects

• Kengo Kakudate (born October 27, 1991): vocals, guitar; from Shinjuku, Tokyo; graduate of Nihon University's College of Art.
• Fumiya Takemura (born March 23, 1990): guitar; from Nantan, Kyoto; Keio University graduate; joined January 2017.
• Former members: Mitsuhiro Matsuda (guitar, left May 2015; Victor production director from 2017), Naoki Yazawa (bass, left January 2017), Kosei Ueno (bass, left March 2022), Tetsuji Kasuya (drums, left June 2023).

Kakudate has written for others, including Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku (2017), SHE IS SUMMER (lyrics, 2017), Moné Kamishiraishi ("Hikari no Ato", 2023, and "March"), and Toi Toi ("Wave of You", 2025, composition and arrangement). He released the solo work "Hitomi wa Diamond" on March 19, 2025.

Musical style

The band's Japanese indie sound blends city pop, Shibuya-kei and J-R&B elements. Kakudate is the principal lyricist and composer, and many song and tour titles evoke summer and the sea.