Arlequin
Background information
OriginTokyo, Japan
GenresRock
Years active2013–present
LabelsGoemon
MembersAki
Nao
Kuruto
Shohei
Past membersTamon
Websitehttp://arlequin-web.com/

Arlequin (アルルカン, Arurukan) are a five-piece Japanese visual kei rock band, formed in 2013 in Tokyo.

History

The formation of Arlequin was associated with the aspiration to be a band of a new generation of Nagoya kei, a dark subgenre of visual kei that emerged in the early nineties. Bands such as Kuroyume, Rouage and Laputa served as models.[1] The band's name corresponds to the French term for harlequin, a clownish stage character whose origins are often located in the theatrical tradition of the Italian commedia dell'arte. According to the members' own statements, it was chosen to give the band's image a touch of the "eccentric" and "toxic."[2]

Arlequin's beginnings were crowned with quick success: Their first single Arlequin (2013) reached #7 on the Oricon Singles Chart, and within a year of its formation, the band managed to sell out a concert at Shibuya Public Hall. According to various media, they achieved this feat faster than any other band in previous years.[3][4] In April 2019, a Japanese music website Real Sound stated that Arlequin and Dezert had the potential to rise and become the "two big guns" of their visual kei generation, like X Japan and Luna Sea or Dir En Grey and Pierrot before them.[5] In addition to a variety of singles and EPs, Arlequin has released five albums to date: Near Equal (2014), Utopia (2016), Bless (2018, mini-album), The Laughing Man (2020), and Monster (2022). Best-of albums were also released in 2017 (Kachikan no Chigai wa Yuiitsu no Sukuidatta), 2021 (Pieces), and 2022 (Anthology).[6] Currently, the band is signed to indie label Goemon Records.

Arlequin regularly undertook major tours of Japan and released several live DVDs. In July 2016, vocalist Aki was forced to withdraw from scheduled live performances to recover from chronic vocal cord inflammation due to overuse of his voice.[7] Arlequin hosted the So no Sekai event at Nanba Hatch on August 27, 2022, which also featured acts such as D'erlanger, Plastic Tree, Dezert, and Kizu.[8] On October 24, 2022, they took part in a two-man live held by Deadman at Shinjuku Blaze.[9]

On September 2, 2022, the band lost contact with Tamon. They decided to postpone the first three shows of their 9th anniversary tour, but the drummer got back in touch on the 5th.[10] On January 20, 2023, Tamon reported that he was going to the hospital due to a fever and the band lost contact with him again. After he was absent from two events on the 21st and 22nd, he was fired from the band on the 23rd.[11]

Style

Arlequin's music is conventional metalcore (hard and fast guitar riffs, growling interludes), interspersed with poppy rock elements. The themes of their songs are often melancholic as well as of socio-critical and provocative character (Dame Ningen, Omit, Makka na Uso). The lyrics are mostly in Japanese, with rare English passages.

As is common for visual kei bands, Arlequin's focus lies heavily on flamboyant, polished, and frequently varied optics, presented in a variety of music videos and other visual media.[12] According to their band name, the members almost exclusively present themselves in heavy makeup and colorful, clownish costumes, with vocalist Aki miming the role of a crying clown. An important visual leitmotif, the circus, has also been used on a larger scale in stage decorations at live shows.[13]

Members

  • Aki (暁) - vocals (2013–present)
  • Kuruto (來堵) - guitar (2013–present)
  • Nao (奈緒) - guitar (2013–present)
  • Shohei (祥平) - bass (2013–present)
Past members
  • Tamon (堕門) - drums (2013–2023)

Discography

Source:[6]

Albums and mini-albums

  • 2014 – Near Equal
  • 2016 – Utopia
  • 2018 – Bless
  • 2020 – The Laughing Man
  • 2022 – Monster

Best-of albums

  • 2017 – Kachikan no Chigai wa Yuiitsu no Sukuidatta (価値観の違いは唯一の救いだった )
  • 2021 – Pieces
  • 2022 – Anthology

Singles and EPs

  • 2013 – Arlequin
  • 2014 – 似非林檎-eseringo-
  • 2014 – Eclipse
  • 2014 – Stella (ステラ)
  • 2014 – Hakaana (墓穴)
  • 2014 – Ichijiku (無花果)
  • 2015 – Dilemma (ジレンマ)
  • 2015 – All I Need
  • 2015 – Douke no Hana (道化ノ華)
  • 2015 – Qualia (クオリア)
  • 2016 – Paranoia
  • 2016 – Karma (カルマ)
  • 2017 – Kageboushi (影法師)
  • 2017 – Makka na Uso (真っ赤な嘘)
  • 2017 – Puzzle
  • 2018 – Exist
  • 2019 – Razzle-dazzle（ラズルダズル）
  • 2019 – Anima
  • 2020 – Ikari (怒り)
  • 2020 – Veludo (ビロード)
  • 2021 – Sekai no Owari to Yoake Mae (世界の終わりと夜明け前) / Siren (サイレン)
  • 2022 – Monster
  • 2022 – Libra
  • 2022 – Pictures
  • 2022 – Chaosdive

References

  1. ↑ アルルカン、"次世代名古屋系 "という新たな個性 90年代以降シーンの変遷から考える, realsound.jp (April 16, 2018). Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  2. ↑ 「アルルカンの全貌がついに明らかに」 Archived 2021-07-09 at the Wayback Machine, ViSULOG (2013). Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  3. ↑ jp/news/66126 アルルカン、近年最速の結成1年で渋谷公会堂ワンマンを発表, okmusic.jp (January 19, 2015). Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  4. ↑ com/digaonline/interview/798 アルルカン、結成3年目、本気でシーンを牽引すべく制作した新曲完成。その決意とは！？, diskgarage.com (February 3, 2016). Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  5. ↑ DEZERTとアルルカンはヴィジュアル系の "二大巨頭 "に？ 2年半ぶりの『ダブルラリアット』を見て, realsound.jp (April 5, 2019). Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Arlequin Discography, jpopasia.com. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  7. ↑ Arlequin's vocalist Aki will be absent from performances due to vocal cord inflammation, jrocknews.com (June 28, 2016). Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  8. ↑ "アルルカン、主催イベント"束の世界-SONOSEKAI- 2022"出演アーティスト第6弾にD'ERLANGER決定！". Geki-Rock (in Japanese). 2022-06-20. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  9. ↑ "deadman、ツーマンシリーズ＜co starring of the dead＞にRAZOR、アルルカン、DEZERT". barks.jp (in Japanese). 2022-08-16. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
  10. ↑ "アルルカン、ドラマー堕門が音信不通で直近ツアー3公演を延期". Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  11. ↑ "アルルカンがドラマー堕門を解雇、再び音信不通になっていた". Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  12. ↑ 【V系】「これを読んだ人は皆ライブに来るべよ～☆ミ」DEZERT・千秋×アルルカン・暁 ロング対談, ure. pia.co.jp (January 29, 2017). Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  13. ↑ Arlequin recaps first show in 8 months on circus-themed stage, jrocknews.com (November 21, 2020). Retrieved July 4, 2021.
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