MintJam is a Japanese hard rock band formed in Tokyo in 2003. They began to create instrumental music for video game covers, and went on to creating their own original instrumental and vocal music. These days they are more heavily focused as a vocal group with a modern rock sound. They have released several full length albums, as well as many Maxi Singles. In 2023 they celebrated their 20th anniversary with the new album 'Interlude'. They also occasionally play live. Current members include vocalist TERRA and guitarist a2c. Previous members feature guitarist, setzer (who left in 2009) and keyboardist, kya (who left in 2006).

History

MintJam was formed in 2003 by setzer (guitars), and a2c (guitars) as an amateur band in the Japanese indie music community MUZIE. Keyboardist Kya (キャ) joined later that year when MintJam began to achieve wider recognition. In 2006, Kya officially left MintJam after the release of their fifth album Energy Drive. Vocalist TERRA joined MintJam in 2005. Besides vocal works composed by TERRA, MintJam is known for instrumental compositions as both a2c and setzer are both composers and arrangers. In 2012, setzer left MintJam and officially became a supporting member, choosing to focus on his work with his circle Polo Rockers.

MintJam has been an active participant in Japanese coterie performances. They have composed soundtracks and musical scores/background music for Japanese anime and games. They also mixed and published albums on the internet which a select are available on Itunes globally.[1]

MintJam began their performance career with the release of their single album Judgment Day in September 2009. In August 2010, MintJam collaborated with Japanese female singer RITA. The nominal title “MintJam with RITA” allowed MintJam to take part in the Japanese show “ちょっかな”.

They released a 20h anniversary album - "Interlude" on October 29 2023 which featured a mixture of brand new tracks, including a new song featuring original returning members kya and setzer for the track "Never Mind". It also features a '20th Anniversary Edition' of the song "Keep On Jammin'".

Band members

Current Members

  • a2c (guitars, drum programming) 2003 - Present
  • TERRA (Vocals) 2005 - Present

Former Members

  • setzer – (Guitars) - 2003 - 2009
  • A.koga（エーコガ）– (Composition) 2004 - 2005
  • Kya（キャ）– (keyboards) - 2003 - 2006

Albums

AlbumReleaserDate
BRINY AIRPOTENEKO ACADEMY ORIGINAL SOUND TRACKSAugust 17, 2003
MISTRAL NOTEPOTENEKO ACADEMY ORIGINAL SOUND TRACKS 2December 30, 2003
Ragnarok Online Arrange CDMintJam / GRAVITYMarch 3, 2004
1st GIG #AwakeAugust 15, 2004
2nd GIG #Break OutNov 10, 2004
ATMOSPHERE POTENEKO ACADEMY ORIGINAL SOUND TRACKS 1&2December 30, 2004
April 24, 2005
3rd GIG #Crescent August 14, 2005
4th GIG #DecideDecember 30, 2005
Passing by / SWAY (风叶×MintJam)April 29, 2006
5th GIG #Energy DriveAugust 13, 2006
extra GIG #Crying MoonOctober 9, 2006
Reincarnation June 30, 2007
Little Busters! Arrange Album "Rockstar Busters!" December 29, 2007
R(MintJam×ViViX) December 21, 2007
chronograph August 16, 2008
JUDGEMENT DAYSeptember 3, 2008
Million KNights Vermilion -Original SoundtrackDecember 29, 2008
KEY tribute albumVivid ColorsMay 5, 2009
Prometheus October 11, 2009
Beyond the Eternity (Rita×MintJam) May 5, 2010
Identity December q11, 2010
Philosophyz / 闇の彼方へ (MintJam Version) December 29, 2011
Accel World Original Soundtrack feat. MintJamSeptember 26, 2012
Rewrite & Rewrite Harvest festa! Arrange Album "dye mixture"December 29, 2012
Try to be Brave / Weed SpiritApril 29, 2013
Little Monster[2] August 12, 2013
Back-Alley SpidersMarch 19, 2014
Keep on JammingOctober 12, 2014
Hysteria April 26, 2015
Guilty[3] October 25, 2015
Made-up Mind[4] October 25, 2016
Light Me Up[5] October 30, 2016
Blue Lightning[6] April 30, 2017
ONE[7] October 29, 2017
Eclipse[8] June 30, 2018
Now Or NeverApril 23 2023
Interlude (20th Anniversary Album)October 29, 2023

References

  1. ↑ "MintJam Interview: The Japanese Rock Band's Rise to Fame".
  2. ↑ "MintJam - mini album 【Little Monster】". www.mintjam.net. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  3. ↑ "MintJam 2015秋シングル "Guilty" 特設ページ". www.mintjam.net. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  4. ↑ "MintJam 2016 配信限定アルバム "Made-up Mind"". www.mintjam.net. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  5. ↑ "MintJam 2016秋マキシ "Light me Up" 特設ページ". www.mintjam.net. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  6. ↑ "2017 MintJam EP "BLUE LIGHTNING" 特設ページ". www.mintjam.net. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  7. ↑ "2017 MintJam EP "ONE" 特設ページ". www.mintjam.net. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  8. ↑ "MintJam on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
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