Wagaku at Its Finest

Wagaku 和楽 means Japanese music, but it refers specifically to music using traditional Japanese instrument and/or sung in traditional Japanese vocals.  Oddly enough, I listen and know more wagaku songs than I do for Chinese themed songs.  Sadly, I think it's due the fact I'm not exposed to C-pop.  I've always loved the sounds of ethnic instruments.  They have a unique identity representing their respective culture.  I was first introduced to wagaku through the music of Rin' and Kagrra.  To be honest, I don't even know how I came across these two now defunct groups.  It's really sad now that I think about it.  Rin' disbanded in 2009 and I haven't heard anything from their members whether they quit music entirely or doing solo work.  Kagrra had announced their "demise" in 2011 and during that summer when I had no access to Internet, news of Isshi's death arrived.  I was deeply saddened because Isshi had a unique voice.  I was hoping to hear that voice of his mature through years of singing and he had passed away at the age of 32.  Because of that, I decided to commemorate him through art and I did an oil painting.  Looking back at it, I wasn't really a good painter to begin with.  If I ever want to, I'll repaint this one.  It's been two years already, coming close to three since Isshi's death.

Below are artists I came across that relate to wagaku.  Roughly in the order of my own timeline.
Rin' 
I came to know this three girl band when I heard the song Fuhen used in the animated Samurai 7.  I didn't enjoy the animated version, but I enjoyed the song.  On my quest to find similar music I started listening to all of Rin's music.  Their last album Inland Sea was my least favorite album.  It started moving in the pop direction as an attempt to attract an American audience.  It displeased me greatly to hear that they had to resort to this method because as a result their music lost their touch.  Below is Murasaki no Yukari, my favorite song.  Purely instrumental.

Kagrra

This was suggested to me on my search for more visual kei bands.  Visual kei is like an addiction for me.  You can't be satisfied with just one band and one look.  You keep looking for more.  Kagrra came up in my search and I fell in love with their melodies.  I'm more of a fan of their later works and not so much their early stuff.  The earliest being Kotodama.  I like how they combine wagaku and alternative rock with more emphasis on the wagaku.  Below is Utakata, a very nice ballad.

Kiryu

After Kagrra ended, I wanted to fill the void inside me.  I was on the lookout for a similar band and I came upon Kiryu.  My first impression of Kiryu was extremely flashy and colorful.  It is still too much for me and it didn't appeal to me.  As of now, I only like a handful of their songs.   I do not find the vocals too charming and I feel that the band focuses more on the visuals rather than the music.  Even though I really don't like them, they appear on practically every issue of SHOXX magazine I get.  Haha  I also have to mention that their other PVs are placed in extremely extravagant settings.  Below is Kisai.

Kyounosuke on NicoNicoDouga 

As a way of learning more about Japanese culture, I made an account on NicoNicoDouga which is like Japan's Youtube or Vimeo.  I came across a Nico singer by the name of Kyounosuke.  He sings in Japanese tradition and tends to cover mostly wagaku style songs.  He has collaborated with a wagaku group that has reinterpreted pop songs into wagaku songs.  I was very convinced Kyounosuke was a girl because I came across a live stream where I listened to him talk.  Wow, what a feminine timber in his voice.  It's actually no surprise because in traditional noh and kabuki, all actors were male and certain actors portrayed female roles and sung the female parts of the play.  Below is Shourinka, a reinterpretation of Touhou's Bad Apple.

Wagakki Band/Hanafugetsu

Recently I came across Wagakki Band.  Wagakki Band is a collaboration with new members that add in the drums, guitar, and a shamisen.  The original three members that do vocals, koto, and flute are Hanafugetsu.  They formed in early 2013 so it's pretty recent.  I came across Tengaku which was originally a Vocaloid song sung by Kagamine Rin.  With Wagakki Band, they covered it into wagaku rock.  I really hope they become a major success because I really like a sample of their music on their Youtube channel.  I don't even know how I can get my hands on their CDs.

Memento Mori

During the week, I came across Memento Mori.  I don't know if they're trying to be Kiryu's opposite.  Memento mori is more hard rock and crossing into metal.  It is more deep sounding in terms of tone and more masculine than Kiryu.  Still they have a rather flashy wardrobe for their visual kei look.  I actually prefer Memento Mori to Kiryu and I'll do a bit more research into their music.  Here's Fuyu Shogun meaning "winter general" released December 2013.

I really hope that in the world of C-pop/C-rock, there's something similar out there.  Some artists do it for only a few songs, but it's not their jam.  I think only 12 Girls Band from China is continuing the tradition of playing Chinese instruments and go on world tours.  They even played at Budokan!  I haven't heard anything new from them and I can't even find their website.