Yukari Fresh

Infobox musical artist
Name = Yukari Fresh


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Origin = Tokyo, Japan
Genre = Shibuya-kei, Pop, J-Pop
Years_active = 1997–present
Label = Escalator Records
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URL = [http://www.escalator.co.jp/ Official Escalator Records Website]
Current_members = Yukari Fresh (Yukari Takasaki, ゆかり　高崎)
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Yukari Fresh (real name nihongo|Yukari Takasaki|高崎ゆかり|Takasaki Yukari), is a Shibuya-kei artist.

Beginnings

Yukari Takasaki was a member of one of Tokyo's Escalator Records' first bands, Snapshot. The duo (Takasaki and her current husband, Yugo Katayama) released several singles and EPs, but turned to solo and other collaborative work in the later mid-90s.

Solo debut

Yukari debuted with the cheekily titled "Yukari's Perfect!" in 1997 on Escalator Records. The record featured such guests as Hideki Kaji and the Genbeat. The poppy, whimsical record gained the attention of Shibuya-kei artists (Cornelius, Kahimi Karie, and other early Shibuya-kei artists) and Germany's Bungalow Records (the label which pressed a split single with Stereo Total later in 1997), even though Yukari was still a newcomer to the solo music scene. Yukari was asked to contribute to the 1998 "Sushi 4004" compilation, a compilation which featured other Shibuya-kei artists of repute such as Kahimi Karie, Takako Minekawa, Fantastic Plastic Machine, and Yoshinori Sunahara. The compilation introduced Western listeners to the world of Japanese pop, and specifically the Shibuya-kei scene.

Middle period

Yukari's debut was followed shortly by a mini-album called "Cook Some Dishes". The album is actually a mix of shortened versions of many of the artist's songs. In January 2000, Yukari released "Cityrama", which again featured an appearance from Hideki Kaji, along with Mike Alway, Pop Tarts, and several others. Before releasing another full album, Yukari did another mini-album, "Erik". It was said that "Erik" was a more mature record, one which featured an artist who had found her place. Reviewers also commented on the glossy, more focused production qualities. February 2003 marked the release of Yukari's third full-length album, "Trefoils Hat". The album has been seen as Yukari's most accomplished work to date in that it is her most focused piece. Yukari's songwriterly, poppy side took precedence on this album, leaving some of the more dance-oriented disco tracks out. In 2004, maintaining her consistently cutesy appeal, Yukari informed the world she had changed her name to Yukari Rotten, and that punky electropop was now her sound. "Not Dead", the name of the Yukari Rotten debut album, did have more punch and electroclash aesthetic about it than any of her previous works. It featured the curiously titled single "C.L.I.J.S.T.E.R.S.", as well as many other bizarrely named pieces like "Going To Heaven To See The Househunters & Fat Truckers If It Rains", "Dub Rotten Fan Club", and "Bankrupt Black Book".

Current situation

In February 2005 (by this time, Yukari had gone back to being Fresh), the remix album "Me" was released. It featured songs from all of her albums, remixed by an international crowd of admired artists.

Yukari has kept busy over the years, recording with other artists (i.e. Fantastic Plastic Machine and Mansfield), DJing various parties, and hosting her own radio show, "Radio Active Man".

Discography

ingles

*07/99 "Lost & Found"
*??/03 "Horsey Marie"

Albums

*1997.10.00 "Yukari's Perfect!"
*1998.09.22 "Cook Some Dishes"
*1999.02.00 "New Year's Fresh"
*2000.01.28 "Cityrama"
*2001.11.21 "Erik"
*2003.02.01 "Trefoils Hat"
*2004.05.19 "Not Dead" (Yukari Rotten)
*2005.02.26 "ME"
*2005.03.24 "Twelve Plus Twelve"
*2008.08.27 "Grrrl, Summer Cape Kid, etc."

External links

* [http://www.escalator.co.jp/ The Official Escalator Records website]
* [http://yukari-fresh.i-radio.fm/ Yukari's 'Radio Active Man' radio show website]