Shinichi Osawa

Shinichi Osawa
Background information
Origin	Japan
Genres	Acid jazz House Electro house
Years active	1989–present
Labels	For Life Records, Avex Trax, Sony Music Japan, Southern Fried, Data, Dim Mak
Associated acts	Mondo Grosso, Africanism, Ravex
Website	http://www.shinichi-osawa.com

Shinichi Osawa (大沢 伸一 Ōsawa Shin'ichi), also known as Mondo Grosso, is an artist currently signed onto Avex Trax's "Rhythm Zone" label. Previously he was signed to Sony Music Japan's FEARLESS RECORDS division and released albums under the title of 'Mondo Grosso', which is Italian for "big world". He was born on February 7, 1967. Over the course of his career he has worked in genres from acid jazz to house, with strong influences of underground club music, though his recent work has been in the genre of electro house. HMV Japan rated Mondo Grosso at #95 on their "Top 100 Japanese Pop Artists".

Background

Osawa was originally the leader and bassist for the popular Japanese musical group Mondo Grosso, which formed in Kyoto in 1991 on the For Life Records label. However, in 1995, the group was disbanded, and Osawa worked more on his own, collaborating with many artists such as Monday Michiru, Amel Larrieux, UA, Chara, Dragon Ash and even Ayumi Hamasaki. In the midst of his collaborative work in 1997, he became a solo producer, releasing the R&B infused acid jazz and house album Closer.

He made a move from For Life Records to Sony Music Associated Records in 1999, where he began his own label. Throughout the years, Osawa acted as a producer for artists such as Bird and Eri Nobuchika. His 2000 album MG4 displayed the diversity of his production, fusing jazz and house. It featured the hit song 'Life', featuring Bird. In 2003 he released Next Wave, a more traditional house album.

Osawa provided the hypnotic array of techno music on the popular PlayStation Portable game Lumines in 2005. He did not reappear as a composer for its sequel.

In 2007 Osawa moved to avex trax. Feeling that, in comparison to his previous albums, the sound reflected more closely his DJ sets and performances (performed under his real name), Osawa released his electro house album The One under the moniker of 'Shinichi Osawa' rather than 'Mondo Grosso'. "Our Song" was the initial single released in Japan, followed by the Chemical Brothers cover Star Guitar. Under his real name, Osawa has received more international attention, creating acclaimed remixes of Felix da Housecat's "Radio" and Digitalism's "Pogo". He also performed at Electric Daisy Carnival, which was his first performance in America. He is also featured in Clazziquai's Robotica album in a remix for Prayers by Christina Chu.

In 2008, he remixed #1-hit song Startin' by Japanese pop sensation Ayumi Hamasaki. The mix appeared on the album Ayu-mi-x 6 -GOLD-.

In October 2008, following a release of Star Guitar as a single by Data Records, Southern Fried Records made a digital release of The One in the UK. A physical release is scheduled for January 2009.

In November 2008, "Our Song" appeared on the 16th version of Konami's DJ simulation series Beatmania IIDX, alongside several other songs by Avex's House Nation group.

Osawa is currently involved in Ravex, a collaboration with fellow Avex DJs Tomoyuki Tanaka and Taku Takahashi established to mark 20 years of Avex. Their debut album Trax was released on April 8, 2009, and follows the release of the singles I Rave U and Believe in LOVE - feat BoA.

Osawa released SO2, the second album under his given name, on June 16, 2010 digitally and June 30 on CD/DVD.

In 2009, Osawa collaborated with Takeshi Kobayashi to form the duo Bradberry Orchestra. With the lead single "LOVE CHECK," Bradberry Orchestra released their first album "Vol.0" on March 16, 2011 in Japan through avex. Songs from the album have been used to promote Sony's Xperia phone as well as SEGA's Yakuza Of the End.

Discography

Mini albums

1993	Marble
1994	Invisible Man
1995	Pieces From the Editing Floor

Albums as head of Mondo Grosso

1993	Mondo Grosso Etc.
1995	Born Free

Solo albums

1998	Closer
2000	MG4
2003	Next Wave
2007	The One
2010	SO2

Live albums

1995	The European Expedition
2004	"Live on the Next Wave (1 and 2)"

Remix albums

1996	Diggin' Into The Real
1998	The Man From The Sakura Hills
2000	Mondo Grosso Best Remixes
2001	MG4R
2003	Henshin
2008	The One+
2009	TEPPAN-YAKI - A Collection of Remixes

Singles

1995	"Oh Lord, Let Me do No Wrong"
1995	"Family"
1997	"Laughter in The Rain"
1997	"Everyday Life/Thing Keep Changin"'
2000	"Life" (feat. Bird)
2000	"Butterfly"
2000	"Now You Know Better"
2001	"Don't Let Go"
2002	"Blz"
2002	"Everything Needs Love" (feat. BoA)
2003	"Shinin'"
2003	"Hikari" (光?, Light)
2007	"Our Song"
2008	"Star Guitar" (cover version of The Chemical Brothers track)
2008	"Push"
2008	"Main Street Electrical Parade"
2009	"EEAA"
2009	"Love Will Guide You"

Compilations

2000	Sakurahills Disco 3000
2004	Make the Style 'drivin' slow'
2009	Teppan Yaki

Mixes

2003	Fearless"THE HOUSE"
2004	Mix the Vibe～STREET KING～
2005	Fearless 4/4 Rockers
2006	Kitsune Udon

Remixes

2000	Jackson 5 - "Never Can Say Goodbye"
2006	Christopher & Raphael Just - "Popper"
2006	Plaid - "White's Dream"
2006	Anna Tsuchiya - "Ah Ah"
2007	Boys Noize - "Feel Good (TV = OFF)"
2007	Mighty Dub Kats - "Magic Carpet Ride 07'"
2007	鉄コン筋クリート - "White's Dream"
2007	Digitalism - "Pogo"
2007	Clazziquai Project - "Prayers"
2007	Bunny Lake - "Strobe Love"
2007	Kap10Kurt - "Dangerseekers"
2007	Thomas Anderson - "Washing Up"
2008	Ayumi Hamasaki - "Startin"
2008	Felix Da Housecat - "Radio"
2008	Rubies - "Stand In A Line"
2008	TVMR - "Bowie In The Bronx"
2008	De De Mouse - "Light Night Dance"
2008	The Subs - "Papillon"
2008	MINMI - "Perfect Vision"
2008	Popular Computer - "Lost & Found"
2008	The Whip - "Blackout"
2008	Cazals - "Poor Innocent Boys"
2008	Alex Gopher - "Aurora"
2009	Bag Raiders - "Turbo Love"
2009	Van She - "Kelly"
2009	Girl Next Door - "情熱の代償"
2009	DJ Ozma - "Masurao"
2009	Lost Valentinos - "Thief"
2009	The Young Punx - "Rock Star"
2009	Hac Mac - "B B Girls B B Boys"
2009	Benny Benassi vs. Iggy Pop - "Electro Sixteen"
2011	Vandroid - "We Exist"
2011	Ayumi Hamasaki - "Appears"

Works as producer and composer

1999	Bird (for Bird)
2000	Mindtravel (for Bird)
2005	nobuchikaeri (for Eri Nobuchika)

External links

• Official website.
• FEARLESS RECORDS official site.
• Shinichi Osawa discography at Discogs.
• Mondo Grosso discography at Discogs.
• HMV Japan Top 100 Japanese Pop Artists. (Japanese)

Persondata
Name	Osawa, Shinichi
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