Emi Necozawa
From Hkadb
Like Maki Nomiya, Karia Nomoto, Kahimi Karie, and other artists heavily influenced by the collision of French pop, fashion, and other continental touchstones, singer/songwriter Emi Necozawa has crafted a distinctive image based on these reference points that plays just as large a role in attracting fans as does her music. After graduating from college with a degree in percussion, Necozawa worked with several bands as a percussionist and backing vocalist. In 1996, she released Moeru Gomi no Hi on the indie label Clip as a solo artist, and the album soon caught the attention of the majors. She made her major label debut the following year in 1996 with the zippy single "Atashi Dake Ja Dame Ka Na?", followed shortly by the full-length Goldfish Pie on Columbia Music Entertainment. Featuring Necozawa's childlike voice (think early Chara), sexually loaded lyrics, and containing elements of jazz, soul, mondo, French pops, neo-acoustic, and classical music, Goldfish Pie was right in step with the Shibuya-kei sound with which she was immediately associated. Necozawa's second album, Chelsea Girl dropped in 1997, also on Columbia. Featuring more of her distinctive style, Chelsea Girl further ensconced Necozawa in the consciousness of both overseas and Japanese fans, and she was often seen on magazine covers and television with other scenesters of the day. Broken Sewing Machine (1998), Gyan Gyan (1999), and Gentiane (2000) followed, interspersed with numerous singles, selling modestly, but the mainstream success found by some of her more visible peers eluded her. In November 2001, Necozawa teamed up with Momus, who throughout the '90s was peripherally involved in the Shibuya-kei scene, to release the mini-album Mashroom Haircat under the name Mashcat. In 2002, Necozawa relocated to France, also releasing Cafe Churonron the same year on the Quattro label. She maintains a busy performance schedule when she is in Japan, and her performances remain strong draws among the fashionable set. In addition to recording and performing music, Necozawa also remains active as a model, designer, and spokesperson.
