Petit Brabancon
OriginJapan
Genres
Years active2021–present
LabelsDanger Crue
MembersKyo
yukihiro
Miya
Hirofumi Takamatsu
antz
Websitewww.petitbrabancon.jp

Petit Brabancon is a Japanese supergroup, active since 2021. It consists of vocalist Kyo (Dir en grey), drummer yukihiro (L'Arc-en-Ciel), guitarists Miya (Mucc) and antz (Tokyo Shoegazer), and bassist Hirofumi Takamatsu (The Novembers). Having been secretly writing and recording music since 2018 or 2019, the band was not publicly unveiled until December 2021.

History

Kyo (pictured) formed Petit Brabancon out of his desire to make music with yukihiro.

A big fan of yukihiro since his days in Zi:Kill, Dir en grey vocalist Kyo approached the drummer about working together four or five years previously.[2] With Kyo not interested in duos, they set out to recruit a five-member band.[2] Needing someone more prolific in composing than himself, yukihiro suggested Mucc guitarist Miya, believing he would also match Kyo's style of loud music.[3] Miya accepted after talking and drinking with Kyo and learning all that the two had in common, such as upbringings and music tastes, including both being big fans of Zi:Kill.[4] He started composing songs in 2018 or 2019.[4][5] It was a while before yukihiro suggested The Novembers bassist Hirofumi Takamatsu and Tokyo Shoegazer guitarist Kiyomi "antz" Watanabe to complete the lineup.[3] Takamatsu said he accepted immediately after getting a call from yukihiro's manager in 2019.[6] He started using a five-string bass, something he had never done before, at the other members' request.[6] antz had played in yukihiro's Acid Android project for about ten years, but left them in 2012. His Tokyo Shoegazer bandmate Hiroshi Sasabuchi had spoken with yukihiro and told antz to get in touch with him. After they caught up in person, yukihiro then called antz and asked him to join the new band in 2019.[7] Not wanting a cool name or a funny one, Kyo named the group after the Petit Brabançon dog breed. He said, despite being a small breed, they have an image of being feisty and barking a lot.[2] He personally owns a dog of a very similar breed.[2]

Petit Brabancon was first announced on October 29, 2021, as an unknown act set to perform at the Danger Crue 40th Anniversary Jack in the Box 2021 event at the Nippon Budokan on December 27.[8] Its members were only revealed alongside an artist photo on December 6.[9] Days before the show, the digital-only double A-side single "Koku / Kawaki", containing three songs, was released on December 24.[10][11] The band's first solo live was held at Club Citta on January 14, 2022.[12] However, it was limited to 29 attendees and noted in advance to be shorter than usual as it was filmed to be used in promotional videos.[13][14] "Kawaki", their first physical single, was released on April 27, included four songs, and was mastered by Ted Jensen.[15][16] Petit Brabancon's first album, Fetish, was released on August 31. All lyrics were written by Kyo, while the majority of the music was composed by Miya, with antz composing four songs, and yukihiro one.[17] The band's first tour, Resonance of the Corpse, took place at five locations between September 8 and 21.[18] Before the tour, they announced the Petit Brabancon fashion line centered on streetwear.[19]

Petit Brabancon performed at Knotfest Japan on April 2, 2023.[20] They released the five-track Automata EP on June 14 and held the six-date Indented Bite Mark tour throughout July.[21][22] The July 29 final date of the tour was cancelled after Takamatsu tested positive for COVID-19 the day before.[23] In January 2024, the band will perform two shows at Line Cube Shibuya in Tokyo and two at Namba Hatch in Osaka. They will sell a two-track CD exclusively at the two Tokyo concerts, the content of which depends on the day, and the first Osaka show will be a two-man live with Rottengraffty.[24]

Musical style

yukihiro explained that Petit Brabancon came about because Kyo wanted to do something "extreme" with him.[3] Miya speculated that Kyo wanted to combine his usual intense and loud music with yukihiro's punk-like style of drumming.[4] The guitarist also felt that Kyo's vision for the band was more hardcore than heavy metal.[25] antz said after he joined, all five members got together and words like "nu metal/loud rock from the 90s–00s" came up.[26] Ryōsuke Tarakane of Mikiki wrote that, while based in nu metal, industrial and alternative rock, Petit Brabancon's music is unrestrained by genre boundaries and has an eerie experimental spirit.[27] Vocalist Kyo said he wants to keep the switching between tones and singing styles from one song to the next more restrained than in Dir en grey.[28] Before their first tour, Kyo said he believed that Petit Brabancon was a "live band" and that the songs will sound "rougher", in a good way, when they play them live.[28]

Miya is the principal composer of music in the band.

Although Kyo comes up with all the melodies in his other bands, Miya often wrote the melodies in Petit Brabancon, while sometimes the two collaborated on them.[2] Miya said he would often ask the singer to sing melodies unlike those in his other bands, and likewise asked yukihiro to play drum phrases he normally would not.[4] Miya also said that he takes the supporting guitar role, playing slightly behind antz to give a three-dimensional sound.[29] antz agreed with the assessment that Miya's songs form the core of Petit Brabancon, and he wants his own songs to bring out other elements of the band.[30] Takamatsu described the songs composed by Miya as heavy but sprinkled with pop catchiness, and those composed by antz as "ceremonial or religious" and "muddy" but with parts that feel like new wave.[31] antz's songs are full of ideas from the other members and ended up different than he had imagined, but the guitarist said he enjoyed the changes.[30]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, the members recorded their parts for the first album separately; with the exception of the two guitarists, who recorded theirs together.[4] Kyo said he prefers this, as he knows best when his voice is good; he will often record at 3 a.m. or 7–8 a.m. and send it to the others.[28] Unusually, he often records his vocals before the drums and bass are dubbed onto the recording.[31] Miya said he would prefer recording together and to record the drums first, but said that might not suit Petit Brabancon and they have already proven that doing it separate works.[25] Kyo described Miya as very detail-oriented, similar to his Dir en grey bandmate Kaoru. But Kyo himself prefers to make decisions in the moment, especially when performing live.[28] He described the songs composed by antz as having been easier for him to understand.[28] As the band's lyricist, Kyo writes the lyrics and records his vocals at the same time.[28] When an interviewer for the music website Barks suggested his lyrics express resentment, anger and frustration with the world, Kyo agreed, admitting to having a negative mindset.[28] Miya agreed that the lyrics are coarse and said that despite being in Japanese, he wanted them to sound like they were not; he does not believe that the listener needs to understand every word.[25]

Members

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album details Oricon Billboard Japan
Hot Albums
Billboard Japan
Top Albums
2022 Fetish 26[32] 28[33] 31[34]

Extended plays

Year EP details Oricon Billboard Japan
Hot Albums
Billboard Japan
Top Albums
2023 Automata
  • Released: June 14, 2023
  • Label: Danger Crue
32[35] 24[36] 29[37]

Singles

Year Single details Oricon Billboard Japan
Top Singles
2022 "Kawaki" (渇き)
  • Released: April 27, 2022
42[38] 39[39]

Video albums

Year Video album details Oricon Music DVD
and Blu-ray Chart
2023 Resonance of the Corpse
  • Released: January 18, 2023
18[40]

Other releases

  • "Koku / Kawaki" (刻 / 渇き, December 24, 2021, digital-only single)
  • "Petit Brabancon Explode -02- Gushing Blood" (sold only at a Line Cube Shibuya concert on January 2, 2024)[24]
  • "Petit Brabancon Explode -02- Neglected Human" (sold only at a Line Cube Shibuya concert on January 3, 2024)[24]

References

  1. 1 2 "INTERVIEW – 高松浩史[Petit Brabancon]". Bass Magazine (in Japanese). August 18, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022. [...]ハードコアやメタルをルーツに、特定のジャンルにくくれない世界観だと感じます。
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "【インタビュー】DIR EN GREYの京、L'Arc-en-Cielのyukihiro、MUCCのミヤを擁する5ピースバンドPetit Brabancon始動、京が語る「トゲトゲしているもの、ぬるくないもの」". Barks (in Japanese). December 6, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 "【インタビュー】Petit Brabancon、yukihiro (L'Arc-en-Ciel)が語るバンドの現在と未来「実現したら何かカッコいいことができるかなって」". Barks (in Japanese). December 21, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "【インタビュー】Petit Brabancon、ミヤ(MUCC)が語る未知のサウンド構築「計算では生まれない危うさや激しさ、そういう純粋な音楽」". Barks (in Japanese). December 28, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  5. "A very special and inspiring interview with Petit Brabancon before their participation at KNOTFEST JAPAN". VerdamMnis Magazine. March 31, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "【インタビュー】Petit Brabancon、高松浩史(THE NOVEMBERS)が語るyukihiroとのリズムセクション「新しい面が引き出された」". Barks (in Japanese). January 3, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  7. "【インタビュー】Petit Brabancon、antz (東京酒吐座)が語る途方もないポテンシャル「これがすべてって感じでは全然ない」". Barks (in Japanese). January 5, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  8. "3年ぶり「JACK IN THE BOX」に44MAGNUM、D'ERLANGER、MUCC×GRANRODEOら". Natalie (in Japanese). October 21, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  9. "<JACK IN THE BOX 2021>、第七弾発表は謎のバンドPetit Brabanconの全貌". Barks (in Japanese). December 6, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  10. "Petit Brabancon、「渇き」「OBEY」ティザー映像公開+「刻」MVプレミア公開決定". Barks (in Japanese). December 21, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  11. "New band "Petit Brabancon" includes members of DIR EN GREY, MUCC, L'arc-en-ciel!". JRock News. December 7, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  12. "京、yukihiro、ミヤ、antz、高松浩史が新バンドPetit Brabancon結成". Natalie (in Japanese). December 6, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  13. "【ライヴレポート】Petit Brabancon、観客29名限定のプレミアムな"わずか6曲ながら恐ろしく密度の濃い25分弱"". Barks (in Japanese). January 17, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  14. "New Band: Petit Brabancon". JaME. June 12, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  15. "Petit Brabancon、新曲含む4曲入り初シングルCD「渇き」を4月リリース". Barks (in Japanese). March 17, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  16. "Petit Brabancon includes exclusive song in single "Kawaki"". JRock News. March 20, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  17. "Petit Brabancon、初アルバム『Fetish』詳細発表!". Geki-Rock (in Japanese). July 1, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  18. "Petit Brabancon、初シングルCD『渇き』発売日4/27に表題曲MVプレミア公開!". Geki-Rock (in Japanese). April 11, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  19. "Petit Brabancon、アパレルブランドを立ち上げ". Barks (in Japanese). August 31, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  20. "「KNOTFEST」第2弾でTrivium、Parkway Drive、オーラル、サバプロ、Petit Brabanconら追加". Natalie (in Japanese). January 24, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  21. "Petit Brabancon新作EPは6曲入り「Automata」". Natalie (in Japanese). April 26, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  22. "Petit Brabancon新作リリース&初のスタンディングツアー開催". Natalie (in Japanese). January 28, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  23. "Petit Brabanconが明日福岡公演をキャンセル、高松浩史のコロナ陽性を受けて". Natalie (in Japanese). July 28, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  24. 1 2 3 "Petit Brabancon、<EXPLODE -02->東京公演の来場者限定配布CD詳細を発表". Barks (in Japanese). September 28, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  25. 1 2 3 "【インタビュー】Petit Brabancon、ミヤが語るアルバム『Fetish』「やっぱりドリームチームだなって感じがある」". Barks (in Japanese). August 3, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  26. "Interview - antz(Petit Brabancon)化学反応を生んだ独自のギター・アプローチ". Guitar Magazine (in Japanese). August 31, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  27. "Petit Brabancon『Fetish』DIR EN GREY京がラルクyukihiroに声をかけて始めた新バンドのラウドで実験精神あふれる初作". Mikiki (in Japanese). September 2, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "【インタビュー】Petit Brabancon、京が語るアルバム『Fetish』「衝動的な勢いをファーストでは大事にしたい」". Barks (in Japanese). August 1, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  29. "Interview - ミヤ(Petit Brabancon) ライヴ感をパッケージしたツイン・ギター". Guitar Magazine (in Japanese). September 2, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  30. 1 2 "【インタビュー】Petit Brabancon、antzが語るアルバム『Fetish』「熱いんだけど冷静なところもある」". Barks (in Japanese). August 4, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  31. 1 2 "【インタビュー】Petit Brabancon、高松浩史が語るアルバム『Fetish』「このバンドでしかできないこと」". Barks (in Japanese). August 2, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  32. "週間 アルバムランキング 2022年09月12日付 (2022年08月29日~2022年09月04日)". Oricon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  33. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  34. "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  35. 週間 アルバムランキング 2023年06月26日付 [Oricon Weekly Album Ranking for June 26, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  36. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  37. "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  38. "週間 シングルランキング 2022年05月09日付 (2022年04月25日~2022年05月01日)". Oricon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  39. "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  40. "週間 ミュージックDVD・Blu-rayランキング 2023年01月30日付 (2023年01月16日~2023年01月22日)". Oricon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
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