Soulhead

Soulhead is a Japanese urban contemporary duo consisting of sisters Yoshika (よしか, , born 20 July 1978) and Tsugumi (つぐみ, , born 25 January 1981) who hail from Hokkaidō.

Biography

Before they assumed the name Soulhead, they were known as Batti Baas. Batti Baas released one vinyl single through Handcuts Records called "Lovin' You", which featured Aaron Blackmon. The song was a remake of the Minnie Riperton standard. In February 2002 they released a CD single through Tokuma Japan Communications called "Inside Out". After changing their name to Soulhead, the duo was signed to Sony Music Associated Records. The label sent them one year abroad to Australia and New Zealand to improve their proficiency in English. They released their debut single "Step to the New World" on 24 July 2002 as a vinyl 12" single. In 2006, they were transferred to Sony Music Associated Records' sublabel, onenation. So far they have released 15 singles, 3 regular albums, 2 remix albums & 1 greatest hits album and they have also been featured on 1 single. They have also appeared on various compilations. Soulhead's sound is a blend between various genres such as soul, hip-hop, R&B, dancehall, reggae and funk, and many of their lyrics are in English. They usually work with the production team known as Octopussy. They have also worked on releases with other Japanese artists such as Kumi Koda and Soul'd Out, and Yoshika is also a renowned songwriter who have worked with artists such as Sowelu, Ken Hirai, & Crystal Kay. On 21 February 2007 they released a compilation called Best of Soulhead, which contained all their singles released to date, as well as some B-sides. It came as a CD only, and CD+DVD package.

On February 24, 2010, after a 4 year break, they released a new album titled "SOULHEAD"^[2] under Avex Group, their new home. The album charted on the 40th position on the ORICON charts after a week of the release. On September 28, 2011, the duo released their second Avex album, Jump Up The Wall, their last release to date.

Influences

Some musical artists who they respect are Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, The Beatles, Janis Joplin, Takuro Yoshida, and Ice Cube.

Personal life

It was announced in their official blog that Yoshika gave birth to a baby.

Discography

Albums

• Oh My Sister 5/03/2003; #3, 22 weeks, 214,545 copies sold
• Re-construct album Vol.1 "Reflection" 26/09/2003; #89, 5 weeks, 9,602 copies sold
• Braided 28/04/2004; #4, 13 weeks, 139,992 copies sold
• Naked 08/03/2006; #5, 17 weeks
• Re-construct album Vol.2 "Crystallized" 21/06/2006; #41, 4 weeks
• Best of Soulhead 21/02/2007; #5, 2 weeks
• Soulhead 24/02/2010; #40
• Jump Up The Wall 28/09/2011

Singles

• "Lovin' You" 1/07/2001 (as Batti Baas featuring Aaron Blackmon)
• "Inside Out" 6/02/2002 (as Batti Baas)
• "Step to the New World" 24/7/2002 (12"), 21/08/2002 (CD); #24, 17 weeks, 59,287 copies sold
• "Lover, Knight, Man" 20/11/2002; #36, 8 weeks, 18,410 copies sold
• "Sora (空, sky)" 5/02/2003; #28, 6 weeks, 16,035 copies sold
• "Oh My Sister (remix)"/"I'm just going down" 2/5/2003;#114, 3 weeks, 2,561 copies sold
• "Get Up! EP" 30/7/2003; #28, 6 weeks, 15,967 copies sold
• "Break Up (DJ Masterkey remix)"/"Playboy (Saigenji remix)" 20/08/2003
• "Too Late (DJ Watarai remix)"/"Song For You (DJ HIROnyc remix)" 20/08/2003
• "Lover, Knight, Man (D.O.I. + Octopussy remix)"/"MOON SHINE (Doggystyle remix)" 10/09/2003
• "To Da Fake MCS (D.O.I. remix)"/"Sky (空, sora) (Tomita Lab. remix)" 26/09/2003
• "You Can Do That" 21/01/2004; #36, 12 weeks, 18,691 copies sold
• "No Way" 24/03/2004; #50, 4 weeks, 5,353 copies sold
• "At The Party" 2/06/2004
• "Sky (空, sora)" 7/07/2004 (re-release)
• "Oh My Sister (remix)/I'm just going down" 7/07/2004 (re-release)
• "Get Up! EP" 7/07/2004 (re-release)
• "Fiesta" 25/05/2005; #35, 4 weeks, 7,773 copies sold
• "Sparkle☆Train"/"Got to leave" 14/12/2005; #30, 6 weeks, 15,324 copies sold
• "D.D.D. (with Kumi Koda" 21/12/2005; #5, 3 weeks, 47,608 copies sold
• "Pray/XXX feat. Koda Kumi" 27/01/2006; #22, 2 weeks, 10,109 copies sold
• "XXX (worked by Sa-Ra)"/"Pray (worked by Kenny Dope)" 13/07/2006
• "Sparkle☆Train (worked by Mark De Clive-Lowe)"/"You Can Do That (worked by Reel People)" 13/07/2006
• "Kimi no Kiseki" (キミノキセキ, Your miracle)/"Itsumademo..." (いつまでも…, Forever) 6/12/2006; #56, 3 weeks
• "Dear Friends" 24/1/2007; #60, 1 week^[3]

Video

• Oh My Sister Live&Clips 8/10/2003
• Soulhead tour 2006 "Naked" 9/08/2006
• 5th Anniversary Tour: Best Of Soulhead 7/11/2007

References

External links

• Soulhead official Sony web site
• Soulhead official Avex web site
• Soulhead @ Avex
• Soulhead discography @ Discogs
• Soulhead @ Oricon Style music
• Soulhead @ OikakeNet