Kazu Makino

Kazu Makino

Makino performing in 2013
Background information
Born (1964-07-02) July 2, 1964
Kyoto, Honshu, Japan[1]
Genres Alternative rock, noise rock, indie rock, dream pop, psychedelic rock, nu-gaze, experimental rock
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, musician
Instruments Vocals, guitar, bass, piano, keyboards, synthesizer
Labels Smells Like, Touch & Go, 4AD
Associated acts Blonde Redhead
Website www.blonde-redhead.com
Notable instruments
Gibson SG Standard[2]

Kazu Makino (Japanese: カズ牧野; July 2, 1964) is a Japanese vocalist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for her work as vocalist and guitarist in the New York-based alternative rock band Blonde Redhead. Since forming Blonde Redhead in 1993 with twin brothers Simone and Amedeo Pace, Makino has released nine studio albums with the band.[3]

Biography

Makino was born in Kyoto, Japan. Makino attended a private school, and described her upbringing as very "old-fashioned."[1] Makino was trained on classical piano as a child and then went on to form an all-girl band in elementary school, as a singer. The band wrote their own lyrics and played what she described as blues music.[1]

After high school, Makino moved to the United States as a foreign exchange student and enrolled in college in New York City where she studied art. She met Italian twin brothers Simone and Amedeo Pace in 1993 in a New York City Italian restaurant. The meeting was orchestrated by a friend who felt the group would have a good musical chemistry, which resulted in the conception of the alternative rock band Blonde Redhead in 1993.[4][5] Makino has stated that she had never intended to have a career in music, and that she also suffers from stage fright.[1][6]

Makino is an avid equestrian and keeps a horse called Harry. In 2002 she suffered an accident falling from a horse; in the accident, the horse trampled her jaw and crushed her facial bones, which required massive reconstructive surgery.[7] Her mouth was wired shut, and she convalesced for months, using the time to write songs. The song "Equus," from the 2004 album Misery is a Butterfly, refers to the accident.[7] Makino has stated that she often gains inspiration from horses while writing music: "They are so musical in their movements and in the sounds they make. Everything they do is rhythmic. I get ideas for grooves—rhythmic ideas—just from riding.”[2]

Discography

Albums

Makino with Blonde Redhead at SoCo Music Festival, June 2008
Blonde Redhead
Year Album US ITA UK Label
1995 Blonde Redhead - - - Smells Like Records
1995 La Mia Vita Violenta - - - Smells Like Records
1997 Fake Can Be Just as Good - - - Touch and Go Records
1998 In an Expression of the Inexpressible - - - Touch and Go Records
2000 Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons - - - Touch and Go Records
2004 Misery Is a Butterfly 180 42 - 4AD
2007 23 63 20 152 4AD
2010 Penny Sparkle 79 - - 4AD
2014 Barragán 180 - -

EPs and singles

Blonde Redhead

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Murphy, Tom (2010-11-26). "Kazu Makino of Blonde Redhead on Penny Sparkle, dealing stage fright and music criticism". Denver Westword. Retrieved 2013-10-30.
  2. 1 2 Hall, Russell (2007-08-17). "Blonde Redhead Use Gibsons to Create Pastoral Art Rock". Gibson.com. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
  3. ↑ "Blonde Redhead". Allmusic. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
  4. ↑ http://www.moron.nl/lyrics/blonde-redhead/biography.html
  5. ↑ http://johnsevencollection.wordpress.com/2009/06/26/blonde-redhead/
  6. ↑ "Blonde Redhead". John Seven Collection. 2009-06-26. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
  7. 1 2 Brown, August (2007-08-16). "Savoring where they are now". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2013-10-30.


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