Moumoon

Moumoon (stylized as moumoon) is a Japanese pop duo comprising YUKA (vocals) and Kousuke Masaki (guitar). The band's name is a portmanteau of the French word "mou" (soft) and the English "moon".

Moumoon
OriginJapan
GenresPop
Years active2005 (2005)-present
LabelsGate Records (2006)
Avex Trax
(2007 to 2020)
Village Again Association (2021 to present)[1]
MembersYUKA
Kousuke Masaki
Websitewww.moumoon.net

The duo met at a summer rock festival in 2004; after swapping demo tapes, the pair decided to work together professionally. The band self-produced and arrange the vast majority of their songs, with Masaki composing the music while YUKA writes the lyrics.　

Both band members were brought up on classical music, with Masaki playing piano and YUKA a keen violinist. Their present musical style covers various types of music such as pop, alternative rock, electronica, folk and indie rock.

A popular band in their native Japan and elsewhere, many of their songs have received massive amounts of radio airplay, and been used in TV commercials and television soundtracks. They tour regularly (including a sequence of "Fullmoon Live" shows every full moon night), and are best known for their 2010 top-ten single, "Sunshine Girl".

Biography

2004–2006: Formation and indies

Yuka and Masaki met in summer 2004, but it was not until 2005 that they formed Moumoon.[2] In October 2005, the duo held their first live performance at the Omotesando FAB.[2] In 2006, they signed with the indie label Gate Records and released their debut single "Flowers/Pride".[3] The single charted on the Oricon single charts at number 106.[4] Soon after, Moumoon released their debut mini-album, Flowers (September 2006), which debuted at number 63 on the Oricon album charts.[5]

Major debut

On May 12, 2010, they released their eighth single, "Sunshine Girl", which entered the Oricon single charts at number 12, a first for the group.[6] The following week the single rose to number 10, becoming their first Top 10 single.[7] The duo released their fourth mini-album, titled Spark, on July 7, 2010.[8]

In 2015, moumoon performed at the SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas, as part of the Japan Nite showcase.[9]

2021–present: Back to indies

On November 30, 2020, it was announced that their contract with Avex Trax had expired and the duo decided to not renew it, and they will be working independently again after 13 years of contract with Avex.[10] The band signed a new contract with indie label VAA in July 2021.[1]

On March 27, 2022, it was announced via the group's official Instagram account that Masaki and Yuka had married.[11]

Discography

Studio albums
No. Release Title
1 2008.11.08 moumoon
2 2011.03.02 15 Doors
3 2012.02.08 No Night Land
4 2013.01.30 PAIN KILLER
5 2014.01.29 LOVE before we DIE
6 2015.08.12 It's Our Time
7 2017.03.14 Flyways
8 2019.03.06 Newmoon

Concept albums
No. Release Title
1 2014.06.18 ICE CANDY

Mini-albums
No. Release Title
Indie 2006.09.06 Flowers
1 2007.08.22 love me?
2 2010.03.24 Refrain
3 2010.07.27 SPARK

Singles
No. Release Title
Indie 2006.07.26 Flowers / pride
1 2007.12.05 Do you remember?
2 2008.06.04 Tiny Star
3 2008.10.15 more than love
4 2009.02.25 EVERGREEN
5 2009.07.22 On the right
6 2009.11.25 Aoi Tsuki to Ambivalence na Ai
7 2010.05.12 Sunshine Girl
8 2010.11.10 moonlight / Sky High / YAY
9 2011.08.03 Chu Chu
10 2011.12.14 Uta wo Utaou
11 2012.03.14 "Love is Everywhere"
12 2012.05.02 Wild Child
13 2012.08.29 Hanabi
14 2012.12.12 DREAMER DREAMER / Doko e mo Ikanai yo
15 2014.05.08 Jewel
16 2014.08.27 I'm Scarlet
17 2015.02.25 Hello,shooting-star

Special singles
No. Release Title
1 2010.06.25 Let's dance in the moonlight
2 2010.12.01 my Secret Santa

Digital singles
No. Release Title
1 2007.11.28 Do you remember? (moumoon exclusive Ver.)
2 2008.06.04 Tiny Star Exclusive
3 2008.10.15 more than love ~Special Edition~
4 2009.09.16 Destiny
5 2009.11.25 Aoi Tsuki to Ambivalence na Ai + Acoustic version
6 2010.10.13 One Step
7 2012.10.10 Vanitas
8 2013.10.25 Lovin' You
9 2013.11.06 Emerald no Oka
10 2013.12.17 winter fall
11 2014.01.15 I say You say I You
12 2014.04.16 Jewel
13 2014.08.06 I'm Scarlet
14 2014.10.02 BF

References
  1. "【moumoon】7/26(月)にニューシングルを配信リリース！" [【moumoon】 New single will be released online on 7/26 (Mon.)!] (in Japanese). Village Again Association Co. Ltd. July 8, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  2. "インタビュー：moumoon「色褪せない音楽を作りたい」(livedoor) - livedoor ニュース". Livedoor (in Japanese). 2008-06-08. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
  3. "インタビュー：moumoon「ものすごく激しいものと、ものすごく優しいものという両極端」(livedoor) - livedoor ニュース". Livedoor (in Japanese). 2008-12-19. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
  4. "Ｆｌｏｗｅｒｓ／ｐｒｉｄｅ ｍｏｕｍｏｏｎのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
  5. "Ｆｌｏｗｅｒｓ ｍｏｕｍｏｏｎのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
  6. "検索結果-ORICON STYLE アーティスト/CD検索". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
  7. "蒼井優出演の資生堂「ANESSA」TVCMソングがオリコン急上昇！(hotexpress) - livedoor ニュース". Hot Express (in Japanese). Livedoor. 2010-05-26. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
  8. "資生堂ANESSA TV-CMソング moumoon、 「Sunshine Girl」ランキング急上昇！ - CDJournal.com ニュース". Ongaku Shuppansha (in Japanese). CD Journal. 2010-05-26. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
  9. "moumoon at SXSW 2015". SXSW Music. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  10. "moumoonより大切なお知らせ". moumoon's avex website. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  11. "男女ユニット「moumoon」YUKAとMASAKIが結婚「これからは家族として支え合い」". Nikkan Sports. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
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