Fraternal as much as musical, the Japanese duet YANEKA started in February 2005, thanks to Chiyako (English and Japanese lyricist and singer) and her brother Yuichiro (the group's composer). The band developed a new musical style that they called "Japanese Bohemian rock", a mix of traditional Japanese music and modern European music.
As their family works for Buddhist and Shinto temples as carpenters, they named their band after their grandfather's company's.
Chiyako has been learning "nagauta" since her childhood, one genre of traditional Japanese music and often used during kabuki. Because she is passionate for classical music, she has also been involved in a choir. Later, she opened herself to northern European folk music. Her high-pitched voice is what she is characterized by, but beside the quaver usual for nagauta, she also uses vocal percussion techniques.
The multi-instrumentalist musician, best known for his guitar and synthesizer skills, Yuichiro has composed several classical pieces. He is characterized by the use of his guitar and percussion instruments, with which he records samples.
YANEKA started on stage in England with an open mic session. They quickly garnered attention, and received several solicitations of clubs for showcases. Meanwhile, the band performed at rock festivals, such as the One Taste, Stones or the Soundtrack Festival in England. YANEKA also played several dates with their friend Joe Summer, one of the sons of Sting.
In 2006, in response to European interest, the duet headed back to Japan to perform as DJs for a radio station.
In summer 2007, YANEKA was back in Europe to finalize their new album ROOTS. After having played with GJALLARHORN for a date in Sweden, they were the subject of a radio session, thanks to a Swedish national radio network, obviously impressed by the sound quality of their performance. The band then continued performing in France and England, which attracted the music industry's eye, before heading back to Japan. In the autumn of 2007, YANEKA won the first prize of the famous audition show "UK Inspire" and then were able to record at the famous Abbey Road Studio of London.
After several more dates in France and the first J-Music Festival on the 31st of May 2008, they released their second album You’re free under the Japanese label Fish For Music distributing through J-Music Distribution. Though the band is young, they have a burgeoning overseas career, and a strong musical backbone to drive them forward.
