Fronted by Sharaku Kobayashi (ex-metronome), GalapagosS play electro-rock with dashes of punk, new wave and video game sounds, topped off with a distinctly Japanese flavour.
Formed in 2010, GalapagosS quickly attracted a following because of its experienced members. Its line-up includes Sharaku Kobayashi and Shintarou, both formerly of metronome, and Gokimi., who was a member of TOKYO HEROES.
The trio released their first mini-album, Soy sauce impulse, in April 2011. Its cover featured an ukiyoe print of a woman dressed in traditional Japanese attire, but also equipped with a pair of the band’s signature visor sunglasses. The use of ukiyoe, a type of woodblock print first developed in Japan, emphasized the band’s goal to represent distinctly Japanese culture in their work.
That October saw GalapagosS take part in a mini-tour of Europe with two other electro-rock groups, which brought them to France and the UK. To promote these shows, their first full album, Black including all, was made available for download on the website HearJapan a full week in advance of its release date.
The year 2012 saw GalapagosS take part in a JaME x Râmen Events contest, where fans voted to bring one Japanese band on a European tour. Although OROCHI came out on top, GalapagosS expressed their eagerness to return to Europe, and one can only hope that this desire will be realized in the future.
