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 Oreskaband bounces into a room chattering like a group of
high school girls, because that's what they are. The Sony
recording group
is barely removed from Osaka high schools, and already they're touring
across the Pacific. Tomi, Moriko, Saki, Leader, Taesan and Ikasu
started the band in middle school, playing their version of Caribbean
ska music. The Anime Expo appearance for the teen sextet was
their second American concert after a South by Southwest festival show
in Austin, Texas and someCalifornia appearances . They've already made
a Pocky commercial in Japan, and they're even going to star in a movie
about themselves for which the band members are writing the music. All
of this seems like a heady rush to success for a group so young. "I
have a hard time grasping the idea of success that you mean," said
Leader. "Each year has been different. We haven't had the same
experience each time. Each day is going to be a challenge and that will
continue." As happens with so many older performers, music is life for
these youngsters. Ikasu said "When we're making music, that's when we
feel the most alive. One hundred percent I'm certain that's why we make
music." |
 Among
ska bands, Ikasu mentioned the British group Madness as an inspiration.
Ironically, Madness had its biggest hits before any of Oreskaband's
members were born. These girls listen to plenty of non-ska Western pop
music - Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind and Fire
among them - and take them among their inspirations. The band members
spoke often at the interview session of the need to reach as many
people as possible with their music. Taesan, who writes most of their
lyrics, said "Good clothes need to be wearable by everyone, and music
that is accessible by everyone is good music." added Ikasu to the
positive reaction to the Anime Expo concert, "We send out our music to
anyone who is willing to listen - maybe that's why it's accessible."
They admitted that they argue sometimes, but those are the kind of
arguments that happen among friends. Six weeks after Anime Expo,
Oreskaband was scheduled for a mid-August concert tour
in California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho, of all places.
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