Riyu_

Riyu Konaka

 I spent most of my childhood in Chicago and New York City, and started music after I returned to Japan. I came back to Japan at age twelve, and the differences between the two cultures built the basis of my thoughts. In my American classroom were African, Phillipino, Israeli, Dutch, Korean, Chinese … children with different cultural backgrounds. It was a powerful environment, and I thought I saw a somewhat ideal society. I like putting myself in an atmosphere with conflicting personalities and sense of values, hopefully creating much greater harmony. Because it’s more of a challenge. And besides, it’d be boring if we were all the same.

 I hope to abolish the many borders - like gender, age, and nationalities.

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 Riyu started learning classical piano from three, and lived in Chicago and New York City from six to twelve, until the middle of Junior High School. Later, she graduated from Osaka University, studied at the University of Heidelberg.

 1996. Released debut album “Hiccups” from poet Bun Onoe’s Independent Label “Good Humor”. The CD was produced by his spoken word music team ‘Boy Meets Girl’, and collaborated with organ trio Medeski, Martin and Wood, and guitarist Marc Ribot, plus Hiroyasu Yaguchi Brass Group.
 1997-98. N.Y. Recording Series - “A Funny Egg”(1997) “oops!”(1997) “Hokey-Dokey”(1998). Musicians: Marc Ribot (g), Sebastian Steinberg (wb), Yuval Gabay (dr), Charlie Giordano (p, key), Peter Scherer (synth, wur), the Jazz Passengers, John Medeski, Billy Martin, Chris Wood, many musicians who riyu respects. Released from Polystar.
 1999. Maxi-Single“Bullshit”, Image-Song for N.Y.I.F.F.M.(N.Y. Independent Feature Film Market) in Japan. She also participated in director Carrie Ansell's movie “flushed”(film selected for N.Y.I.F.F.M.'99) with Opening & Ending Theme for the “flushed" video (Japanese ver.).
 2000. 1st Full-Length Album “Riyu’s Album -monster vs. hamster”- best selection of Riyu's first recordings from 1995 - 1999 with great musicians who she respects. (-iincluding 1 new track + new re-mastering)

 2003. 1st Live DVD&CD “That Live”
 2004. 1st Multi Language Poetry Book “Messing Up Japanese” (Shichosha).
 2005. Bilingual Short Story“Tooth Fairies” (Magazine 'Gunzo')
 2006. Live album "Flushed Tour", new album "AFTER GIRL" (all compose, produce, mix by riyu / lyrics by riyu, riyu + Bun Onoe / arrange by Osamu Matsumoto, Shin Kono, Shinobu Imai, riyu. Appears as guest vocal for English Standard on compilation album "aloha chill" (Pony Canyon).
 2007. Appears as guest vocal on Turkish musician, Murat Ses's album "umami"(clou), released in U.S.A. and worldwide. 2008. 'Danai Lounge' is scheduled to be released from Greece this Summer.

http://www18.ocn.ne.jp/~riyuhi/)