[Oricon]Two Ex-Stereopony members with the trial of 7 spectators…comeback with new band Draft King.

Original Article

元ステポニ2人、観客7人の試練も…新バンド「Draft King」で再起

2012年末に惜しまれながらも解散した3人組ガールズバンド、ステレオポニーのベース・NOHANA（25）とドラム・SHIHO（24）が、昨年1月に結成した4人組ガールズバンド「Draft King」（ドラフトキング）として、オリコンNewSの取材に応じた。ライブの観客が7人となった試練を乗り越え、このほど大手芸能事務所サンミュージックと契約した彼女たちが、ステレオポニー解散からの2年間を振り返った。

　2008年11月にデビューし、全員平成生まれで話題を呼んだステレオポニーが解散したのは、4年後の12年12月のこと。2ndシングル「泪のムコウ」（09年2月発売）がオリコン週間2位、テレビ朝日系『ミュージックステーション』に出演し、当時活動を休止していたYUI（現在はyui）から楽曲提供されるなど、若くして活躍していただけに衝撃は大きかった。

　解散を決めた当時から「バンドを辞めるという選択肢はなかった」というSHIHOとNOHANAは、「解散してからもすぐに活動できるように」とボーカルのerica（21）とギターのMAO（22）を加え、解散の翌月にはDraft Kingの活動をスタートさせた。

　東京・赤坂BLITZで行われたステレオポニーの解散ライブは即日完売だったが、結成当時のDraft Kingのライブは観客がわずか7人だったことも。SHIHOは「どうにかなるんじゃないかっていう甘えがなかったって言ったらウソになります。ゼロから作り上げていくことはこんなに大変なんだって、本当に身に染みて感じました」と振り返る。

　解散に伴って所属事務所との契約も終了し、SHIHOら3人はバンドの活動費を作るためにアルバイト。「週6」で都内の飲食店でバイトしていたSHIHOは、男性客2人に「ステレオポニーのSHIHOさんに似てるって言われませんか？」と声をかけられ、「本人です」と答えて驚かせたこともあった。

　リーダーのNOHANAはバイトをしない代わりに、物販の搬入出や販売、精算、地方ライブ会場までの車の運転など「バンド周りのことをほぼすべて」担った。メジャー時代とは全く違う環境に戸惑いながらも、10代のときにはできなかった経験を積んだ2人は「いい期間だった」と口をそろえる。

　インディーズで地道に活動し、結成1年で東京・渋谷クアトロ単独公演を成功させた。ようやく所属事務所も決まり、12月17日の渋谷eggman単独ライブには、先輩となったスギちゃんが応援に駆けつける。NOHANAは「自分たちもどうなるかわからないんですけど、すごく楽しいことになると思うので、みんなで盛り上がりたいなと思います」といい、お笑い芸人との異色コラボレーションを心待ちにする。

　事務所が決まったとはいえ、レーベル契約は結んでおらず、バイトを完全に辞めるわけにはいかない生活だが、最近はレコーディングの日々。「新曲を早く届けられたら」と力を込める。メジャーシーンから一転、インディーズで試練を味わった彼女たちは、地に足をつけた活動を続けつつも、華やかな世界への復帰を目指す。


English

Spoiler

Two Ex-Stereopony members with the trial of 7 spectators…comeback with new band Draft King.

After the breakup of the 3 piece band Stereopony at the end of 2012 filled with regret, the bassist NOHANA (25) and drummer SHIHO (24) formed the 4 piece band Draft King last year in January, and as Draft King accepted an interview to oricon NEWS. After getting through the tribulation of 7 spectators at a live, after signing with the big talent agency Sun music, they look back to the Two years after Stereopony’s disbandment.

Débuting in November 2008, the band Stereopony consisting of members all born in the Heisei era disbanded 4 years later in December 2012. Their 2nd single “Namida no Mukou” (went on sale February ’09）came in 2nd place in the Orion weekly ranking, they made an appearance on TV Asahi’s “Music Station”, co-produced a song with YUI who is currently on hiatus (now yui), they took part in impressively large activities although they were so young.

Starting from the time they decided to breakup NOHANA and SHIHO thought “We didnt see the alternative to stop playing in a band” and thinking about “being able to continue activities right after disbandment” they added their vocalist Erica (21) and their guitarist mao and began activities as Draft King the following month.

Steropony’s disbandment live which took place in Tokyo Akasaka BLITZ was sold out the same day, but at the time of their formation, there were only 7 spectators at Draft King’s live. SHIHO looked back” If I said we weren’t so naïve as to believe it wouldn’t turn out like that, I would be lying. Starting up from zero is this hard, that feeling permeated through my body.”

Along with the disbandment came the end of their contract, SHIHO and the others all got part time jobs to pay for band activities. “Week 6”, at a restaurant in the metropolitan area where she was working, SHIHO was asked by two male customers “Have you ever been told you look like SHIHO-san from Stereopony?” and to their surprised answered “That is me”

In place of getting a part time job the leader NOHANA、shouldered the movement of goods, their sale, calculations, and drove them to live venues in the countryside, and “pretty much everything having to do with the band”. While being troubled by the different circumstances compared to the “major” era, and piling on experiences they couldn’t have when they were in their teens, the two agreed “It was a good time period”.

They held earnest activities while in the indies, and within a year of their formation they made their solo live at Tokyo, Shibuya QUATTRO a success. Finally deciding to join an agency, Sugi-chan, now their senior will come to cheer them on. NOHANA commented that “We don’t know what will happen but I think it will turn out to be fun so, I want everyone to enjoy themselves”, look forward to the unique collaboration with the comedian.

Having decided on an agency and signing a label contract, they have not completely quit their part time jobs but, these days they have been recording. Packing in the power of the feeling “If our new songs can reach you faster”. Turing to the major scene, having experienced the tribulation of the indies, while continuing the activities that got their feet on the ground, the girls aim to make a comeback into the wonderful world.

 

Wow god damn...only 7 people? How is that even possible. This article definitely needs to get spread around seeing as there's so much new info about their break time.

Cheers for the TL

 

Well, it did say that they started activities immediately after announcing they were disbanding. iirc, their first show was around December 1. None of us even knew about Draft King until they performed at the X'mas Live, so I guess it makes sense that so few people knew about Draft King when they were starting.