About Rie fu
- Name
- Funakoshi, Rie
- Stage Name
- Rie fu
- Birthdate
- 11 January, 1985
- Birthplace
- Tokyo, Japan
- Influences
- The Carpenters, Carole King, Matsutoya Yumi, Sheryl Crow, Michelle Branch, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley
- Genres
- J-Pop, Pop, Folk Rock, Folk Pop, Soft Rock
- Years Active
- 2004 - Present
- Labels
- SME Japan (Palm Beach: 2004-2008, gr8! records: 2008-2012);
Rie fu inc. (2012-) - Official Links
- Website, Artist's Gallery, Ameba & Vogue Blogs (current), Excite Blog (old), Facebook Page, Twitter, Tumblr, YouTube
Rie fu spent a part of her childhood (1992-1995) in Maryland, US, before returning to Japan from 1995-2003. She finished her primary and secondary education in Tokyo; it was during high school years that she began her musical endeavors. She learned guitar in 2002, and recorded 30 of them in a month to a small tape recorder. She sent the demo off to Sony Music Japan, and the rest is history--her debut single Rie who!? was released in March 2004.
She graduated from the University of London (Central St. Martins College of Art & Design) on 18th July 2007, after studying fine art painting (having previously shifted from fashion to graphic design). She has stated on her website that she would like to become a student again. Rie often designs her own album and single booklets, many of which feature her own paintings.
Rie's songs are often bilingual, as she is fluent in both English and Japanese. Many of them feature entire verses written in English, with complimentary lyrics booklet translations. Several of her Japanese-only songs have been later released as English-language versions. She usually relates her songs to her thoughts and experiences, and in her PVs, she tends to keep things simple, with shots focused on her just playing the piano.
She has commuted between the United Kingdom and Japan for the recording and promoting of her songs. In England, Rie released an album titled Who is Rie fu? on 3rd March 2008, by U.K. label Tired & Lonesome, marking her European debut. A Japanese version with a different tracklist was to be released on 5th March 2008, but its release now appears to be shelved.
2009 was a year of opportunities--she performed in New York for the first time, toured with renowned folk singer Inoue Yosui, and joined the Japanese post-rock band delofamilia, ORANGE RANGE's NAOTO's solo project.
Her fourth album URBAN ROMANTIC (8th April 2009) seemed to break away from her usual style (as suggested by the album title), featuring less folk-pop songs, with more upbeat, synthesized touches here and there. However, her next album, the self-produced at Rie sessions (a pun on atelier), saw her going back to the folk pop vein as she collaborated with different artists, fulfilling one of her resolutions.
What followed next was I Can Do Better, a singles compilation, which included a new track, "For Your Wedding." By early 2012, Rie formed her own music label, Rie fu inc., and through it released her first independent album THE BIGGER PICTURE domestically, as well as internationally through iTunes.
What does the future have in store for Rie? Only time will tell. :)
Edited & based from Yume's original page, English & Japanese Wiki, ThePPN, and the official site.