Musicians react to hearing KOIAI - A New Picture (Official Live Video from "1st LIVE in JAPAN"

[@asicdathens]

Kanade Sato was a child prodigy drummer, so was Lisa-X on guitar, and the other guitarist is regular with Nemophila

[@rolandkarlsson7072]

Lisa, Hazuki, Kanade and Waka in the same band is actually more than any band needs. Kanade is actually one of those musicians that have impressed me the most. I have heard her play crazy stuff. I mean high level things. Things you even did not think possible to do. And she is just a sweet little girl. There is a mismatch there.

[@eaviseraitor9085]

Finally ;) I really enjoyed the reaction. They are all amazing. Thank you

[@scttschlz]

If you were the Patreon member who suggested Koiai, thank you. More people should be aware of the group.

[@brucefelter1335]

Lisa-x and Hazuki are shredders for years! Kanade, literally; been playin drums since she was a baby, under her Dad's instruction, Kotono sang with IronBunny till 2021, awesome vocals!

[@yolandria]

" A Heavier Polyphia." It's funny that you mention them. Fun fact: Li-Sa X (Lead guitarist) played/toured with them when they came to Japan. She was 12 at the time.

[@MaartenT]

Kanade Sato was mainly a jazz drummer (playing for Ear Candy Jazz Factory since she was 14 or 15) and is a member of the Jazz fusion band Muses as well. She has been playing drums since she was 3. She also played on a bunch of solo albums by Rie a.k.a. Suzaku (who became her bandmate in Muses) who is a rock/metal guitarist. I honestly think she can basically play whatever she wants. LiSa-X is a child prodigy guitarist who got to work with a bunch of big names over the years (even Western players) and was signed under a record label from her early teens. You should already know the other guitar player Hazuki from Nemophila. The bass player here is Wakazaemon (who plays in East Of Eden and with Marty Friedman's band). She is not part of the band, although I believe she has played on their latest EP as well. Koiai had a very strange start as Guthrie Govan (who knew LiSa-X) gave them a spot on a festival in India even though they only just started out and hardly had any music. They also didn't have a drummer nor a bass player yet, so they used Kanade Sato as guest drummer (who wasn't part of the band yet) and LiSa-X's brother played bass. I am pretty sure they didn't have that much time to preparer for the festival and I believe this was their first live show (in an other country on a pretty big stage).

[@lucasdotart]

Yep, Wakazaemon is credited on their latest EP (Come see me), and yes, unfortunately she is not part of the band as a permanent member.

[@Olkam-w5u]

LiSa-X - is a guitar genius, studied and is currently studying with Paul Gilbert, as a child she studied with Marty Friedman, having won his lessons in a competition.

[@jjo154]

There is speculation that Wakazaemon may join KOIAI as an official member, as she has left East of Eden.

[@MaartenT]

@@jjo154 I wasn't aware she left, but I found the post on the East Of Eden website that she left on November 29th. I made some changes on a discography website to reflect that as well. Very interesting to see what she is going to do as she was always a studio musician and not really a band playing member. I would love see her play more with Kanade Sato though, that's an amazing rhythm section right there.

[@andreaspedersen3952]

@@MaartenT Kind of sad since I really like EOE, but kind of understand why she would? They aren't a very active band, so it might bother Wakazaemon who seems to like doing different things?

[@Olkam-w5u]

Everyone who hears Koi Ai first curses, then cries, and then goes to listen some more.

[@Vitericus1]

Prog metal Cabaret🤘Btw, that’s Hazuki from Nemophila.

[@lucasdotart]

Kotono (the vocalist) was part of IRONBUNNY, and also one of backup dancers for BABYMETAL, not as The Avengers, but part of the "The Chosen Seven".

[@jjo154]

They are all crazy talented and young. Li-Sa-X is nineteen and Kanade Sato turned 22 just a couple of months ago.

[@alastairmcintyre4752]

KOIAI, although a relatively " new " band are the very definition of a Super Group . The line up on this song is - HAZUKI - ace guitarist from Nemophila Li-sa-X - child prodigy on guitar who played onstage alongside some of Japan's best female guitarists at the age of 12 at Naon@Yaon in 2017 and is still only 19 years old KANADE SATO - drums - another child prodigy who is now 22 years old and widely acknowledged as one of Japan's finest drummers KOTONO - a superb vocalist with a very unique voice & Wakazaemon ( Waka ) on bass ( not actually a member of the band - but plays with them when required ) - currently of East of Eden and bassist for Marty Friedman This is definitely a band to watch for the future !

[@wt4555]

Wakazaemon WAS member of East of Eden. She left the band last month.

[@alastairmcintyre4752]

@@wt4555 🤣 story of my life - I can never keep up ! 😉

[@gt1man931]

@@wt4555 East was/is too pop rock. Waka was wasted in that band, and so is Yuki(a stellar guitarist).

[@Zhyntil]

Wakazaemon left EoE on Nov 29th

[@alastairmcintyre4752]

@@Zhyntil I know - I REALLY need to keep up 🙄🤣

[@kristiansavov6528]

🤘Extremely good super group! Thanks for reaction!🤘

[@grahamreed8774]

Hi guys. Their latest CD3 Come See Me, arrived yesterday and is the first studio recording to list Kanade on drums and Wakazaemon as Guest bass player. A second live Blu-ray to be released this month. You don't need anyone else when you have Li-as-X and Hazuki- guitars. Try Come See Me Official Music Video. The only repeated element was an instrumental guitar section.

[@oskisnutz]

Among others like Guthrie Govan, Polyphia, DT, and Racer X, Lisa-X did some Jason Richardson covers years ago, and even performed at NAMM with him (there's video of this), I think that JR influence shines mostly in this one. Their music does scatter across genres, but I heard one person refer to them as Progressive Pop and I think that fits best. The bassist in this video, Wakazaemon (sp) has been a touring bassist for Marty Freidman, and just left her band East of Eden so I'm hoping she becomes a permanent Koiai member. Singer Kotono used to be in a band called Ironbunny (well worth checking out) and was a backup dancer for Babymetal during the Avenger phase. As to Hazuki...just check out Nemophila if you haven't already, that'll tell you all you need to know about her. Koiai is stupid rich on skill and have an approachable style that should garner them some serious attention.

[@SomethingToDo360]

“I heard one person refer to them as Progressive Pop” Might have been me. I recently looked at their official website to see how they define themselves, and they list themselves as a rock band.

[@lucasdotart]

KOIAI is pronounced as "KOI-EYE", so you guys got it right :)

[@thomasmelcher6816]

Hikaru Utada - "Automatic" (Dirty Loops version) / covered by KOIAI,that would be the next recommendation to see the vocal skills of Kotono, have fun👍

[@outwest1014]

The bassist is Wakazaemon, she's talented/beautiful and she plays left-handed. I assume she is sitting in for this recording. Her regular gig is East of Eden. This is Hazuki's other job.

[@jjo154]

Wakazaemon has left East of Eden, so there is the possibility that she could join KOIAI as an official member.

[@Zhyntil]

She is also the bass player for Marty Friedman, she also fills in for a few other projects including LiSA-X band.

[@jjo154]

@@Zhyntil KOIAI is the re-formed Li-sa-X Band.

[@skullz8946]

She works with Mitsuru and all of her projects, along with being a member of MTH cover band Cottelee. It was surprising that she was a member of EoE with so many other things going on for her.

[@1947dd]

Simply put, the best new band out of Japan that is just stacked with top notch musicians Including Lisa-X (founder and guitarist), Hazuki (Guitarist, also Nemophila), Kanade (Drums) and Wakazaemon (Bassist for East of Eden, guesting on bass when she is available) and Kotono on Vocals. They have an official video for Come See Me.

[@scottmcnutt7913]

These ladies are Amazing I have their new EP

[@BillHallisey]

Chris and Sam. I have a request for you to react to another J-Rock band. The band is Faulieu. They are rock but on a more poppy sound, but their lead guitarist, Kaho, is outstanding. One of their several songs to react to is "SPICA", a live video on KZbin. The group used be called by another name.

[@johndoe-wt6sy]

The beautiful left-handed bassist is Wakazaemon, who recently left her band East of Eden. I think she'll probably continue to play support for KOIAI.😊

[@コウ-h7g]

This was the first time I heard this song, and I was shocked by the way the instruments were layered. The fashion and style of the vocalist also reminds me of the status of Japanese "gals"! This "gal spirit" is something that is common to metal kids, and in one song they captivate us with a melody similar to Def Leppard's Photograph, making them a super band!

[@st.croix5835]

I keep listening to them. I must like it...

[@fastskipper777]

Please note that these ladies are absolute Jedi level musicians. This is Li-sa-X's band. She is a child prodigy and is 19 years old. She composed this song. Hazuki (left g) is as you may know from Nemophila (she is still a member) but was with Li-sa even before Nemophila formed. Please note that Lisa is still attending college. Kanade (drums) is another child prodigy and 22 years old. She's been playing drums since the age of three. She is mainly in the Fusion Jazz space and has her own band (The Muses). She can absolutely play any genre and is one of my favorite drummers in the world together with Akane of Band Maid. Wakazaemon (bass) is doing support here (member of East of Eden) who is another monster bassist. Then, there is Kotono who was a member of BabyMetal as a backup dancer as well as a former member of IronBunny as a singer. This band is an amazing band.

[@jimhammitt6102]

Jordan Rudess is t h e keyboardist for Dream Theater. Derek Sherenian has been gone for about 30 years. Lisa-X is amazing! She can play with anyone.

[@kevinbowland4686]

Lisa-x and Hazuki, 2 of the best shredders in Japan. Hazuki is also the lead guitarist of Nemophila.

[@ericandrews6827]

They actually kinda formed back in 2019 . Lisa x (guitar child prodigy) and Hazuki( Nemophila) formed the Lisa x band with Rena as the singer around the same time Nemophila was forming. The singer of Lisa x band left and they eventually found Kotono and changed the name to Koiai. Pronounced coy eye eee . At least that's how Lisa pronounced it on a product video I saw. Lisa was one of those kids have talent shows when she was something like 8 or 10 and became a sensation when she did a cover of Paul Gilbert sacrifice. She had Gilbert , Billy Shehan and others immediately contact her and her career grew from there. Lisa is the guitarist on the right that you could call lead. She was only 18 and a few months out of highschool when they did this show , I believe last fall.

[@nfpnone8248]

This is a throwback to jazz fusion of the 60s and 70s when totally genius level musicians would just do sessions together and just do whatever they wanted, and it was next level greatness. It’s refreshing that young musicians are embracing jazz fusion again.

[@eaglez1901]

Talk about a supergroup

[@Greg-om2hb]

Did you recognize HAZUKI, from NEMOPHILA? You need to see the video of KANADE at age 9 playing with a Fusion band. A great KOIAI song with a very different sound is COME SEE ME.

[@rolandkarlsson7072]

Yes, Kanade is worth looking at. Have dropped my jaw several times. And my favorite Librarian from Nemophila!

[@jimpollock8303]

as for the section that reminded you of samba, etc, think warped oompah band -- specifically the Berlin cabaret music of the 1920s & '30s, best known via Kurt Weill. Then the anti-structure structure makes sense, too.

[@主水-p5b]

They're young, so they have plenty of time.

[@hiawatha.g]

I would have guessed you knew this band already, but here is an intro (forgive any overlap with other comments): The word “prodigy” gets thrown around way too much. In this case, it is fully deserved. Lisa-X has been posting music on youtube since she was seven, did credible covers of Dream Theater and Polyphia at 10, and has had her own band since she was 13. The core members of Lisa-X band were Lisa-X, Rina on vocals and Hazuki, formerly of Disqualia and now the lead guitarist for Nemophila, on co-lead guitar. Here she is doing a playthrough with Hazuki on “Just Be My Treasure”: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3_CoH-nidCUbK8 “One More Chance Is Enough” with Billy Sheehan (!) on bass (Sheehan is on the consensus short list of candidates for best rock bassist in the world). kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqvWoqCkesZrb8U Rina left the band in 2022 and they took a hiatus to rebuild. They re-emerged as Koiai, and can legitimately claim to be a supergroup. Kotono joined them after stints with various groups including Ironbunny and a previous collaboration with Lisa-X. The big catch was Kanade Sato on drums. Sato is also a member of Muses and is in big demand as a session drummer. She is often compared with the already legendary Senri Kawaguchi. Wakazaemon has been appearing as a guest on bass. She frequently tours with Marty Friedman and is also a member of East of Eden. Here are two more links worth checking out. The first one is Lisa’s 2017 appearance at the annual female rock festival organized by Show-Ya-she is up there with some of the best guitarists in the world and they clearly love sharing the stage with her. The second one is her collaboration with the even younger drum phenom, Yoyoka Soma, who is herself a force of nature. At NaonのYaon (age 12): kzbin.info/www/bejne/npPIiGqPqstgl5I With Yoyoka: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGqaeX6unJl2rc0 Here are more links to Koiai: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nV6tdoiNo7magLs kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIKymaCFbKaZaKs kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJ_NcptrbbR0Z5I (cover of Dirty Loops version) Overall, rock is not only in good hands, but arguably has been taken over by Japanese women. The future looks great!

[@AngelLWJ]

hazuki the guitarist from nemophila

[@modiglian]

Japanese in Roman letters it’s read 95% the same as if it were Spanish, that applies to vocals and consonants, the main difference is where the accent drops, but you catch that just listening.

[@k3w1b3an5]

You guys rock. I never recommend songs for yall because youre always on top of it.

[@blucehee40]

KOIAI、HAGANE、応援よろしく〜😊

[@marcoskazu_]

Koiai ❤

[@robertturner8040]

Great line up these are going places ,Prog for the modern world .Try ,come see me, next .Think Toto but all girl and just as good.

[@autohmae]

When they say child prodigy, they aren't kidding, just react to the video: RACER X "Scarified" Cover / Li-sa-X (Japanese 8 year old girl)

[@edbe7385]

Lol why did I think you guys already reacted to them? This is their heaviest and most shredding song, the rest of their material is very poppy but some of the songs have proggy elements so its like prog pop. Come see me is the newest track, pop / jazzy / proggy very different.

[@noname-xw4uk]

🎉🎉🎉

[@K.H.D710]

My fav KOIAI song!

[@nasirwansikumbang5136]

Nice❤❤❤

[@2abug]

Polypheater 🎸🔥

[@chrismiller5940]

Quick easy tip for pronunciation of Japanese words and names: all vowels except o are short while o is long

[@joebarrera9741]

LISA-XAND AND HAZUKI FROM NEMOPHLIA BEST BAND IN THE WORLD

[@kevinthetruckdriver353]

I really liked Li-sa-X Band especially their lead vocalist (sorry, forgot her name). Was sorry to hear the vocalist left. She had a unique singing voice that stood out. When Li-sa-X & Hazuki (playing with Li-sa-X prior to Nemophila) first introduced Kotono as their new singer for KOIAI. Didn't really like her. But she grew on me. Especially this track. Her vocals had to be spot on to pull this track off.

[@SomethingToDo360]

“Kotono’s vocals had to be spot on to pull this track off” This one doesn’t seem particularly hard. Having said that, I didn’t like Li-sa-X’s old band, as it was too singer-focused for me, while now in Koiai, it’s more about the band as a whole. It doesn’t help that my favorite member Kanade wasn’t in the old band at all. The old band = sell singer to audience. “I really liked Li-sa-X Band, especially their lead vocalist” Your use of the word “especially”, in reference to the singer in contrast to the rest of the band, is part of the problem I had with the older band. Anyway, if I had to pick a version of ‘Just Be My Treasure’, I would go with the new Koiai version from their latest EP that just went up on KZbin yesterday. You might like it.

[@ericifune5543]

Lisa-X and Hazuki were part of the Lisa-X Band along with vocalist Rina. They didn't have much output since Lisa-X was still in high school. Rina got married and moved to South Korea. Kotono was recruited as vocalist and the band rebranded as Koiai. Drummer Kanade was recruited earlier this year. Rumor is that bassist Wakamaezon will join full time soon. These are all the personnel in the video.

[@DavidKAnderson]

Always (er...almost always) pronounce every letter in romaji spellings of Japanese: "ko-ee-ah-ee." In a niche filled to the brim with astonishing technical musicians, this supergroup may well be at the absolute pinnacle. Li-sa X has played with Polyphia (at 16 years old...three years ago!) and had them call her "one of the best metal guitarists on earth." Kanade is a Senri Kawaguchi tier drummer...and there may be _no_ higher praise. And so forth. Ridiculous virtuosity in this band, especially with the very real possibility Wakazaemon becomes a permanent member. But the thing is, they're also incredibly versatile and tasteful, and some of their songs bring a chill, almost Steely Dan jazzy vibe. In other words, while they _could_ be one of those bands who are pretty much just for other musicians, but instead they have huge potential for very broad appeal. I'd love to see them blow up...at least if they can retain creative control (which lies mostly with Li-sa, the leader).

[@SomethingToDo360]

Out of curiosity, what do you think of my reply to MegaHogzilla? Replying to ‘metal = potential’ posts.

[@DavidKAnderson]

@@SomethingToDo360 I generally concur, although I'd qualify that slightly by saying that their rather wide-ranging takes on a more J-Pop sound probably needs a bit of narrowing down. That is, the more jazz-influenced stiff, the songs with an almost Steely Dan vibe, have _massive_ potential to launch this band into the stratosphere (and leave room for their full-on prog/fusion/shred exercises). The more by-the-numbers J-pop tracks, of which they have a couple? Not so much. This band doesn't need forgettable filler tracks or generic plays for Japanese pop radio play.

[@michaelmunno]

my favorite KOIAI (coy-eye) song. I hope they do more like this song and less of the poppy stuff, but all their music is pretty solid. very talented young musicians.

[@guitarzen5999]

Far to much talent to playing pop music and it seems that maybe that's all this singer can do. She is the weak link here unfortunately.

[@SomethingToDo360]

@@guitarzen5999 “Far to much talent to be playing pop” Here is my reasoning on this subject: We know their top talent is guitarist Li-sa-X and drummer Kanade Sato. If Li-sa-X shreds on a guitar solo, is it still pop? We know shredding is not a limitation on her talent. If they go in the jazz fusion direction (like some want), that certainly doesn’t put a limitation on the drummer Kanade either, as it can actually raise the skill requirement for her (jazz drum solos). For example, if Kanade actually left her jazz roots completely and joined a metal band, it would actually be a limitation on her talent. So I think these sort of labels are insufficient. Or did you mean pop, as in no shredding or drum solos? Depends on your definition of the word. I mean even if you want to include others, like their bassist Wakazaemon (who might become an official member), metal isn’t the best way to bring out the talent of a bassist either. So it’s complicated. Edit: I think my other post was too confusing, but this one is pretty straightforward.

[@KhaerulAnwar-z1j]

Please react to ( Burgerkill - Integral )..from Indonesia🤘🤘

[@MegaHogzilla]

These gals have more potential than any other band in Japan currently. But a lot of their more pop oriented music doesn't do them justice. I hope they produce more of this type of music in the future.

[@SomethingToDo360]

“These gals have more potential than any other band in Japan” Possibly, but to maximize potential would be making them into a jazz fusion band in order to take full advantage of Kanade’s jazz drum solos, while still having Li-sa-X shred moments. As for metal, it would limit both the potential of the drummer and bassist. Even considering Kotono’s lack of vocal power, full time metal doesn’t play to her strengths either. A jazz fusion approach plays to the strength of all the members. This channel said the bassist for NEK! (who auditioned for Lovebites) was better off joining NEK! rather than Lovebites, in order to push her full potential. Something like that.

[@Patrick_H.]

[@killiansred1000]

I’m probably in the minority. First time listen turn off the subtitles because they distract from the music.