I So Wanted
Name: Funakoshi RieNickname: Rie fu
Birthdate: January 11, 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, J-rock, Soft Rock
Years active: 2004 - Present
Label: Sony Japan's Palm Beach Records sub-label
Links: Rie fu Official Web Site, Gallery, Rie fu Blog, Lyrics
The Japanese singer-songwriter lived in Maryland, US, with her family from ages 7-10 (1992-1995). After returning to Japan (1995-2003), she finished her primary and secondary education in Tokyo. In high school, Rie began playing the guitar and piano, as well as writing songs.
She learned guitar in 2002, and almost immediately began coming up with songs and recording them with a small tape recorder. She sent the demo tape off to a record company (Sony) and they signed her. Her debut album Rie Rie who!? was released in March 2004.Rie graduated from the Central Saint Martins college of the University of the Arts London on July 18, 2007, after studying fine art painting (having shifts in interest ranging from fashion to graphic design). In her website she said that she would like to become a student again. Rie often her own album and single booklets, some of which have her own paintings featured in them.
Rie's songs are often bilingual, since she is fluent in both English and Japanese. Although most of her songs are primarily in Japanese, many feature entire verses written in English. Only a handful of her songs are entirely in Japanese (eg.Negaigoto (Wishes)). Usually she relates to her thoughts and experiences. PV-wise, she tends to keep it simpler, with moments having her just playing the piano.
She commutes between the United Kingdom and Japan for the recording and promoting of her songs. Recently in England, Rie received an offer from a local label (Pinnacle Entertainment), releasing an album titled Who is Rie fu? on 3rd March 2008. Though the label is based in England, her album will be released in other European countries marking it her European debut.
Edited + based of: Wikipedia, Wiki.theppn
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Images, songs © Rie fu, Palm Beach Records etc. having no affiliation with them, credits
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