Star

Name: Funakoshi Rie
Nickname: 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, Soft Rock
Years active: 2004 - Present
Label: Sony Japan
Links: Official Web Site, Gallery, Blog, Twitter, Tumblr, MySpace, 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 designs 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. In England, Rie released an album titled Who is Rie fu? on 3rd March 2008, by U.K. label Tired & Lonesome. Though the label is based in England, her album will be released in other European countries marking it 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.

The 4th album Urban Romantic, seemed to break away from her usual style (as suggested by the album title), featuring less folk-pop songs, with more upbeat, synthetic touches here and there. However, her latest (self-produced) album at Rie sessions saw her going back to the folk pop vein as she collaborated with different artists, which was one of her resolutions.

Edited + based of: Wikipedia, Wiki.theppn (now here).