Ken Ishii (ケンイシイ) is a successful techno DJ and producer from Tokyo. He has… Read Full Bio ↴Ken Ishii (ケンイシイ) is a successful techno DJ and producer from Tokyo. He has released work under his own name as well as under the pseudonyms: FLR, Flare, UTU, Yoga, and Rising Sun.
Ken Ishii debuted on a legendary Belgian techno label, R & S Records, in 1993. In that year he straight won No.1 on the UK’s NME magazine’s techno chart, which led him to worldwide recognition. In 1995, the highly praised album “Jelly Tones” (R & S / Sony Japan) was released. In the following year, the video for the single “Extra” from this album (directed by Koji Morimoto, the animator of the worldwide hit cartoon, “Akira”) won MTV’s “Dance Video of the Year”.
Since then, Ken has been regarded internationally as one of the Japanese pioneers who can create world class electronic sounds. In 1998, he produced the official theme song for the winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan and it was played in more than 70 countries around the world. Then in 2000, Ken was interviewed and was on the cover of Newsweek magazine, featured as a symbol of the Japanese new culture. This was acclaimed as a great undertaking by a dance/electronic music artist.
He also produces music for films, such as doing the theme song and soundtrack for the monster hit Japanese film “Whiteout” in 2000, which led him to be nominated in Japanese Academy Awards. He expands his boundary to games as well. Rez, the game Ken contributed his exclusive tracks to, became a cult hit. In 2005, he reached a major achievement in being in charge of the music and designing an exclusive 12.2 surround sound system for the Seto-Nihon Pavilion, enforced by the Japanese Government, at World Expo in Aichi, Japan.
These days, Ken spends 2/3 of his time on travelling in Europe, Asia, North/South America DJ’ing and working as a true international artist/DJ. In 2004, he was awarded the Best Techno DJ at “Dance Music Awards” in Ibiza, proving himself to be one of the world’s most talented DJ’s in the scene as well. He often plays at mega dance festivals, such as Monegros (Spain), WIRE (Japan) and more. His unique blend always drives crowd into frenzy.
Ken set up his own label, 70 Drums, in 2002 starting off with an album “Future In Light”. His latest album is “SUNRISER” in 2006 and he again shows in it his futuristic vision and his deep love in his musical root, early Detroit techno.
Ken Ishii debuted on a legendary Belgian techno label, R & S Records, in 1993. In that year he straight won No.1 on the UK’s NME magazine’s techno chart, which led him to worldwide recognition. In 1995, the highly praised album “Jelly Tones” (R & S / Sony Japan) was released. In the following year, the video for the single “Extra” from this album (directed by Koji Morimoto, the animator of the worldwide hit cartoon, “Akira”) won MTV’s “Dance Video of the Year”.
Since then, Ken has been regarded internationally as one of the Japanese pioneers who can create world class electronic sounds. In 1998, he produced the official theme song for the winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan and it was played in more than 70 countries around the world. Then in 2000, Ken was interviewed and was on the cover of Newsweek magazine, featured as a symbol of the Japanese new culture. This was acclaimed as a great undertaking by a dance/electronic music artist.
He also produces music for films, such as doing the theme song and soundtrack for the monster hit Japanese film “Whiteout” in 2000, which led him to be nominated in Japanese Academy Awards. He expands his boundary to games as well. Rez, the game Ken contributed his exclusive tracks to, became a cult hit. In 2005, he reached a major achievement in being in charge of the music and designing an exclusive 12.2 surround sound system for the Seto-Nihon Pavilion, enforced by the Japanese Government, at World Expo in Aichi, Japan.
These days, Ken spends 2/3 of his time on travelling in Europe, Asia, North/South America DJ’ing and working as a true international artist/DJ. In 2004, he was awarded the Best Techno DJ at “Dance Music Awards” in Ibiza, proving himself to be one of the world’s most talented DJ’s in the scene as well. He often plays at mega dance festivals, such as Monegros (Spain), WIRE (Japan) and more. His unique blend always drives crowd into frenzy.
Ken set up his own label, 70 Drums, in 2002 starting off with an album “Future In Light”. His latest album is “SUNRISER” in 2006 and he again shows in it his futuristic vision and his deep love in his musical root, early Detroit techno.
Khaotic Khaen
Ken Ishii Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Ken Ishii:
Atomic Moog 2000 Atomic military Buildup can be reversed outlaw the bomb…
Loop S dina nya ord ppnade drrar och ls En vacker idiot Se vad…
No-One in the World No-one in the world ever had a love as sweet…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Gillette Fitness
There are some transcendent and sick tracks on this which truly defy the genre he's categorized in. The weird lack of any noticeable influences makes me wonder which dimension Ken Ishii is really from.
Simon Claes
It seems to me that I hear sometimes traditionnal japanese drums though
Earthling Swing
@Simon Claes that's to be expected but I think what the original comment is getting at is Ken Ishii's unflinching ability to take risks in his sonic concepts. :) To reach to the future it is common to reach to the past. Traditional =/= Innovation.
Simon Claes
@Earthling Swing yeah, thanks for clarifying
philippe saille
well, what about Amon Tobin, album "bricolage" 1997 ?
brmbkl2015
@Earthling Swing " unflinching ability to take risks in his sonic concepts"
that's true.
never got into Ishii because after "extra" all his other tracks always had elements in it that put me off.
but I guess there's gems to be found and only through experimentation do musicians arrive at a perfect track at times.
netsuo
It turns out.. you can be futuristic almost 25 years after the release of your album
M
Freaking love ken ishii such a hidden gem. Hopefully the world will catch on. Cuz he's definitely a Japanese master piece
Medveteso
24bit Optimist and Khaotic Khaen are probably my most favourite ones off this album. Thanks for sharing it.
Marisol Davidovich
🔊♥️ALUCINANTE!!! todo el álbum!!🤩✨🌈