Snowkel

Snowkel emerged as a Japanese trio whose sound fused guitar-driven J-pop with alt-rock textures reminiscent of the Pixies. The group earned notice chiefly through contributions to anime soundtracks, above all the massively popular Naruto series, yet dissolved after fewer than ten years together. Shinya Nishimura handled vocals and guitar, Masami Kabamura played bass, and Masato Yamada sat behind the drums; the three began by performing in Fukuoka clubs and hawking self-released CDs at those gigs. In 2004 they also captured an audience prize at a regional contest. Two independent releases appeared in 2004 and 2005 before Sony Music Japan signed them. Their major-label bow came with the 2005 single “Ooki na Mizutamari,” followed in 2006 by “Namikaze Sateraito,” which featured in Naruto. That same year brought the debut album Snowkel Snorkel and the single “Solar Wind,” the latter tied to the Kiba anime; the band also appeared at several local rock festivals and shared bills with Base Ball Bear and Chatmonchy. Their second album, EQ, arrived in 2007 and yielded the single “Kiseki,” adopted as a theme for Gintama. A 2008 tour ensued, after which the group entered hiatus. The only subsequent activity was the 2009 compilation Best+, until a farewell tour concluded with official disbandment in 2010.