the telephones

The Telephones are a Japanese alternative rock band from Urawa-ku, Japan. The group forms in 2005 and remains active. Its line-up consists of Akira Ishige (石毛輝) on vocals, guitar and keyboard; Ryohei Nagashima (長島涼平) on bass and chorus; Nobuaki Okamoto (岡本伸明) on keyboard and chorus; and Seiji Matsumoto (松本誠治) on drums.

Style and early releases

The band plays electronic rock with disco and new wave influences. It performs as a quartet and first plays together in January 2005. It issues its first demo in July of that year, then settles its official line-up in August. A second demo follows in February 2006, alongside a short summer tour in the Kanto area.

Recordings and live activity

In April 2007, the Telephones release their debut mini album, We are the handclaps ep., on JULY RECORDS. In November 2008, they release their second mini album, Love&DISCO E.P., on DAIZAWA RECORDS. Their first major full-length album, Dance Floor Monsters, appears in July 2009, and its single Monkey Discooooooo receives heavy rotation on MTV Japan. In 2012, they release D.E.N.W.A e.p., their first single with Japanese lyrics.

The band tours widely in Japan and stages a sold-out one-man show at Harajuku Laforet Museum in 2012. It also performs at festivals including ARABAKI ROCK FEST’08, ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL, SUMMER SONIC and SWEET LOVE SHOWER, and appears at COUNTDOWN JAPAN 08/09, where it takes part in the New Year countdown. Further 2012 appearances include Version 21.1 fourth at Yokohama Arena, dates in Nagoya and Osaka, the EMI Rocks 2012 label festival, and Megaport Festival in Taipei.

2011–2012 activity

In 2011, the band records Rock Kingdom with producer and engineer Alex Newport, who has worked with At the Drive-In, Death Cab for Cutie and The Mars Volta. In December 2011, it holds a concert titled SUPER DISCO Hits FINAL!!! ～そして伝説へ～ at Saitama Super Arena. On New Year’s Day 2012, it appears on Fuji TV after the countdown broadcast.

In 2010, the Telephones receive a nomination for World Stage VMAJ as Best New Artist.