Kahimi Karie

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Kahimi Karie


Img_size =
Landscape = yes
Background = Singer
Origin = flagicon|Japan Japan
Genre = Shibuya-kei
Electropop
Electronica
|
Years_active = 1990
Label = Trattoria Records, Victor Entertaiment Japan
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.kahimi-karie.com www.kahimi-karie.com]

Kahimi Karie (カヒミ・カリィ "Kahimi Karī"), born Mari Hiki (比企マリ "Hiki Mari", born March 15, 1968) is a Japanese Shibuya-kei musician.

Kahimi sings in English, French, and Japanese (among other languages) with whisper-like vocals. A number of her early songs were written for her by Momus. She also has a strong connection to Cornelius, who collaborated on many early works, and whose trendy Trattoria label released many of her EPs in the mid-'90s. Karie currently lives in Tokyo, Japan, though she spent much of her career in Paris.

Kahimi was born the daughter of a major hospital doctor in Utsunomiya. She was raised by her strict father, and says she was not allowed to do things kids usually do, like watching TV, dating, etc. She was influenced by Serge Gainsbourg in her teens. After graduating high school, she moved to Tokyo and entered a vocational collage to study photography. After graduating, she made a short career as a freelance photographer. In 1990, her friend established a record label and Kahimi was asked to participate. She made her debut as a vocalist, alongside Takako Minekawa as the female duo "Fancy Face Groovy Name". Later in 1994 she released her first solo album "Mike Alway's Diary", which was produced by Keigo Oyamada (aka Cornelius) . At this time she was referred to as "Shibuya-kei Princess", and her personal relationship with Oyamada was highly publicized. She later moved to Paris to pursue her career. She now lives in Tokyo, and recently toured Japan with Yoshihide Otomo and Jim O'Rourke, who has also written songs for her. Her dog, a black french bulldog, is called "Gomes". Two projects have been released in 2007. One is the live DVD Muhlifein; the other is the rarities collection Specialothers.

Discography

Albums

* 1997 - "Larme de crocodile" (Crue-L KYTHMAK-031DA)
* July 15, 1998 - " K.K.K.K.K." (Polydor POCP-7296)
* May 24, 2000 - " Tilt" (Polydor POCH-1949)
* November 21, 2001 - "My Suitor" (Polydor)
* February 21, 2003 - "Trapeziste" (Victor VICL-61070)
* May 21, 2004 - "Montage" (Victor VICL-61374)
* October 25, 2006 - "NUNKI" (Victor VICL-62135

Remix Albums

* 1998 - "a K is a K is a K" (Polydor)
* 1998 - "Kahimi Karie Remixes" (Crue-L KYTHMAK-038D)

Compilation Albums

* September 8, 1998 - " Kahimi Karie" (Minty Fresh [US] )
* September 30, 1998 - "The Best Of Trattoria Years Plus More" (Trattoria Menu.164/FC-023/PSCR-5708)
* 2000 - "K.K.Works 1998-2000" (Polydor)
* 2007 - "Specialothers" (Victor VICL-62433)

LPs, EPs, Singles

* 1992 - "Kahimi Karie and the Crue-L Grand Orchestra / Mike Alway's Diary" (Crue-L KYTHMAK-003D/CRUKAH-002D)
* 1994 - "Girly" (Crue-L KYTHMAK-011D/CRUKAH-003D)
* 1995 - "I am a kitten (Kahimi Karie sings Momus in Paris)" (Crue-L KYTHMAK-015D)
* 1995 - "My First Karie" (Trattoria Menu.56/PSCR-5348)
* July 26, 1995 - "Leur L'existence" (Trattoria Menu.62/PSCR-9102)
* October 16, 1995 - "Good Morning World" (Trattoria Menu.70/PSDR-5237)
* June 9, 1996 - "HUMMING ga kikoeru" (Trattoria)
* June 26, 1996 - "Le Roi Soleil" (Trattoria Menu.99/PSCR-5500)
* 1997 - "Tiny King Kong" (Crue-L KYTHMAK-029D)
* June 29, 1998 - "One Thousand 20th Century Chairs" (Polydor POCP-7297)
* March 29, 2000 - "Once Upon A Time" (Polydor POCH-1913)
* April 26, 2000 - "Journey To The Center Of Me" (Polydor POCH-1927)
* March 24, 2004 - "NaNa" (Victor VICL-35620)

DVD

* October 4, 2006 - "KOCHAB" (Victor VIBL-344)
* July 25, 2007 - "Muhlifein" (Victor VIBL-391)

pecial

* May 24, 2000 - "K.K. LIMITED EDITION 2000(Live Tour VHS, Live Tour CD, Remix CD, T shirts, Bag, Stickers, Badges and Photobook.Limited only for this)"(UPCH-9006)

Appearances on Other Albums

* 1995 - "69/96 GIRL MEETS CASSETTE" on Cornelius's album "69/96"
* 1996 - "Good Morning World" on album "Sushi 3003"
* 2001 - "Subete wo yurashite (On a Chair)" on Fantastic Plastic Machine's remix album "Contact"
* 2005 - "COZMO-NAUGHTY" on m-flo's album "Beat Space Nine"
* 2005 - Several tracks on Otomo Yoshihide's 2005 "ONJO" album feature Kahimi Karie.
* 2005 - "Blue Orb" on the soundtrack of the PS game "We Love Katamari"

External links

* [http://www.kahimi-karie.com/ Official Site]
* [http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/kahimi/ Victor Entertainment's Kahimi Karie Official Site]