The Japanese Popstars are an electronic act from Derry, Northern Ireland, consisting of Declan McLaughlin aka Decky Hedrock, Gary Curran, and Gareth Donoghue. They are signed to indie label, Gung-Ho Recordings (Gus Gus, Zoo Brazil) in the UK, and Beatink in Japan (home of Underworld, Aphex Twin, and Cinematic Orchestra). Each member has his own alias. The act was nominated for "Best House DJs" at the 2006 World Urban Music Awards, "Best Live Performance" at the 2007 Northern Ireland Music Awards and won "Best Live Act" at the 2008 Irish Music Awards.
Japanese Popstars
The Japanese Popstars
The Japanese Popstars are an all-electronic three-piece whose first album, We Just Are, and subsequent We Just Are (Live), gained them a loyal following in the dance music fraternity.
2010 ushers in a new chapter for the Japanese Popstars. Their second studio album is set for release in late Summer and, with support from luminaries such as Pete Tong and Benny Benassi, it is expected to be a big hit.
"The Launchpad is ideal for us. It's light, easy to tour with and it's rock solid. The SL25 has been on the road with us for over a year now and is used primarily with Propellerheads Reason but can also be used with a secondary Ableton setup."
Novation gear is central to the band's live setup. Band members Gary and Gareth, who both perform live electronics duties, use a Launchpad each, while Gary uses a 25SL for additional control, as Gareth explains: "The Launchpad is ideal for us. It's light, easy to tour with and it's rock solid. The SL25 has been on the road with us for over a year now and is used primarily with Propellerheads Reason but can also be used with a secondary Ableton setup."
As the band's profile raises, so they hope to expand their live rig, to get even more out of their Launchpads. "The Launchpad is packed with loads of features, that in all honesty I have yet to explore fully, but as we keep developing our live show I am sure that we will be using these units for a long time to come."
To check out the Japanese Popstars, head to www.myspace.com/thejapanesepopstars