Biography

Hora

03/08/2013 2013-08-03 15:58:00 JaME Author: Geisha

Hora

Electronic Soundscapes


© Hora
Hora's career began in 2000, when he joined the visual band Velvet Eden as a keyboardist. He left a year later and, together with Kaya, the former vocalist of the visual band ISOLA, founded the duo Rudolf Steiner. In 2002, they signed with Mana's (Moi dix Mois, ex-Malice Mizer) independent label, Midi:Nette, and changed their name to Schwarz Stein. Now thrust into the limelight, they quickly gained popularity both in the visual kei and the Japanese Goth scene, but in 2004 split up due to artistic differences.

In Schwarz Stein's final interview, Hora announced his retirement from the stage, stating that from now on he wanted to concentrate on working as a composer. He hasn't revealed who his clients are, only that the music he writes for them is "very poppy".

In January 2005, he launched his official website, GOD SYNTHESIS, and in March he released his first mini album, INNER UNIVERSE. He supplied the vocals on most of the CD's six tracks but others featured a female guest vocalist. In December 2005, he released his second solo album, THE WORLD, of whose ten tracks seven were instrumental.

In April 2006, he once again collaborated with his former colleague Kaya on a one-off project called ANOTHER CELL. Together they released a self-titled album, for which Hora wrote the music and some of the lyrics. Apart from brand new compositions, it also features re-arranged versions of songs by Rudolf Steiner as well as Hora's solo project. In June, ANOTHER CELL was performed live as part of Kaya's first solo concert, albeit without Hora, who couldn't be coaxed out of his self-imposed retirement. Even the CD's inner jacket only showed a square of grey static instead of his photo. In September he released his third solo Album, PROMINENCE, which consisted exclusively of instrumental tracks, and he also contributed three songs to Kaya’s debut album, Glitter, which was released in December.

March 2007 saw the release of his fourth solo album, VENOM, followed in November by a fifth, ICEBOUND. The latter was a double CD, with the second disc containing remixes of songs from INNER UNIVERSE and THE WORLD. Again, both albums were instrumental.

In early 2008, he teamed up with Kaya again when he wrote the songs for his first major single, Chocolat, and in November he released another instrumental solo album, REIGN, which aimed for a lighter, more melodious sound.

More collaborations with Kaya followed. He wrote the title track for the single Ophelia, which was released in July 2009, and contributed a remix to the CD Kaya Remix Vol.1 K, which was sold exclusively in December at Kaya's one man at Yakult Hall in Tokyo. He also continued to work as a solo artist and in October 2009 released the album, domiNATE, which again consisted of instrumental loops, but showed a greater variety of styles than its predecessors.

In May 2010 Hora shocked his fans with the announcement that he would retire from music making due to poor health. The best-of compilation "WISDOM", which was released in June and contained eight new songs as well as a second CD with remastered songs from his previous releases, was advertised as his last album.

Fortunately, his health improved and in July 2011 he broke his promise never to play live again when he and Kaya took to the stage at Takadanobaba Area for a one-off revival of their former band Schwarz Stein. In the same month the duo released a new mini album called Recurrence of Hallucination, which contained a new song as well as remixes from Hora's solo project with Kaya on vocals, and December saw the release of a live DVD of their revival concert.

In November 2012, Hora rekindled his solo career with the album TYRANT. Moreover, the revival of Schwarz Stein turned out to be very successful and so a second one man took place at the end of November.

In February 2013, the duo reunited once again to play a two man with their former label mates Moi dix Mois as part of the band's ten year anniversary celebrations. Hora also continued his solo project and in June released his tenth album, COCOON. Like all his solo works, it was not available from regular music shops, but can be ordered via his official website.
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