Shizuka

SHIZUKA is a five piece (Aida, Cristóbal, Pablo, Raúl, Toni) from Sevilla, Spain. This is their debut single, comprising five songs that are apparently luminous and upbeat, but the truth is that they hide sadness and melancholy in the background.

Pablo and Cristóbal had already met in another band called LA CHUFA LISÉRGICA, much more ironic and light-hearted. Pablo and Cris started toying with the idea of creating a new band that mixed the melancholic moods of TREMBLING BLUE STARS with the dancey europop of ST ETIENNE, BAXENDALE or CLUB 8’s “Missing you”. When a band name had to be chosen, someone remembered one of the characters in Japanese Tv cartoon Doraemon. SHIZUKA was born.

The guys record a demo with only a song (the one entitled as the band) and send it to Viaje a los Sueños Polares radio show. At the end of the year that recording would be chosen third best demo of 2000. SHIZUKA would also be awarded as the third best new band of 2000.

SHIZUKA’s official première takes place in Madrid Ocho y Medio Club, in a party organized by Annika label in the summer of 2000. After this starting point, the band gets engrossed by the incorporations of Raúl (ex LIBÉLULA, another band Pablo and Cristóbal used to play with) and Toni. Aida was initially invited to sing backing vocals only for a song, but the results were so much appreciated by the band that she instantly joined the band full-time. You just have to listen to track 3 “En tu portal” to understand why.

Here is the band’s debut: five songs recorded in Feedback Studios (León) that reveal most of SHIZUKA’s influences: not only Europop but also Sarah Records tweepop sound, the gothic moods of THE CURE (the title “Eurogothpop” pretty much gives the game away) or sixties bubblegum pop as in bands like ROGER NICHOLS AND A SMALL CIRCLE OF FRIENDS or CHERRY PEOPLE; the latter are paid homage in the opening track, all clapping hands and Motown-like rhythm patterns.

The blending of electronics, guitars and analogic instruments results in a very fresh, hyper danceable sound. Another point of interest resides in the frailness of the vocals and the lyrics about unrequited love, farewell kisses, travelling around the world in a big balloon... always in a very evocative, bittersweet tone.

SHIZUKA comes to bring a touch of naïveness, color and charm to Spanish indie scene, always in a serious need of such ingredients.