Mabanua | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Manabu Yamaguchi (山口学) |
| Born | August 29, 1984 Saitama Prefecture, Japan |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument | Drums |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels | Origami Productions |
| Member of | Ovall |
| Website | mabanua |
Manabu Yamaguchi (山口学, Yamaguchi Manabu, born August 29, 1984), better known by his alias Mabanua (stylized in lowercase; Japanese pronunciation: [mabaꜜnɯa]), is a Japanese music producer, drummer, and singer. He released his first album Done Already in November 2008, and has participated in production for artists including Kenshi Yonezu, Gen Hoshino, Imase, and Official Hige Dandism. He is also member of the three-person band Ovall.
Early life
editManabu Yamaguchi was born in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, on August 29, 1984.[1] His alias, Mabanua, is an anagram of his real name.[2] Yamaguchi described both of his parents as music fans, which resulted in the first CD he bought being "Totsuzen" by Field of View, since his father was a fan of composer Tetsurō Oda who had written it. Yamaguchi began listening to the rock bands Mr. Children and the Beatles, who he grew particularly fond of. A Sigma by Martin acoustic guitar from his grandfather was Yamaguchi's first instrument, though he had actually grown interest in drums after watching live recordings of the Beatles' Ringo Starr. His first band experience was with friends in middle school, who together frequently played covers of Oasis.[3]
In his second year of high school, Yamaguchi transferred to NHK Gakuen – a distance education school operated by the public broadcaster NHK – after hearing of its music club. After graduation, he attended a music school for around two and a half years.[4]
Career
editIn an interview with NHK Gakuen for their 60th anniversary, Yamaguchi stated that he struggled finding work for around five or six years following the conclusion of his studies.[4]
In 2012, Yamaguchi moved to Kiryū, Gunma. He established a home studio there in 2019, where he is still based as of January 2022.[1]
Solo discography
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "音楽プロデューサーMabanua (マバヌア) 氏の自宅兼スタジオに市長が訪問します。" [The Mayor Visits Music Producer Mabanua's Home Studio] (PDF) (in Japanese). Kiryū City Government. January 4, 2022. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ "Mabanua (Profile)". CDJournal (in Japanese). March 6, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2024 – via Tower Records Japan.
- ^ Yamaguchi, Manabu (September 19, 2020). "Mabanuaのルーツをたどる" [Mabanua Traces His Roots]. Natalie.mu (Interview) (in Japanese). Retrieved September 9, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b Yamaguchi, Manabu (July 21, 2021). "Mabanuaさんインタビュー NHK学園創立60周年記念" [Interview with Mabanua – NHK Gakuen 60th Anniversary] (video) (Interview) (in Japanese). NHK Gakuen. Retrieved September 9, 2024 – via YouTube.