A Tokyo native, Ken Ishii made his musical debut in 1993 on R&S Records His debut release, "Garden On The Palm", hit No.1 on the NME techno chart,and gained critical acclaim as one of the most innovative and experimental works in contemporary techno.
However it was the release of his first album "Jelly Tones" in 1995 which really brought his name to the attention of a much wider public both in Europe and in his native Japan. The first single from the album "Extra" came complete with a ground breaking Manga style video directed by none other than Kouji Morimoto (director of the world famous "Akira" ) which won the MTV Dance Music Video Of The Year at the Muzik Awards in the same year.
Not content with breaking down the barriers on the video front Ken Ishii also became one of the first artists working in the "dance arena" to take his music out of the studio and perform live on tour starting a trend that a number of other successful dance acts were to subsequently follow.
In 1998, Ken Ishii was chosen by the International Olympic Committee to produce the main opening and closing theme for the Winter Olympics in Nagano.
The theme featured in the broadcast of the Olympic games to over 70 countries around the world. He has appeared in "Japanese Vogue" and on the front cover of "Newsweek" in 2000.
In 2003 he released the album "Future in Light" on his own label "70 Drums" and then he won at "Best Techno DJ 2004" in Ibiza, Spain. His long time awaited Mix Album, "PLAY, PAUSE AND PLAY" was released on Sublime Records in 2006 + his new album SUNRISER now on a European Double Edition.
1992: A self produced demo-tape caught the eye of R & S records which led to an immediate contract with the company.
1993: In the spring of 1993, the debut double 12' "Garden on the Palm" was released. Later in the same year, a single under Rising Sun moniker - a shared project with Tomohiro Hasekura - from the Dutch label ESP Records titled "Switch of Love" was released. Then another single "Samsara / Between The Mirros" was released under UTU moniker from the Canadian label Plus 8 records run by Richie Hawtin & John Acquaviva. Both releases were highly praised in the European charts and in some magazines the tracks were chosen as the best techno tracks of the year. Played live at the "Hellraiser" event in Holland in front of 20,000+ people. It was his first ever live set.
1994: The debut double 12" was also released from Sony Music Entertainment (Japan). Starting to get major domestic attentions, he made his live debut in Tokyo as a part of a Transonic Records' event. Played live at R & S records' 10th anniversary event "R & S Republica" in Gent, Belgium. Also that year, the popular party "Reel Up" was started with DJ Yama, which is still going strong.
1995: Participated as an artist for the very first electronic music label started in Japan called Sublime Records and released a single "Fading Sky" and then an album "Reference to Difference". Played at "Interference", the official after hour event for the Love Parade, in Berlin, Germany. The single, "Extra", was released. The track was used in the video directed by Koji Morimoto, the drawing director of the worldwide hit cartoon, "Akira". Later the video was chosen as the best "Dance Music Video of the Year" by MTV. Then a full album, "Jelly Tones" containing the hit track "Extra", was released and became a worldwide hit.
1996: Played for major festivals such as Rosklide in Denmark, Lowlands in Holland, Sonar in Spain, Rainbow 2000 and Natural High! in Japan. Also appeared in international showcase events such as MIDEM in Cannes, France and Hong Kong. Started his side project, Flare, focusing on his experimental side, then released an album "Grip".
1997: The track "Circular Motion" was used as the campaign song for the advertisement for the opening of Takashimaya department store in Shinjuku. Also, the track "Drummelter" was used as the theme song for the Indy 500/Le Mans racing event broadcast on TV Asahi Network. First live tour in U.S.A., toured five major cities － New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle and San Francisco. Released an album: "Metal Blue America".
1998: Composed and produced "Fire in White", the official theme song for the winter Olympics 1998 in Nagano, Japan and was played constantly in more than 70 countries around the world. The first tour in Southeast Asia, touring Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines. More than 10,000 people attended. A new project called FLR was started to create more dance floor oriented material. The first release, "Easy Filters Part 1+2" was released on Reel Musiq. "Islands & Continents", a collaboration video with a multi award winning contemporary artist Noriyuki Tanaka, was released.
1999: Released the album "Sleeping Madness" and collaborated with artists such as Talvin Singh, DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid which took his music to a higher level by breaking borders between genres. The album was highly praised throughout the world and Ken Ishii was rated as one of the Japanese pioneers who could create world class sounds. Later in the year, another live tour throughout Japan and Europe was done, including UK's Reading Festival as well as Creamfields.
2000: Produced the music, "Make me Happy", for the virtual character "MOMO". Composed and produced "Iceblink", the theme song and soundtrack for the Japanese film "Whiteout". In the same year he was nominated for Japan Academy Awards for the best film music producer. Then a full album, "Flatspin", containing the track "Iceblink", was released. Produced the theme song and appeared as the main character for Nike's Presto shoe campaign.
2001: Interviewed by Newsweek Magazine (Pan-Pacific Version) and Ken's photo was on the cover of the magazine. Released a mix album "Millennium Spinnin' at Reel Up" Released an album "Easy Filters LP" as FLR.
2002:
Composed and produced "Future is What We Are", the entrance theme song for the boxer, WBA World Bantam Weight Class Champion Osamu Sato. Found his own label "70 Drums", then released a new album "Future in Light". South American Tour including Brazil and Columbia.
2003: Was in charge of the music for XBOX Music Mixer.
2004: Was in charge of the music for FOMA Campaign by NTT Docomo. Released a visual album "Interpretations for Ken Ishii Future in Light Remixed" with a DVD. Awarded the best techno DJ at "Dance Music Awards" in Ibiza, Spain.
2005: Composed and produced the music for the Seto-Japan pavillion at World Expo 2005 in Nagoya, Japan, with his own designed 12.2 soundsystem. Visuals and CG done by Kazuma Morino. Invited to play for the techno festival, "Fuse-In", in Detroit, U.S.A. Released a mix album "Play, Pause and Play"
2006:
Composed and produced "SUNRISER".
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