Tag Archives: music

Producer/Composer Shota Nakama heads to Otakon 2023 as a Guest

Posted on by
Shota Nakama

Producer, composer and guitarist Shota Nakama will be a guest at Otakon 2023, according to Otakorp Inc. His music can be heard in many acclaimed video game and anime productions.

Born and raised in Okinawa, Japan, Nakama is a Boston-based music producer and the head of soundtrec, his music and live production company. He led the team to work on internationally-acclaimed video games such as Final Fantasy XV and the hit anime series “The Rising of the Shield Hero.” In addition to the video game and anime works, Shota worked as the orchestra director and arranger with the legendary guitarist Jason Becker for “Triumphant Heart,” as well as fulfilling the same role for Graham Bonnet’s timeless ballad “Suzy.”

Nakama is also the driving force behind Video Game Orchestra (VGO), a live concert project that combines symphonic rock with video game music. VGO has toured around the world, performing in countries such as the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Japan, China, Malaysia, Thailand, and Mexico. The group has also been featured in the official video game concerts of notable franchises such as Final Fantasy XV, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Devil May Cry.

In 2021, Nakama directed the Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Concert, which gained over 5 million views on YouTube. He also became the first Japanese native to produce an online concert by MARVEL. In 2023, Nakama was appointed to produce the world tour for Sonic Symphony, the official Sonic the Hedgehog concert.

Otakon 2023 will be held from July 28 to July 30 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Composer Yasuharu Takanashi to be a Otakon 2023 Guest

Posted on by
Yasuharu Takanashi

Composer Yasuharu Takanashi will be a guest at Otakon 2023, according to Otakorp Inc. He is known for composing music for such anime series as “Naruto: Shippuden,” “Fairy Tail,” and “Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal Eternal.”

Heavily influenced by rock music, Takanashi takes his work to another level by blending hard rock and orchestral sounds to create profound and elegant soundscapes.

He has composed music for “Naruto: Shippuden,” “Fairy Tail,” and “Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal Eternal,” “Boruto: Naruto Next Generations,” “Kengan Ashura” and more.

Takanashi is also the coordinator of the music production team “Team-MAX” and the leader of YAIBA, a rock and roll group featuring Japanese musical instruments.

He is a six-times recipient of the prestigious JASRAC International Award in Japan.

Otakon 2023 will be held from July 28 to July 30 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

You’ll know how it feels with Tom Petty’s Dreamville: A Graphic Novel

Posted on by

From “Free Falling” to “You Don’t Know How It Feels” it’s the story of a rock legend!

University Press of Florida has announced Tom Petty’s Dreamville: A Graphic Novel, written and illustrated by award-winning creator Andre Frattino. This all-new graphic novel follows the story of the late singer-songwriter through his formative years in his hometown of Gainesville, FL, during the 1970s; curated through personal interviews with several of Petty’s key friends and fellow musicians.

The graphic novel of rock superstar Tom Petty recreates the beginnings of Petty’s music career, from his Southern childhood and his first guitar to the early milestones he reached in Los Angeles with the Heartbreakers. Bringing to life Petty’s hometown of Gainesville, Florida, in the 1960s and ’70s with illustrations that capture the era, Andre Frattino focuses on the struggles and successes Petty experienced in his journey to fame.

Rich with artists who influenced the young Petty, from Elvis Presley and the Beatles to future Eagles guitarist Don Felder. It follows the creation of Petty’s first bands including the Sundowners, the Epics, and Mudcrutch, whose members Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench went on to become founding members of the Heartbreakers, and it shows Petty navigating friendships and relations with his family while pursuing his goals. Frattino’s artwork draws readers into Petty’s world, portraying places such as Lillian’s Music Store, Lipham Music, the University of Florida, and the many small-town venues where Petty won fans and built a following.

Tom Petty’s Dreamville depicts the talent, vision, and determination of a legend in the making who didn’t back down in the face of obstacles as he reached rock history. This look into a formative place and time in Petty’s life will delight longtime fans and inspire music hopefuls who may also be running down a dream. 

For longtime fans of Tom Petty and aspiring musicians alike, Tom Petty’s Dreamville: A Graphic Novel is a comic for fans of BOWIE: Stardust, Rayguns, & Moonage Daydreams, Elvis: The Graphic Novel, Willie Nelson: A Graphic History, The Grateful Dead Origins, Blondie: Against the Odds, The Dirty: Declassified, and even more great rock and roll biographies!

Tom Petty’s Dreamville: A Graphic Novel hits shelves September 2023, and is now available for preorder on the University Press of Florida website.

Get a look at Underground: Cursed Rockers and High Priestesses of Sound – an illustrated celebration of independent artists and underground music

Posted on by

Titan Comics has revealed the first look at Underground: Cursed Rockers and High Priestesses of Sound, the essential illustrated bible of independent music. It comes to shops on September 26, 2023.

Writer Arnaud Le Gouëfflec, and artist Nicolas Moog offer unique and exhaustive looks at some of the most influential outsider music legends. From the sensitive genius of Daniel Johnston; the Peruvian icon, Yma Sumac; the extraordinary Moondog; the classic bargain hunters of The Cramps; to the legendary Patti Smith, and many, many more.

Created by two devoted fans of the underground genre, this book has a love of music at its core. Writer Arnaud Le Gouëfflec is both a novelist and a comic book script writer, as well as a singer/songwriter. Artist Nicolas Moog is a cartoonist and author whose creative talents extend into vocals, guitar, banjo, bass, double bass and percussion!

JUST B to Perform at Otakon 2023

Posted on by
Just B

K-Pop group JUST B will perform at Otakon 2023.

JUST B is an immensely talented K-Pop group known for its unique blend of hip-hop, R&B, and electronic dance music. Their music is characterized by powerful vocals, intricate choreography, and dynamic performances that have captivated fans worldwide.

Making their debut in June of 2021 with their first mini-album “JUST BURN,” which contained the hit title track “DAMAGE,” JUST B has quickly gained a reputation as one of the most exciting new acts in the K-Pop scene. Recently, they won the Blooming Star Award at the 30th HANTEO MUSIC AWARDS 2022 and collaborated with former Otakon guest AleXa in the hit song “MBTI.”

In addition to the concert, JUST B will also offer VIP experiences and other opportunities to see them around Otakon.

Otakon 2023 will be held from July 28 to July 30 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

NCT 127, Z2 Comics, and UMG team up for for the graphic novel, Limitless

Posted on by

SM Entertainment Group, Z2 Comics, and Universal Music Group have announced Limitless, the new graphic novel from K-Pop megastars NCT 127, and the very first officially licensed K-Pop print graphic novel. The comic will introduce a brand new fictional chapter into the lives of all nine members of the global phenomenon.  

Presented in the manhwa (South Korean comic) format, Limitless follows NCT 127 in the midst of their world tour as they approach New York City. The members soon experience a world of shared and enigmatic dreams. By solving these subconscious mysteries that seem to be intersecting with reality, they overcome their inner fears.

NCT 127: Limitless is available in a standard hardcover and deluxe hardcover editions, set to release in late summer 2023. The graphic novel is co-written by Reiko Scott with art by Kayla Felty and Grace Lee. Kayla Felty and colorist Megan Huang are the cover artists. The standard hardcover will come with nine variant covers, each featuring members of NCT 127. The deluxe hardcover will come with nine art prints illustrated by Kayla Felty and a certificate of authenticity. 

The Dead Lucky, Vol. 1 gets a music video from Al1ce!

Posted on by

Image Comics has unveiled a collaboration between Massive-Verse’s The Dead Lucky and dark wave band AL1CE in the form of an electrifying video trailer for the upcoming The Dead Lucky, Vol.1 by Melissa Flores and French Carlomagno. This highly anticipated trade paperback release will collect issues #1-6 of the comic book series and be available from Image Comics in March.

AL1CE captures the tone and drama of the series and brings the artwork to life through their talents.

The Dead Lucky, Vol. 1 is set in a changing San Francisco and is centered around tech consortium MORROW. MORROW is buying up land—their peacekeeper robots looming on every corner—and wherever Morrow isn’t, the local gangs are.

Bibiana Lopez-Yang is changing too. The incident in Afghanistan that killed her platoon left her with a unique power to control electricity—but haunted by the ghosts of those she lost. With some unlikely friends, Bibi might just have a chance to save her city. But against an enemy this powerful, it won’t be enough to be good. She’ll have to be lucky.

The Dead Lucky, Vol. 1 (ISBN: 978-1534324664) will be available at local comic book shops on Wednesday, March 22 and independent bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, and Indigo on Tuesday, March 28.

Headshell, Vault’s new music focused imprint launches with Pete Wentz’s Dying Inside

Posted on by
Headshell logo

Vault Comics has announced Headshell, a new line of graphic novels from iconic recording artists, including Metallica, Def Leppard, The Beach Boys, Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz, Redman, and more. Richard Rudolph—acclaimed songwriter and producer, and veteran music executive and publisher—will guide strategy and artist relations for Headshell.

Great musicians are storytellers. But some stories need to be told on the page. Headshell works with iconic recording artists to create unique graphic novels that resonate with artists and audiences. Headshell graphic novels present original stories inspired by artists’ careers and music, giving fans an all new way to connect with the artists and music they love.

Headshell will Iaunch with Dying Inside from Pete Wentz, Hannah Klein, and Lisa Sterle. Klein is best known for her work on the short form Snapchat series, Everything Is Fine. Artist Lisa Sterle has worked with Vault on Submerged and Witchblood.

Headshell books will be available in standard, deluxe, and collectors editions, including special one-of-one rarities. Each graphic novel will debut first for direct sale, and will subsequently have a mass market release through Vault’s distribution partners, including category leading distributor Simon & Schuster.

Character concepts from "Dying Inside" by Lisa Sterle
Character concepts from “Dying Inside” by Lisa Sterle

Whitecell reveals a horror video comic “Deal with the Devil”

Posted on by

The mix of music and comics isn’t anything new, going back decades but it’s always interesting to see how musicians use comics in their storytelling. Whitecell, the Grammy nominated songwriter, has revealed the masterful horror video comic for his newest single, “Deal with the Devil.” With all visuals and vibrations created by Weitzel himself, “Deal with the Devil” encapsulates all of the best of cinematic 80s rock and horror shlock!

Check out the comic and video below and purchase the song here.

Deal with the Devil
« Older Entries Recent Entries »