Performing Friday, Nov. 7
Lolita Dark is an epic, symphonic, bilingual rock band formed in 2012 with roots in Southern California and Japan. Their sound weaves together crunching guitar riffs, progressive bass lines, lush harmonies, and complex melodic structures in songs that reflect both angst and optimism in an increasingly interconnected world of disconnected residents.
Fronted by Shibuya-born singer/songwriter Rayko, Lolita Dark provides the soundtrack and visuals of a world where light intersects dark, East meets West, and the past overlaps the present, depicting the seemingly redundant circles of our lives and universe.
The core of Lolita Dark is formed by singer/songwriter/guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Rayko (Ray), bassist Rain Balen and drummer Joey Felix, who are also members of the Los Angeles rock band Dig Jelly, Okinawan vocalist and keyboardist Machiko (May), and guitarist Patrick Cabrera of prog metal band False Empire.
Their first album, Tokyo Status, was released in 2012 and featured a wide range of intensely personal, yet universal meditations on love, addiction, promise, and despair. It blazed new territory with a sonic landscape that fused Shibuya glam, European symphonic-rock, and American metal. Lolita Dark's debut CD explored the themes of salvation, redemption, sanctuary, and displayed some of Rayko's internal anguish after the Great Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami ravaged her homeland.
Lolita Dark has performed at various venues including Bar Sinister, House of Blues, J-pop events hosted by "Tune in Tokyo", and Rayko's ongoing event "Tokyo Status". Lolita Dark has also performed at Anime Expo, Nan Desu Kan, Anime Los Angeles, Katsucon, Tekko (formally known as Tekkoshocon), Zenkaikon, Anime California, Touhoucon, and Pacific Media Expo, where they opened for Japanese artists BACK-ON (Avex) and D (Avex, Universal Music).
"Mad Times", from the Tokyo Status album, has been chosen for the in-production Steampunk web series Tinker. "Wounded Angel", the recently released single by Lolita Dark, has become the official theme song for Anime California 2014. Lolita Dark's second album, Queen's Decade, was released in the spring of 2014, shortly before they performed at Zenkaikon 2014 as well as opened for Gacharic Spin (Universal Music) at Tekko 2014.
Lolita Dark was featured in one of the best selling Japanese Visual Kei music and fashion magazines, Cure Magazine, in its July and December 2014 issues. Cure Magazine opened Los Angeles boutique Xenon, which carries Rayko's casual Steampunk fashion line Shibuya Obsessions.
Lolita Dark was featured on the cover of American Gothique Magazine's June 2014 issue, along with a 12 page interview. Rayko wrote a promotional commercial jingle for Carlos Wong's Catfe LA in 2014, and was featured in various media such as Los Angeles Times, ABC Eyewitness News, and LA Weekly.
Along with the Japan tour being planned in early 2015, Lolita Dark continues to dominate the stale music scene with their unpredictably unique style of music and visuals.
Lolita Dark's albums Tokyo Status, Queen's Decade, and singles are available on iTunes and CDBaby.
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