Hump Back (Japanese: ハンプ バック, Hepburn: hampu bakku, stylized as Hump Back) is a three-member all-female Japanese rock band from Osaka, Japan.[1][2]
Outline
Momoko Hayashi, an original member and the founder of the band and the songwriter of all songs, plays as the lead vocal and a lead guitar.[1][2] Pika on chorus and bass guitar and Misaki on chorus and drums.[1][2] Momoko Hayashi sings also solo on the acoustic guitar.
After forming in 2009 by Momoko Hayashi and her friends as high school students, influenced by Chatmonchy, the band continued its activities, despite a lot of difficulties like member changes.[1][2][3] After the present members joined, the band got its major debut in 2018 and the major debut Single CD Haikei shonen yo has reached number 13 on the Weekly Oricon Album Charts (prestigious Japanese music market popularity ranking) and other following released CDs also ranked highly on the Weekly charts.[4][5]
The songs, created by Momoko Hayashi, are mainly about people's happiness and pains in daily life, especially in adolescence, by showing messages of affection with splendid sounds.[6][4] Main characters in her lyrics came from her own experiences and deliberately she often wrote them from a man(boy)’s point of view (cross gender performance).[7]
Powerful beats of the band's sounds could remind some of old Punk rock music like Sex Pistols. However, Hump Back's music has nothing to do with anti-establishment mind or destructive thoughts.[4] The members of Hump Back have respect to anyone supporting the band [note 1] and many songs have messages for encouraging the youth with beautiful melodies.[3][4]
Three members built great teamwork [note 2] and they want to continue their music for a life.[8]
History
In 2009, Hump Back was formed mainly by Momoko Hayashi as a high school club. At that time, it played songs of Chatmonchy.[4][3][7] The reason why "Hump Back" was chosen as the name of the band is explained in [note 3].
In 2012, Hump Back took part in a rock music competition for the teens, called “Senko Riot” where the band advanced to the semi-final competition held in Osaka.[10][11] In August 2012, the first EP say good bye from an indie label was released.
From 2013 to 2015, frequent member changes happened and the band faced many difficulties. In April 2013, a member, Yukki, left. In June, Minami who played as a supporting member joined as a permanent member. But another member, Megu, left and the following year Setsuko started to play as a supporting member. In January 2015, the last live event for Minami was held and it also became the last stage for Setsuko. Hayashi alone remained and continued to play solo.[12] In April, new EP Kaeri michi was released at only one CD shop in Osaka.[13] Canna (in April) and Pika (in May) joined and the band restarted.
After Canna left in November 2015, Misaki became a member in February 2016 and all the present members (Hayashi, Pika and Misaki) fixed.[14][4]
In August, Hump Back belonged to an indie label called Well Bucket Records and in December under the label it released EP Yoru ni nattara which was the first one on sale throughout Japan.[15][16]
In November 2017, EP hanamuke and EP Keshigomu kashite (Hayashi's solo performance on the acoustic guitar) were on sale.[17]
From 2017, Hump Back went on a live tour throughout Japan every year.
In June 2018, from a major label Vap, Single Haikei shonen yo was released[18][19]
In 2019, new Hump Back's label, called Hayashi Ongaku Kyositsu was established in Vap.[20] and in July, CD Album Ningen nanosa(Best ranking was number 6 in Weekly Oricon) was on sale from the label.[6] Hump Back released CD Album Achatter(Best ranking : number 7) in 2021.[21] and EP Age of Love(Best ranking : number 12) in 2022[22]
In May 2023, the group held a concert called “Our Wedding Ceremony (Uchiage Hiroen)” at Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, as each member married recently.[note 4] It was an opportunity to announce their marriage and to be celebrated by the fans.[8]
At the concert, they showed their preparedness for sustainable activities of their music for a life, though they have to spare the time for upcoming life events like childrearing,[25] and their hope to communicate with fans through their music and live events, up until now and from now on.[8]
In May, 2024, it was announced that all three members had given birth after they stopped live events in July, 2023, due to their pregnancy.[26]
"Haikei shonen yo", "Night Theater", "Ikiteiku" and "Kujira" are on CD Album Ningen nanosa
2
December 5, 2018
Namida no yukue
3
August 19, 2020
Teen age sunset
Vap / Hayashi Ongaku Kyositsu
12
"Senko" is on CD Album Achatter
4
June 21, 2023
tour/Linger
Vap / Hayashi Ongaku Kyositsu
14
"tour" was released as a PR song for AOYAMA Trading Co.(Japan's largest clothing retailer).
CD Albums
Released Date
Title
Songwriter
Arrangement
Label
Best Ranking
1
July 17, 2019
Ningen nanosa
Momoko Hayashi
Hump Back
Vap/Hayashi Ongaku Kyositsu
6
2
August 4, 2021
ACHATTER
Momoko Hayashi, Pika
Hump Back
7
EPs
Released Date
Title
Songwriter
Arrangement
Label
Best Ranking
1
August 10, 2022
AGE OF LOVE
Momoko Hayashi, Pika
Hump Back
Vap / Hayashi Ongaku Kyositsu
12
Released date
Title
Songwriter
Arrangement
Label
Best Ranking
1
December 7, 2016
Yoru ni nattara
Momoko Hayashi
Hump Back
WELL BUCKET RECORDS
67
2
November 22, 2017
hanamuke
Momoko Hayashi
Hump Back
17
DVDs
Released date
Title
Label
Best Ranking
1
March 24, 2021
At Osaka Castle Hall, Hump Back Concert Tour "Haikei Shonen Shojo Tachi Yo"
Vap / Hayashi Ongaku Kyositsu
10
2
March 30, 2022
Hump Back pre. "ACHATTER Tour" 2021.11.28 at NIPPON BUDOKAN
9
3
November 22, 2023
Hump Back pre.“Uchiage Hiroen”LIVE at NIPPON BUDOKAN[27]
5 (in Music DVDs)
CDs from Indies' Label
Released date
Title
Songwriter
Remarks
Aug. 1, 2012
say good bye
Momoko Hayashi
December 22, 2013
Aoi hitomi
Momoko Hayashi
April 1, 2015
Kaeri michi
Momoko Hayashi
On sales at only one CD shop
July 22, 2015
Junanasai
Momoko Hayashi
Notes
^Momoko Hayashi shows courtesy (bowing in Japanese style) for fans behind the scenes, just before appearing on stage. (At Youtube "Hump Back pre. 'ACHATTER tour' Trailer (at USEN Studio Coast)", this scene can be seen. (around 1.45))
^ Just before the stage, they hug each other for mental unity to do the best performance. ( It is seen in the photo of Single CD Jacket of “tour/Linger” and the scene at Youtube "Hump Back pre. 'ACHATTER tour' Trailer (at USEN Studio Coast)", this scene can be seen. (around 1.22))
^ The band leader, Momoko Hayashi, a cat lover, wanted to pick up a word indirectly related to cats to name the band. By chance she saw the word "humpback" and the meaning of it in Japanese(Nekoze: a back like cats). Hump Back uses a logo "humpback whale" for their merchandise.[9]
^ Momoko Hayashi married in October, 2022,[23] Misaki in November, 2022 and Pika in July, 2020.[24]
^“Uchiage Hiroen”literally means “Drinking wedding party”in Japanese. That live concert was the time to celebrate three members' marriage by the audience(fans) and the largest number of their songs were performed by Hump Back at the stage.