Tatsuya Oe

Tatsuya Oe (オオエタツヤ, Ōe Tatsuya) (born 1969) is a New York-based Japanese composer, recording artist, music producer, and DJ, best known for the moniker of Captain Funk.

Tatsuya Oe
オオエタツヤ
Born1969
Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
GenresElectronic, dance, rock, pop, sound design
Occupation(s)Recording artist, composer, sound designer, DJ, Founder of Model Electronic Inc.
InstrumentsGuitar, keyboards, bass, vocals, computer programming
Years active1997–present
LabelsModel Electronic
Associated actsCaptain Funk, OE, Dark Model

He is known for his mastery and diversity of composition and music production in electronic, dance, rock, pop, and dramatic scores. In addition to commercial releases under recording artist monikers of Captain Funk, (Tatsuya) OE, and Dark Model, he has composed for and has been often featured on TV, film, video games, animation projects, and corporate branding campaigns in the US, Europe, and Asia markets. In July 2012, his composed piece as Dark Model was included on the first footage reel of 2013 movie Elysium (starring: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster. dir: Neill Blomkamp) played at Comic-Con, San Diego.

Tatsuya has collaborated with or remixed numerous artists/bands such as James Brown, Diana Ross, Chic, Simon LeBon, Ron Sexsmith, Serge Gainsbourg, and many other icons. He is also called "Remix Wizard."[1]

Oe participated in Panasonic's global branding movie Experience Color[2] which won "The Finalist Award" in New York Festivals, as well as "Silver Prize" for the Tokyo Interactive Ad Awards. Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim) described his music as "F***ing insane!" Captain Funk's album, "Songs of the Siren," was selected by Billboard for their feature story "Year in Music 2001/Critic's Choice",[3][4] and his song "Twist & Shout" was featured as a theme song in SABU's movie "Monday."[5] In autumn 2013, he relocated from Japan to the United States.

Life and career

Early career and birth of Captain Funk

Tatsuya Oe was born in Hiroshima, Japan. At the age of 12, he showed great interest in rock, pop, and electronic music, and at the age of 14, decided to buy his first electric guitar, synthesizer, and sequencer. In school days he formed several bands performing rock, synthpop/new wave, heavy metal, and even prog rock. While he couldn't find bandmates for playing his favorite funk or black music since those kinds of music was nearly unknown in Japan at that time, a few years later he found excitement in playing DJ to the audience and got attracted by dance/club music such as rare groove, disco, house, and hip hop.[6] After he majored in economics at and graduated from Tokyo University, while working for an advertising company, he started composition/music production with his computer. His demo tapes were acclaimed by several European dance/techno labels and he released his debut 12 inches called Dazzlin'[7] from Italian label ACV under the name of Tatsuya Oe in 1997. Since Encounter with... album (1998), he burst onto the club scene as the maverick solo project "Captain Funk."[8]

“Captain Funk will make you believe!” was The Ministry of Sound magazine’s opinion, while Time Out Mag described his music as a “Vibrant delight!” Fatboy Slim (Norman Cook) described his record as “F***ing insane!” and demanded extra copies.[9] The Fatboy was not alone obviously, as Tatsuya has earned the praise and respect of international DJs from across the board such as Coldcut, Si Begg, Freddy Fresh, Ken Ishii and Carl Cox. Captain Funk released successful singles, mix CDs and albums including Bustin’ Loose EP, Dancing in the Street, Style, etc. Especially his second album Songs of the Siren[10] was selected as one of “The Year in Music 2001 Critic’s Choice” of the Billboard magazine.[11][12]

Metropolis described the album, "Listeners familiar with his last release, Songs of the Siren, will recognize many of the elements that made the album one of the most original and musically innovative to come out of Japan in the last two years."[13]

He also has played DJ at many gigs and big events in Japan such as Fuji Rock Festival[14] and overseas including UK (Turnmills, Heaven, etc.), France (Global Tekno,[15] Festival de Saint-Nolff, etc.), Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea.

As Captain Funk

After the experience of several DJ tours, including ones with Space Cowboy, he founded his own company, Model Electronic Inc., which he manages. The company focuses on music production, sound design and label/publishing management to provide cutting edge music internationally and in one-stop, not only to general listeners but also to advertising, films, TV and video game industries.

As the first project of this company, he released Captain Funk's albums, Heavy Metal and Heavy Mellow (2007).[16] These albums display his way of fusing together the early Captain Funk's uplifting vibes and his songwriting skills acquired through OE's works.[17] Several tracks, as represented by "Hey Boy, Hey Girl" feat. Meri Neeser, not only became popular in Japan but also was played in overseas radios, parties, and shops such as Club Sandwich and Dior Homme shop in Paris.

In 2008 his company Model Electronic Inc launched a new online shop called "Club Model Electronic". "It's a membership based company/label's "direct shop" to deliver our sounds & exclusive info to listeners, especially in the areas where our products have been hardly purchasable."[18]

While continuing collaboration and remix work for other artists such as Dúné, Radiopilot and Ami Suzuki, in August 2009 he released Captain Funk's next album Sunshine in Japan (worldwide in October 2010), which includes "Weekend (kissing, touching, tasting, loving)" feat. Adnan Kurtov and "Piece of you" feat. Meri Neeser. "Weekend" was ranked in several radio charts in Japan,[19][20] and "Piece of You" was featured by Forever 21 (US) for their sales promotion and aired in nine movie theaters in the western United States, as well as in Forever 21's 400+ stores.[21]

In July 2011, the latest release as Captain Funk "Versions2011" got ranked No.1 in "Dance/Electronica" & No.2 in "Pops" at MP3 Album chart on Amazon.co.jp.[22]

In July 2013, Tatsuya released “Chronicles 2007-2013, Vol. 1 & 2″(all 98 tracks) in the form of digital download, which was the collection of tracks which have been produced since 2007 under the moniker of Captain Funk.

In February 2014, Captain Funk “Endless Possibilities (feat. Raj Ramayya)” was featured in ABC Family's TV drama “Switched at Birth.[23] Also "Somebody Like You feat. Meri Neeser" was used in the trailer of web channel "Wigs" drama "Blue (Season 3)" starring Julia Stiles.[24]

As OE

From the 2002 release Here and You, he started another solo project simply under his real last name OE[25] to focus more on cutting-edge and introspective music. After collaboration with Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Quintet “ONJQ+OE“, he released two albums Physical Fiction and Director’s Cut.[26] During his OE era, he did an opening act for Kraftwerk, Holger Czukay, and David Bowie (as Groove Syndicate)[27] in their Japan tours.

As Dark Model

In 2012 June, Tatsuya launched his new project Dark Model which is focused on edgy, epic, and cinematic instrumental music. In 2012, his composed piece as Dark Model was included on the first footage of the 2013 movie Elysium (starring Matt Damon and Jodie Foster).

In 2012 Dec, Dark Model “Oath (Dubstep Remix)” was licensed and featured in Verizon Wireless TV Commercial “Droid DNA -Extra Sensory” with its artwork, which was aired all over the U.S.[28] Dark Model's music has been licensed and used in numerous media projects, including cinema trailers for films such as "The Paperboy" (starring Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman, John Cusack) and in advertising campaigns for Lexus, Oakley, Xbox, Wilson Sporting Goods, among others.

In 2014 May, half a year after Tatsuya relocated from Japan to the United States, Tatsuya's label Model Electronic released the debut album of Dark Model in the form of CD and digital downloads. In 2017 March, Dark Model's second album Saga was released. In addition to the original release in the U.S, and the album was licensed and released in Japan.

In April 2018, Saga won the 16th Annual Independent Music Award (IMA) for Best Dance/Electronica Album.[29]

Composition and licensed music

He has not only composed for but also licensed a lot of his music to commercials, TV, film,[30] video games, animation projects, and corporate branding campaigns in the US, Europe, and Asia markets.

He runs his own music library, Model Electronic Music Library (formerly Club Model Electronic),[31] for licensing his compositions to music and media professionals. As of 2014, his music has been licensed and used in TV advertising and promotion movies in the US territory of Burger King,[32] Skechers,[33] Oprah Winfrey Network,[34] and Macy's.

Awards
  • The Finalist Award of New York Festivals[35]
  • Silver Prize of the Tokyo Interactive Ad Awards[36]
  • Official Honoree of Webby Awards[37]

(for music/sound design of Panasonic Experience Color, with Business Architects Inc.)

  • Independent Music Awards "Best Dance/Electronica Album" (for Dark Model "Saga")[38]

Music Placement

Advertising
  • Pepsi (Pepsi Max featuring Kylie Irving, 2012, Sync License)
  • Burger King ("Bacon & Cheddar BK Toppers" TV commercial, 2012, Sync License)
  • Forever 21 (Multiple placements including Captain Funk "Piece of You", Sync License)
  • Skechers (TV commercials, 2012, Composition)
  • Macy's MstyleLab (2012, Sync License)
  • Microsoft (2011, Sync License)
  • Panasonic (Composition for Experience Color)
  • Bain & Company (2012, Sync License)[39]
  • Dance Battle VS (PS3, Hyperkin) (Captain Funk "Somebody Like You", "Diamonds", Sync License)
  • Team Type1 (2012, Sync License)
  • Coloplast (2012, Sync License)
  • Tennis Australia (2012, Sync License)
  • ELLE (Brazil) (TV commercial, 2012, Sync License)[40]

TV programs/promos

Japan & Asia Market

Film/Trailer/Animation/Game
  • Elysium, the first footage reel (played at Comic-Con in 2012, Sync License)
  • Dragon and Clouds (Short movie for Shohaku Soga's Dragon and Clods exhibited in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Director:Noriyuki Tanaka)
  • Tokyo Designers Block DVD (2005)
  • Table & Fishman (director: Osamu Kobayashi, Studio4c, 2002)
  • Monday ("Twist & Shout" as the theme song. director: SABU, the International Film Critics Association Award in Berlin International Film Festival)
  • Tekken (Bandai Namco)
  • “The Paperboy” TV Spot (starring: Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman, John Cusack & Macy Gray)[42]
  • Northern Ballet (UK, "Brief Landing". Directed and choreographed by Daniel de Andrade, 2013 Sync License)[43]

Discography

Studio Albums/Mini-Albums
  • Encounter with…(1998) (Music Mine/Media Factory)
  • Bustin' Loose (1998) (Music Mine/Media Factory)
  • Dancing in the Street (1999) (Music Mine/Media Factory)
  • Who Got Your Mojo Workin' (2000) (Music Mine/Media Factory)
  • Songs of the Siren (2000) (Music Mine/Media Factory)
  • Losing My Way (2001) (Music Mine/Media Factory)
  • Heavy Metal (2007) (Model Electronic)
  • Heavy Mellow (2007) (Model Electronic)
  • Sunshine (2009) (Model Electronic)
  • Versions2011 (2011) (Model Electronic)
  • Chronicles 2007-2013, Vol. 1 & 2 (2013) (Model Electronic)

12 inch Vinyl
  • Rollercoaster E.P. (Reel Music)
  • O.Y.M (Reel Music)
  • O.Y.M Remixes (Reel Music)
  • Tracks of the Siren Pt.1 (Reel Music)
  • Tracks of the Siren Pt.2 (Reel Music)

OE/Tatsuya Oe
  • Dazzlin' (1997) (ACV)
  • Copa Feelin' (1997) (ACV)
  • Here and You (2002) (Music Mine)
  • Physical Fiction (2003) (P-Vine)
  • Director's Cut (2004) (P-Vine)
  • ONJQ+OE (with Otomo Yoshihide New Jazz Quartet) (P-Vine)
  • Into the Echo (2006) (Digitally released)
  • New Classics Vol.1 & Vol.2 (2018) (Model Electronic)

Dark Model
  • Dark Model (2014) (Model Electronic)
  • Saga (2017) (Model Electronic)

Remix/Arrangement (excerpt)
  • James Brown - "Cold Sweat (Tatsuya Oe Dry Mix)" (Universal Sigma)
  • Chic - "Good Times (Captain Funk Remix)"(Universal Sigma)
  • Diana Ross & The Supremes - "Theme from Mahogany" (Captain Funk Punky-Nighty Mix) (Universal Sigma)
  • Serge Gainsbourg - "Poupee de Cire, Poupee de Son" (feat. Noriko, Universal France)
  • Simon LeBon/Nick Wood - "Nobody Knows" (Captain Funk Remix) (Syn Records)
  • Digikid84 - "You Got to Groove" (Captain Funk Remix) (Folistar)
  • Radiopilot - "Monster" ("CF Tokyo Love Affiair Mix" & "CF Electric Rendezvous MIx") (Sony BMG Germany)
  • Dune - John Wayne vs Mary Chaine (Captain Funk Glitter Knight club mix) (Sony BMG Germany)
  • Demolition Disco - Big Mama (Captain Funk Epic Suite Remix) (Riot Riot)
  • Hotei - Vampire (Captain Funk Mix) (EMI Japan)
  • Date Course Pentagon Royal Garden - "Catch44.1" (OE reconstruction) (P-Vine)
  • Anna Tsuchiya - "Somebody Help Me" ("'80CBGB Bootleg Mix" & "'89Remember Acid Mix") (Avex)
  • Tommy February6 - "Everyday at the Bus Stop" (Captain Funk "Daydream" Edition) (Sony)
  • Puffy - "Ai-no-Shirushi" (CF Puffy de Samba Mix) (SME)
  • FPM - "You Must Learn All Night Long" (Captain Funk Flamingo Mix) (Columbia Japan)
  • Yasuyuki Okamura - "Mashumaro Honeymoon" (Co-production)
  • Zoobombs - "Jumbo" (Arranger/Co-production) (EMI/Virgin)
  • Ken Ishii - "Actio Surrealismo" (Captain Funk Rampage Remix) (SME)
  • Original Love - "Daisyarin" (Captain Funk remix) (EMI Japan)
  • Manta1000 - "Prenom Betty" (Captain Funk Last Hustle in Paris remix) (Barclay/Universal France)
  • Denki Groove - "Asunaro-Sunshine" (Captain Funk remix) (Kioon Sony)
  • The Arrows - "Night Call" (Captain Funk Glitter Knight Club Mix) (Pony Canyon)
  • Spank Happy (Arranger, "Sweets","Riot in Chocolate Logos", and "De Venus a Anthoinette") (King Records)

Soundtracks
  • Message (2004,NTV)
  • Monday Soundtrack (2001, Monsoon)

Compilations
  • Noriyuki Tanaka with OE/Tesserart (CD-ROM, 2006)
  • A Celebration of Miracles-Diamonds and Botswana (2006, DTC)
  • Twenty One by Hilton Tokyo (2005, SYN)
  • Tokyo Sound System 2 (2006, Tokyo Sound System 2)
  • Tokyo Designers Block DVD vol.1(2004)
  • Let There Be Pop -Christopher Just Remixes From 1995 To 2003 (2003, Giant Wheel)
  • The March (2002) (in compilation album "WKM -Tribute to Walkman" (Gate records))
  • N (2001, Camelco)
  • Style#08 Captain Funk (Mix CD, 1999, Toshiba EMI)
  • Dancemania Winters 2 (1999, Toshiba EMI)
  • Dancemania Winters Rockgroove (1999, Toshiba EMI)
  • Krafty Kuts presents Slam the Breaks (1999, Lacerba)
  • Future Electronica (1999, Sony Music Associates)
  • All Mixed Up (1999, Sm:)e Communications)
  • Avenue A Presents Something Else Vol.2 (1999, R&S Records)
  • Skank You Too (1999, Essential Dance Music)
  • Bomb Boutique (1999, Area Code 221/EFA)
  • Burning Big Beats (1999, SPV Recordings)
  • Born To Ill 3 (1999, Music Mine)
  • CTI Classics featuring Captain Funk Urban Showcase (1999, King Records)
  • Japanese Homegrown Beats (1998, Tower Records)
  • DJ's Works Vol.1 (1997, Music Mine)
  • Warning (1997) (in compilation album "Pacific State" (Deviant UK))

Recording/Production
  • Ron Sexsmith
  • Tomotasu Hotei
  • Otomo Yoshihide
  • Naruyoshi Kikuchi
  • Raj Ramayya
  • Ken Ishii
  • Nick Wood
  • Meri Neeser
  • Adnan Kurtov
  • Zoobombs
  • Yasuyuki Okamura
  • Ami Suzuki
  • Takeshi Ito
  • Freddy Fresh
  • Kyon
  • Black Bottom Brass Band
  • Robert Taleghany (Film Director)
  • SABU (Film Director)
  • Noriyuki Tanaka (Art Director)
  • Osamu Kobayashi (Animator, Studio 4°C)
  • Ben List (Video Director)

In Concert/On Tour
  • David Bowie (as Groove Syndicate)
  • Kraftwerk
  • Holger Czukay
  • Space Cowboy (Tour)
  • Atomic Hooligan (Tour)
  • Date Course Pentagon Royal Garden (Tour)

References
  1. "Captain Funk Interview" 20 November 2008 J-Pop World. Retrieved 18 July 2012
  2. "Experience Color" Archived 23 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine Panasonic 2006. Retrieved 16 July 2012
  3. Critic's Choice" 8 September 2001 Billboard. Retrieved 18 July 2012
  4. "The Year in Music 2001" 7 January 2002 Billboard. Retrieved 18 July 2012
  5. "Evolving Japanese Cinema" Archived 6 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine Japan Foundation Arts and Cultural Exchange. Retrieved 18 July 2012
  6. "tokyo: captain funk" Archived 6 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine Movement Magazine. Retrieved 22 July 2012
  7. ) Discogs.com Retrieved 22 July 2012
  8. "Japan Beat: The Birth of OE" Metropolis. Retrieved 16 July 2012
  9. "Holy big beat funk, Captain!" 18 May 1999 Japan Times. Retrieved 23 July 2012
  10. After Dark" Metropolis. Retrieved 22 July 2012
  11. Critic's Choice" 8 September 2001 Billboard. Retrieved 18 July 2012
  12. "The Year in Music 2001" 7 January 2002 Billboard. Retrieved 18 July 2012
  13. "Japan Beat: The Birth of OE" Metropolis. Retrieved 2014-6-14.
  14. "The Sounds of Summer" Metropolis. Retrieved 22 July 2012
  15. Bernier, Alexis. "Global Tekno" 20 November 1998 Liberation. Retrieved 22 July 2012
  16. "CD's" Archived 30 November 2013 at Archive.today Metropolis. Retrieved 22 July 2012
  17. "CD's" Archived 30 November 2013 at Archive.today Metropolis. Retrieved 22 July 2012
  18. J-Pop World interview, 20 November 2008
  19. "FM Kanazawa Hot 100" 3 October 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2012
  20. "FM Cocolo Hits 40" 6 September 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2012
  21. "Forever 21 TV is featuring Captain Funk 'Piece of You'" 20 November 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2012
  22. "Versions 2011 got ranked at Amazon Japan site" 18 August 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2012
  23. "CAPTAIN FUNK - ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES (CLIMACTIC MIX, USED IN ABC FAMILY SWITCHED AT BIRTH)" Archived 16 June 2014 at Archive.today Dark Asylum. Retrieved 2014-6-15.
  24. "Somebody Like You Featured in “Blue (Season 3)” Trailer starring Julia Stiles" Retrieved 2014-6-15.
  25. "Captain Funk/OE" de-VICE #2. Retrieved 23 July 2012
  26. Music" Metropolis. Retrieved 23 July 2012
  27. "David Bowie: A Reality Tour" Retrieved 22 July 2012
  28. "HTC Droid DNA TV Spot, 'Upgrades' Song by Dark Model" iSpot. Retrieved 2014-6-4.
  29. "The 16th Independent Music Awards Winners" Independent Music Awards. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
  30. "Music for Soga Shohaku 'Dragon and Clouds'" Retrieved 17 July 2012
  31. Dryza, Kristina. "Specialty music boutique for the digital high street" 5 January 2009 David Report. Retrieved 18 July 2012
  32. "Music Licensing for Burger King" 29 January 2012. Retrieved 22 July 210
  33. "Music Production for Skechers TV Commercial Featuring Brooke Burke" Archived 3 February 2013 at Archive.today 29 January 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012
  34. "Sync Placement for Welcome to Sweetie Pies on TV" 29 January 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012
  35. "2007 Finalist Certificate" New York Festivals. Retrieved 17 July 2012
  36. "第5回 東京インタラクティブ・アド・アワード 受賞作品発表" Tokyo Interactive Ad Awards. Retrieved 18 July 2012
  37. "11th Annual Webby Awards Official Honoree Selections" Archived 1 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine Webby Awards. Retrieved 18 July 2012
  38. "The 16th Independent Music Awards Winners" Independent Music Awards. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
  39. "Recent Placements for Corporate Videos" 23 April 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2012
  40. "Assista ao vídeo da campanha do ELLE Collection Lenços Exclusivos" Archived 6 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine 23 May 2012 ELLE. Retrieved 22 July 2012
  41. "Shiseido Asia White Lucent TV Ad" Retrieved 22 July 2012
  42. "Fire Back on The Paper Boy TV Spot" Retrieved 2014-6-15.
  43. "Northern Ballet UK" Retrieved 2014-6-15.
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