Rie fu

{{short description|Japanese singer-songwriter and musician (born 1985)}} {{Multiple issues| {{BLP sources|date=March 2009}} {{Expand Japanese|topic=bio|Rie fu|date=January 2016}} }} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist |name = Rie fu |image = <!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people. Non-free and "fair use" images, e.g. promo photos, CD/DVD covers, posters, screen captures, etc., will be deleted - see WP:NONFREE --> |caption = |background = solo_singer |birth_name = {{Nihongo|Rie Funakoshi|舩越 里恵}} |alias = Rié |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|1|11}}<ref>{{cite web|title=（ふなこし・りえ）/Rie fu|publisher=Tokyo Art Navigation|url=http://tokyoartnavi.jp/artistfile/detail.php?artist_no=20000860|accessdate=April 22, 2011|language=Japanese|archive-date=May 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519033739/http://tokyoartnavi.jp/artistfile/detail.php?artist_no=20000860|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Newtype USA 2007-01 33"/> |birth_place = Tokyo, Japan |death_date = |instruments = Vocals, piano | genre = Japanese pop <br/> folk <br/> rock |occupation = Singer-songwriter, musician |years_active = 2004–present |label = Sony Japan<br /> Palm Beach (2004–2008)<br /> Gr8! Records (2008–) |website = {{URL|www.riefu.com}} }}

{{Nihongo|'''Rie Funakoshi'''|舩越 里恵|Funakoshi Rie|born January 11, 1985|lead=yes}} better known by her stage name {{Nihongo|'''Rie fu'''|リエ フゥ|Rie Fū}}, is a Japanese singer-songwriter and musician.<ref name="Newtype USA 6 8 127"/> She resides in Tokyo but frequently travels to the United Kingdom, where she is known as '''Rié''', to record and promote her work.

Rie fu's songs are often bilingual, since she is fluent in both English and Japanese. Although most of her songs are primarily sung in Japanese, many feature entire verses written in English. Of her songs written entirely in Japanese, several have later been released as English-language versions.

==Personal life== Rie fu was born in Tokyo. From 1992 to 1995,<ref name="Newtype USA 2007-01 33"/> she lived in Maryland with her family, including a younger brother who plays a woodwind instrument.<ref name="twitter"/> It was during this time that she started playing the piano and gained a lot of musical inspiration, from artists such as Sheryl Crow and 1970s pop musicians such as The Carpenters. She cites Carole King, Joni Mitchell, The Carpenters, and Yumi Matsutoya as influences.<ref name="Rie fu"/>

After returning to Japan, Rie finished her primary and secondary education in Tokyo at Aoyama Gakuin from 1995 to 2003.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} In 2007, she graduated from the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design of the University of the Arts London<ref name="Excite"/> in fine art (having shifted in interest from fashion design and graphic design).<ref name="Rie fu"/> Upon graduation, she returned to Tokyo, Japan, and has since resided there full-time. Rie often designs much of her own album and single booklets and features her own paintings in them as well.

She is active in both music and art. Her artwork is published under the Roman transliteration "Rie Funakoshi" and her music under "Rie fu," the abbreviation of her full name.<ref>[https://www.tokyohive.com/2011/05/rie-fu-updates-her-artwork-website-with-new-pictures/ Rie fu updates her artwork website with new pictures]</ref>

On November 29, 2013, she announced on her Facebook page that she had married a 'funky British gentleman' (the identity of the man in question has not been revealed), presumably sometime recently during the month.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=734395866589250&set=a.376809262347914.100882.374507705911403&type=1&theater Rie fu's Facebook page – Timeline photo] published November 29, 2013</ref> She has 1 son. <ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H5uwHI4ico</ref>

==Music career== In 2002, while in high school, Rie fu learned guitar, and almost immediately began coming up with songs and recording them with a small tape recorder. She sent the demo tape off to a record company (Sony) and they signed her to their Palm Beach label.<ref name="Rie fu"/>

Her first single, "Rie who!?", featuring the song "decay," was released in March 2004, while she was attending university in London. Later that year, her song "Life Is Like a Boat" was chosen as the first ending theme for the anime series ''Bleach'', garnering her widespread recognition. In 2005 she released her first full-length album, self-titled, and her song "I Wanna Go To A Place..." was used as the ''Gundam SEED Destiny'' third ending theme and released as a single. She participated in a track on m-flo's ''Beat Space Nine'' album, and embarked on her first nationwide tour in September of that year.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}

In 2006 she released her second full-length album, ''Rose Album'', and her song "Until I Say" was used as the theme song for the Japanese release of the 2005 British film ''Heidi''. In 2007 her song "Tsukiakari" was featured as the ending theme to ''Darker than Black''. In July upon graduation from university she returned to Japan to live full-time, and released her third full-length album ''Tobira Album.''{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}

In 2008, her song "Home," used as the theme to the Japanese film ''Koneko no Namida'', was released as a single. In March, she released an album in the UK on a British label called Tired & Lonesome, titled "Who is Rie fu?", a compilation of earlier songs with a previously unreleased cover of Joni Mitchell's song "Both Sides, Now". A Japanese release with additional new tracks was planned, as was a continental European release.<ref name="Tower"/> Neither materialized and the original UK album went out of print, having failed to establish an overseas presence for Rie fu.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001329QSQ|title = Who is Rie Fu|website = Amazon}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tower.com/who-is-rie-fu-cd/wapi/111871680 |title=Music: Who Is Rie Fu (CD) by Rie Fu |website=www.tower.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227044626/http://www.tower.com/who-is-rie-fu-cd/wapi/111871680 |archive-date=2008-12-27}}</ref> The following month she switched from Sony's Palm Beach label to its gr8! records label.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}

In 2009 she released her fourth full-length album, ''Urban Romantic''. Having contributed vocals to all of the songs on Orange Range head Naoto's solo project delofamilia's second album, ''eddy,'' she went on tour with the band. She also joined Yōsui Inoue's commemorative 40th anniversary tour, contributing chorus vocals.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}

Her album, ''at Rie sessions'', was released on March 31, 2010, and is her first self-produced album. Many of the tracks on the album feature duets with other notable singers, and were recorded at Rie fu's home. As of 2011 she is more heavily involved with delofamilia, with it being described as "A band based around Naoto Hiroyama and Rie fu" on the band's Facebook page.

Her song "Anata ga Koko ni Iru Riyuu" was in the anime ''D.Gray-man'' for their fifth closing song.

Her first compilation album, ''I Can Do Better'', was released on November 23, 2011.<ref>[https://www.jpopasia.com/celebrity/riefu/lyrics/i-can-do-better::12821.html Tracklist for "I Can Do Better"]</ref>

To celebrate the anniversary of ten years since her debut, Rie undertook a project to produce two consecutive albums titled 'I' and 'O' respectively. The project concept being that the first album 'I' stood for the word 'Inside' and was written from musical inspirations from her years of experiences 'inside' Japan and the Japanese music market. The second album titled 'O' stood for 'Outside' and was written and developed inspired by her developing Asian experiences.<ref>{{Citation|last=Rie fu|title=Rie fu NEW ALBUM 2014 .7 English message|date=July 2, 2014|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5OmHk9BPuw|url-status=dead|accessdate=August 15, 2016|archive-date=November 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127105413/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5OmHk9BPuw}}</ref> Placing the two albums side by side also created the image of the number 10 to mark the occasion and to acknowledge and thank her fans for ten successful years in the industry.

==Rié== In May 2016, Rie relocated to the UK launching a new artist name, Rié.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/rieriemusic/ {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref> Cognizant of differing musical styles in Japan and the UK, Rie chose to continue to release new music in Japan under the artist names of Rie Fu and Rié for the UK respectively. Her reasons for feeling the need to adapt the artist name to suit a different market is explained here.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://io.riefu.com/blog/2017/05/02/whats-in-a-name/|title = What's in a Name – イギリスでの音楽活動の始め方}}</ref>

Rié launched her first three track EP in June 2017, entitled 'Business Trips' <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/artists/rie|title = Rié - Reviews, Songs and News}}</ref> it consisted of three new songs sung entirely in English, St Martin, Calling and Business Trips.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicmusingsandsuch.com/musicmusingsandsuch/2017/7/30/track-review-ri-business-trips|title=TRACK REVIEW: Rié - Business Trips|date=July 30, 2017 }}</ref>

==Discography==

===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable" !Title !Release date |- |''Rie fu'' |January 19, 2005 |- |''Rose Album'' |March 24, 2006 |- |''Tobira Album'' |November 21, 2007 |- |''Urban Romantic'' |April 8, 2009 |- |''at Rie Sessions'' |March 31, 2010 |- |''Bigger Picture'' |November 21, 2012 |- |''I'' |November 12, 2014 |- |''O'' |April 6, 2016 |- |''Portraits'' |September 6, 2017<ref>{{cite news |title=Rie fuのニューアルバム『PORTRAITS』が、9月6日に配信リリースされる。|trans-title=Rie fu's new album "PORTRAITS" will be released on September 6 |url=https://www.excite.co.jp/News/music/20170824/Cinra_20170824_riefu.html |publisher=Excite Japan |accessdate=October 26, 2017 |date=August 24, 2017|language=ja}}</ref> |}

===Special Project album=== {| class="wikitable" !Title !Release date |- |Fu Diary<br />(released in six monthly installments) |June 15, 2012 (You Do)<br />July 15, 2012 (Easy) <br />August 15, 2012 (Fujirock)<br />September 15, 2012 ({{Nihongo|Fun Play|たのしいあそび|Tanoshi Asobi}})<br />October 15, 2012 (Jet Lag)<br />November 15, 2012 (Winter Love Song) |- |Fu Diary 2

Around The World

(released through Ototoy)

https://ototoy.jp/_/default/p/50338 |April 1 (Singapore) April 1, 2015 (Bali)

April 1, 2015 (China)

April 1, 2015 (New York)

April 1, 2015 (Bangladesh)

April 1, 2015 (Borneo)

April 1, 2015 (Rome) |}

===Cover albums=== {| class="wikitable" !Title !Release date |- |''Rie fu Sings The Carpenters<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jpopasia.com/news/rie-fu-sings-the-carpenters::14594.html|title = Rie fu Sings the Carpenters}}</ref>'' |September 4, 2013 |}

===Best-of Albums=== {| class="wikitable" !Title !Release date |- |''I Can Do Better'' |November 23, 2011 |- |}

===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" !Title !Release date |- |Rie who!? |March 24, 2004 |- |Life Is Like a Boat |September 23, 2004 |- |I Wanna Go to a Place...<ref name="Newtype USA 2007-01 33"/> |April 27, 2005 |- |Negaigoto (ねがいごと) |August 31, 2005 |- |Tiny Tiny Melody |March 8, 2006 |- |Until I Say |July 19, 2006 |- |Tsukiakari (ツキアカリ)<ref name="Newtype USA 6 8 127"/> |May 23, 2007 |- |5000 Miles |September 5, 2007 |- |Anata ga Koko ni Iru Riyuu (あなたがここにいる理由) |October 24, 2007 |- |Home |January 23, 2008 |- |Romantic |November 12, 2008 |- |Present |February 25, 2009 |- |For You |February 16, 2011 |- |Let It Curl |May 5, 2014 |- |}

===European and UK releases=== {| class="wikitable" !Title !Release date |- |''Who Is Rie fu?'' |March 3, 2008 |} '''''Business Trips''''' EP as Rié June 20, 2017 St Martin Calling Business Trips

==References== {{Reflist|2|refs= <ref name="Newtype USA 2007-01 33">Kanoh, Arata et al. "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny". (January 2007) ''Newtype USA'' pp. 26–35.</ref> <ref name="Newtype USA 6 8 127">Kawasaki, Naoko; Yoshida, Moichi. "Tsukiakari". ''Newtype USA''. '''6''' (8) p. 127. 2007–08. {{ISSN|1541-4817}}.</ref> <ref name="twitter">"[https://www.twitter.com/riefuofficial/status/7447644784/ 今日は弟fuとおともだちにレコーディングしてもらいました。吹奏楽部なり。]". {{in lang|ja}} ''twitter''. Retrieved February 14, 2010.</ref> <ref name="Rie fu">"[http://riefu.com/e_prof.html Rie fu Official Web Site]". Retrieved February 14, 2010.</ref> <ref name="Excite">"[http://blog.excite.co.jp/riefublog/7174101/ エキサイトミュージック連載ブログ：Rie fuブログ「りえふぅきのこ」 : インジャパン]". {{in lang|ja}} Retrieved February 14, 2010.</ref> <ref name="Tower">"[http://www.tower.com/who-is-rie-fu-cd/wapi/111871680 Who Is Rie Fu (CD)]". ''Tower.com''. Retrieved February 14, 2010.</ref> }}

==External links== *{{official website|http://www.riefu.com/}} *[https://ameblo.jp/riefu-blog/ Rie fu's blog] {{in lang|ja}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20020608162808/http://www.riefunakoshi.com/ Rie fu's official painting website] *{{anime News Network|people|id=30914}} *[http://www.nostalgic-lavender.net/riefu Rie fu lyrics] *Sony Music Online Japan: [https://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arch/PB/Riefu/index.html Rie Fu]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fu, Rie}} Category:Sony Music Entertainment Japan artists Category:Gr8! Records artists Category:Japanese women rock singers Category:Japanese women pop singers Category:Japanese women singer-songwriters Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:Japanese women musicians Category:Alumni of Central Saint Martins Category:Singers from Tokyo Category:21st-century Japanese singers Category:21st-century Japanese women singers