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Draft:Mio Masui

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Mio Masui
Born (1994-10-06) October 6, 1994 (age 30)
Tokyo, Japan
GenresJ-Pop, Rock, Cute Metal
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Years active2009-present
LabelsPlatinum Passport, Mashup entertainment
Member ofMellows
Formerly ofPASSPO☆, BabooBee

Mio Masui (増井 みお, Masui Mio) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and idol from Tokyo, Japan. She is the vocalist of cute metal band Mellows and former member of the Japanese girl group PASSPO☆ and rock/pop group BabooBee.

Career

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PASSPO☆ (2009-2018)

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Mio was a continuous PASSPO☆ member from formation until the group's disbandment in 2018. Mio's representative color was mint-green.

One of the group's goals was for the members to become a musical band and play their own music live. The "Band PASSPO☆" debuted in 2014 with the single Perfect Sky where Mio played the bass. [1]

Despite not having any formal training, Mio learned how to play the bass guitar under the guidance of the late Akihiro Yokoyama (1965 - 2014), bassist for the Japanese trash metal band UNITED. Yokoyama's relation to PASSPO☆ came as he played with the band that supported them during live shows, called "The Ground Crew". After Yokoyama passed away, Mio received one of his personal ESP bass guitars which she would continue to use. [2]

Although the majority of PASSPO☆ songs and lyrics are credited to their music producer Penne&Arrabiata, Mio is credited for writing the lyrics to 4 songs (Onegai (おねがい), 2013; Heaven's Burger (ヘブンズバーガー), 2015; PlayGround, 2017; Party like a Rockstar!, 2017), the most of all other members (see also Passpo#Discography). After the band disbanded in 2018, Mio was the only member to continue a career producing music.

PASSPO☆ Discography

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(see Passpo#Discography)

BabooBee (2018-2022)

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A month after PASSPO☆'s disbandment announcement (May 2018), Mio's newest band BabooBee had officially formed (June 2018) with Platinum Passport. Mio played bass and vocals, with guitarist Michiko (みちこ) and drummer Mirai Murakoso (村社未来). The band released their first album "BabubibeBorn!! (バビブベBorn!!)" in August 2019. [3]

Due to the extended COVID-19 lockdowns, the band was unable to record and perform as desired[4]. Mirai left the band in February 2022 after finalizing their second album "Miyakowasure (ミヤコワスレ)". In June 2022 the band ceased activities.

BabooBee Discography

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Category Title Release date Tracks Format
Full album "BabubibeBorn!!" (バビブベBorn!!) August 7, 2019 10 CD
Single "Maria" (マリア) December 22, 2020 1 Digital
Single "Hikaru hikaru" (ひかるひかり) January 13, 2021 1 Digital
Single "Suppin time" (すっぴんタイム) May 21, 2021 2 Digital
Single "Pappara" (パッパラ) June 30, 2021 1 Digital
Full album "Miyakowasure" (ミヤコワスレ) July 6, 2022 14 Digital

Mellows (2023-Present)

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Mio joined indies label Mashup Entertainment in 2023 where she formed the cute metal band Mellows as vocalist and songwriter, together with guitarists Sally (LOC, LIPSTICK) and GINA (囁揺的音楽集団 AsMR, BabBubble). Mio had been a long time fan of heavy metal music, such as Slipknot and Slayer. After PASSPO☆ and BabooBee disbanded, she realized that what she really wanted to dedicate herself to was the metal genre. Despite not having the voice range typically associated with heavy metal, she asked the new label to help her put up a metal band that could fit her usual singing voice, to which the label agreed. Mellows genre was labeled as "Cute Metal" by Mio, stating that they wanted to try something never done before. [5] Mio gave up the role of bassist for Mellows and focused instead on the band's image and visuals as well as lyrics.

Mellows Discography

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Category Title Release date Tracks Format
Single "Rabbit, Love it!" October 26, 2023 1 Digital
Single "Mikansei" (未完成) November 23, 2023 1 Digital
Full album "alloy" June 6, 2024 10 CD
Single cover "Kawaikute gomen-ne (feat. HoneyWorks & Kapi)"

(可愛くてごめんね (feat. HoneyWorks & かぴ))

July 1, 2024 1 Digital

Personal life

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Mio has long followed the Harajuku street fashion style. One of her iconic styles during performances is wearing her hair in twin pigtails, which she has maintained from PASSPO☆ to Mellows. She also had a distinctive mole in her left cheekbone, but in February 2024 she announced that she had surgically removed it[6].

In June 2022, Mio started a photography studio in Tokyo called StudioMIO.[7]

Mio made a collaboration with Fairy Kei apparel brand Nile Perch and launched a line called Mio Perch in 2017.[8]

Mio's interest in metal began during her early years in PASSPO☆ after she requested fans to recommend her all kinds of music and a fan presented her with a copy of one of Slipknot's albums. She liked not only the heavy instrumentals and grotesque visuals, but also how the lyrics were very melodic.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Furukawa, Tomohisa (15 February 2017). "PASSPO☆×ペンネとアラビアータ機長「Cinema Trip」インタビュー" ["Cinema Trip" interview with PASSPO☆ and flight captain Penne&Arrabiata]. ナタリー [Natalie] (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  2. ^ "増井みお [PASSPO☆] 私にとってのメタルの原点ですね。" [Masui Mio [PASSPO☆] This is my starting point for metal.]. Monthly Bass Magazine (in Japanese). No. October 2016. Rittor Music, Inc. 17 September 2016. pp. 30–31. ASIN B01J4AC8HO.
  3. ^ "BabooBee profile". TOWER RECORDS ONLINE (in Japanese). 14 August 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  4. ^ "カワイイとメタルが融合した"キュート・メタル"" [The "cute metal" that blends cute and metal]. WeROCK (in Japanese). Vol. 99. SOUND DESIGNER. 15 February 2024. pp. 42–43. ASIN B0CTD2XW19.
  5. ^ a b Jun, Kawai (13 June 2024). "CUTE METALという新しいコンセプトの下に立ち上げられた元アイドルを中心するトリオが1stアルバム「alloy」リリース!" [The trio centered around an ex-idol that started under the CUTE METAL concept releases their 1st album "alloy"!]. METALLION (in Japanese). Vol. 79. Shinko Music Entertainment. pp. 41–46. ASIN B0D3NQQQDX.
  6. ^ "涙ぼくろさよならのお知らせ". X, formerly Twitter (in Japanese). 23 February 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  7. ^ "StudioMIO". Instagram (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  8. ^ "MIO PERCH". NILE PERCH (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 November 2024.
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