The Official Zwei Thread

[KyahRyorin]

Name: Zwei
Members: Ayumu and Megu
Instruments/Vocals they play: Ayumu = Vocals, Megu = Bassist and Piano
Type of Music: A mixture between UK rock and J-Pop
When they first started: Spring of 2002

History of Zwei (source for everything: Deux ~ An English Zwei Fansite):
Although they debuted in May 2004, Zwei was created in the spring of 2002 when would-be bassist Megu went to a live show of an indies band and scoped out Ayumu to be her vocalist. In June 2003, it was made official. Ayumu was the one to come up with the name "Zwei" because it means "two" in German. The way the Z is written is reminiscent of the infinity sign, in that the two can do what they want as long as they put their mind to it. It also stands for light and shadow, the major theme with Zwei. (A small note: It is pronounced "zvai" as in "why", not "way")

Zwei was first on the VAP record label from the time of their debut until September 2nd, 2006, when it was announced they had been transferred to Universal Music Japan.

Zwei, produced by British music producer Nick Wood, is promoted to be a mix of Japanese pop and UK rock. These are the words used to describe Zwei most often. I'm assuming it was Wood himself who said this:

It's pop, good pop, with an electronic, dance, groove, fused with rock and roll energy. The amazing team of talent I've assembled could only achieve this sound. It's a very global approach to making records.

Wood's goal with Zwei was to create a band that sounded like no other band out there. He continues to prove himself with each new song that Zwei releases.

Bios:

Ayumu ~

Name: Ayumu (real/full name unknown)
Birthdate: 3/20/73 (see note below)
Blood type: A
Symbol: Moon/shadow
Favorite food: Bananas, bar snacks (pretzels, peanuts, etc)
Least favorite food: Bitter melon
Necessities: Alcohol, coffee
Favorite place: Nature
Favorite brand: 5351
A word to describe Zwei: Dreams
If you were an animal: Wolf
Habit: When I'm in a big place I scream
Favorite type (regardless of gender): A person with charm
Favorite word: Whatever will be will be
Thing you're hooked on now: Recycle shops
Perfume you use: Red JEAN5 (Versace)
A word to the fans: I love you...
What's your fetish (what physical traits do you like): Hands, feet, mouth
A word to yourself: Have fun
A word to your partner: Let's be like that forever

Ayumu began singing at an early age in her house. Ever since hearing Kubota Saki's "Ihoujin" and singing along with it, she would record songs that would come on the tv for her to memorize. She didn't listen to Western music until she was 20 because she couldn't understand the lyrics, but the first Western song she heard was "You've Got A Friend" by Carole King. Her music tastes are almost the exact opposite of Megu's, because she doesn't listen to a lot of hard music. Unlike Megu's garage bands, Ayumu says the indies band she was in was like a female Aerosmith (AKA Cherry Feel).

She was discovered as the vocalist of Zwei when Megu saw that band playing a live, and Megu barged into Ayumu's dressing room and immediately asked her to join her. Ayumu was of course startled (she dropped her makeup) but somehow managed to tell Megu "yes".

When Zwei first debuted in 2004, it was thought that because of her cool image (permanent sunglasses, not saying much during interviews) Ayumu was a dominant badass. Over time, however, Ayumu began to open up to audiences and fans and has shown almost a different side of herself. She is actually quite passive, whereas Megu is dominant.

Ayumu's sunglasses never come off during fan events. Only once did Ayumu show her eyes for all to see; this was during Zwei's first live concert in August 2004 and there is only a small picture available from the October 2004 issue of Kera. You won't be able to find a picture of Ayumu without some sort of eye cover easily, as there really are none! Judging from pictures on the official site, she takes them off during some radio shows. These pictures have sunglasses drawn on them through a computer application however, so the world shall continue to wonder and wait.

* The date given for Ayumu's birthdate on the official Zwei site is wrong. On all of the Cherry Feel sites, she is reportedly born in 1973, whereas on all of the Zwei sites it is 1978. This is my theory: Thirty is seen as an old age in Japan (time to start settling down with kids and family), so it's unattractive to be in a mainstream band and not be young. Ayumu is actually five years older than the Zwei sites say she is.

Megu ~

Full name: Ueno Megumi
Birthdate: 5/24/80
Blood type: B
Constellation: Gemini
Favorite artists: Slayer, Marilyn Manson, XJapan (her major favorite band is a secret though)
Favorite color: Silver/orange
Favorite brand: SEX POT ReVenGe, BETHPLACE, Golche
Likes: Dracula, vampire stuff, online auctions, net games
Symbol: Light/sun
Favorite food: Chicken, sweets
Least favorite food: hard candy, squilla (mantis crab)
Necessities: Gum, cola
Favorite place: F (Japanese-style) closet
A word to describe Zwei: Garden of Love
If you were an animal: Dove (I'd be eaten by Ayumu)
Habit: I often say "Really got it!" [The translator isn't really sure if this is correct, but she got "to accept/receive" 2 out of the 3 times it was translated]
Favorite type (regardless of gender): Someone who will keep me as a pet
Favorite word: Love
Thing you're hooked on now: board games
Perfume you use: Platinum Egoist pour homme (Chanel)
A word to the fans: Love me more...
What's your fetish? (physical characteristic): Mouth, eyes
A word to yourself: I love me~
Word to your partner: Let's live together forever...

Before she was in Zwei, Megu modelled for the Japanese punk fashion magazine Kera. She was walking the streets of Harajuku when somebody from the magazine spotted her. Megu was only 18 when she began modeling for them (which, really, could be considered a little old in the world of Japanese modeling). Megu had always wanted to be in a band, and she figured that becoming a model would eventually lead her down the path that rocks.

Her family was very musically-oriented, having all been taught how to play piano for three generations. Naturally, Megu played as well. She got started on bass when a friend in middle school gave her a broken bass and Megu pretended to play it. Megu would also take brooms and air-guitar on them. She was involved in many garage bands, all influenced by Marilyn Manson.

Latest Release:

Z (Zeta) ~


Latest News:

After almost a year and a half of no releases, Zwei has finally announced through their email newsletter information of their sixth single.

[1+1=2] 1+1=2 (Ichi Tasu Ichi wa Ni)
To be released 6/20/2007
UPCH-5470
1100yen (+tax)

1. 1+1=2
2. Garakuta

Oshima Kousuke (worked on Dragon) will be doing composition and arrangement for both tracks again and Maeda Takahiro writing the lyrics. The title track will be used as the opening theme for the TBS program "Kojin Jugyou (Private Lesson) ~Tadashi Wada Akiko no Tsukurikata~" from June to July, along with a short preview from the PV.

No word yet on any other tracks or packaging information, but I'll keep you up to date, so stay tuned.

Feel free to discuss, chat and compare anything and everything about Zwei.

So woo! New single out in a month!! =DD I'm so excited, I preordered it already XD

[Miku]

finally Zwei thread
*giggles*
I love them alot : )

[KyahRyorin]

I know. I didn't see one for the first 5 pages, so I figured it was okay. =P

And yeah, I love them too. ^^ They're plain awesome.

Who's your favorite, Ayumu or Megu?

[drewbilation]

I lovelovelove them.

[paper_doll]

Dragon = major, major love.

[KyahRyorin]

^ Z = major, major love. XD I love both of their albums.

[Miku]

Ayumu
Movie Star, Love Land & Dragon is best

[KyahRyorin]

Haha, I'm a fan of Megu, actually. I just love the fact she plays bass. XD

As for my favorite songs- Dragon, DENNY, FAKE FACE, Tsumi to Batsu, Watashigai no Uta, Hikari, Pretty Queen, 24/7, and Movie Star are my favorites. In no particular order XD

[Calico]

^ilu Kyah. And I love Megu for loving orange. <3 <3

It's so terrible...I was working on making Ayu my top artist for last week on last.fm, and then I downloaded those Zwei albums. They pwned her by like thirty listens.

I like them both pretty equally so far. They're both really hot! XD (Megu is pretty hot and Ayumu is sexy hot, yes <3) but I tend to gravitate more towards Ayumu. I love Megu's hair though, haha. (But she needs to say no to those jumpsuits, oye.)

I kind of like the Pretty Queen album more than Z, but they both rock hard. My favorite songs are Movie star, Dragon, Hikari, DNA, Watashigai no Uta and Pretty Queen. I'll have to buy those albums sometime this summer. New single, yay!

Haha I'm so glad I waited to get into them until now. I don't think I could've survived that year of nothing.

[KyahRyorin]

Originally Posted by Calico

^ilu Kyah. And I love Megu for loving orange. <3 <3

It's so terrible...I was working on making Ayu my top artist for last week on last.fm, and then I downloaded those Zwei albums. They pwned her by like thirty listens.

I like them both pretty equally so far. They're both really hot! XD (Megu is pretty hot and Ayumu is sexy hot, yes <3) but I tend to gravitate more towards Ayumu. I love Megu's hair though, haha. (But she needs to say no to those jumpsuits, oye.)

I kind of like the Pretty Queen album more than Z, but they both rock hard. My favorite songs are Movie star, Dragon, Hikari, DNA, Watashigai no Uta and Pretty Queen. I'll have to buy those albums sometime this summer. New single, yay!

Haha I'm so glad I waited to get into them until now. I don't think I could've survived that year of nothing.

I know. If I had to wait that long I'd think I'd lose interest. XD

OH! I got my parents to listen to Z the other day while we were driving home, but I don't even think they cared. I was all- Isn't this cool, Mom?? This isn't Ayu! And my Mom was like- Huh? Was I supposed to listen?

I wanted to kill her XD

Oh, in other news, I've heard that the shooting for 1+1=2 has started!! =D

And why did they ban the DENNY PV? It wasn't even THAT bad. I mean, look at over half of Dir en Grey's stuff. Geez. X_x;

[drewbilation]

Cover for the new single:


And a new promo shot:


Courtesy of cassandra @ j-poop

Edit~ and here's the single's tracklist:

01. 1+1=2
02. garakuta
03. 1+1=2 (instrumental)
04. garakuta (instrumental)

[Calico]

Eee I was coming here to post that in case it hadn't already. They're so pretty. *_* But I'm not crazy about the dresses, eh.

AND NO GLASSES. *dies*

I hope Universal didn't try to "reformat" their image or anything. I'd be tres sad.

[Huaka]

I remember when they started releasing singles for their first albums. I've been a fan of them ever since. They're both really hot. =D.

[Miku]

Ayumu
thankyou so much for the covers

[KyahRyorin]

A part of me thinks this is temporary, and that Ayumu will go back to wearing glasses after this, but another part of me says that maybe she wants to start with a new look since they switched labels and everything.

But those pictures are love. Not too crazy about the cover, but the promo pic is GORGEOUS.

[Miku]

Ayumu is so beautiful without glasses ^^

[drewbilation]

Samples for the new single are out:

01. 1+1=2 [ listen RP | WMP ] [ watch RP (lo) | RP (hi) | WMP (lo) | WMP (hi) ]
02. garakuta [ listen RP | WMP ]
03. 1+1=2 (instrumental)
04. garakuta (instrumental)

I kind of like the a-side, but I think (based off the samples) this is their weakest single so far.

[~Amy~]

So what do you guys think of the new single? I love 1+1=2 I don't like garakuta all that much but I haven't really listented to it because I like 1+1=2 too much. lol ^_^

[Calico]

I have to say the songs were a lot better than I thought they would be. The samples made 1+1=2 really, really random, and Garakuta very mainstream balladish. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I liked both songs.

Too bad the PV has yet to surface, although from what I understand it's a "live performance" PV. *sigh*

[Risa Katsura]

I decided to try out their new single and they're good! Though I can't find anything else of them ^^;