Biography

BanG Dream! franchise band Raise a Suilen produce a high-tech electro-rock sound filled with chugging guitars, powerful vocals, piercing keyboards, bass wubs, super-tight drumming, and high-pitched rapping. As part of Bushiroad's BanG Dream! franchise -- also home to Roselia, Poppin' Party, and Morfonica, among others -- Raise a Suilen are a real-life version of a fictional band appearing in an anime series and video game. Many of the seiyuu (voice actors) who portray the characters in the show and game also play their own instruments and perform in character, live and on record. Raise a Suilen were initially formed to act as a backing band for the few groups in the franchise who did not play their own instruments. Fan interest led to their own live debut in March 2018, originally under the temporary name the Third. The lineup was finalized in July and the official band name Raise a Suilen was announced. (A suilen is a bamboo screen; the name alludes to raising a curtain, as before a stage, befitting the group's ongoing concept of "coming out from the shadows.") The band consisted of experienced solo artist Raychell, who portrayed bassist/vocalist Rei Wakana, aka "Layer"; Riko Kohara as guitarist Rokka Asahi, aka "Lock"; Natsume as drummer Masuki Satou, aka "Masking"; Reo Kurachi as keyboardist Reona Nyuubara, aka "Pareo"; and Risa Tsumugi as DJ Chiyu Tamade, aka "Chu²" (pronounced "Chu-Chu"). Raise a Suilen's debut single, "R.I.O.T.," was released in December 2018 and went to number six in the Oricon singles chart. Further singles "A Declaration of ×××," "Invincible Fighter," and "Drive Us Crazy" followed, all entering the Top Ten. The group's first solo concert took place at the World Memorial Hall in Kobe in July 2019; later that year, they played a joint show with Roselia to a huge crowd. They also twice appeared at the CharaExpo convention in Anaheim, California. In August 2020, their debut album, Era, was released, going to number two in the charts. Later that year, they issued the single "Sacred World." ~ John D. Buchanan