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Soulhead

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Soulhead, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 30 November 2025
Soulhead
Occupation(s)Urban contemporary and R&B duo
Years active2002–2013
Known forUrban contemporary and R&B music

Soulhead was a Japanese duo specializing in urban contemporary and R&B, consisting of sisters Yoshika Sawayama (よしか) and Tsugumi Sawayama (つぐみ), both originating from Hokkaidō. Their collaborations included work with artists like Sowelu, Koda Kumi, Crystal Kay, and Ken Hirai.

Biography

Prior to adopting the Soulhead moniker, Yoshika and Tsugumi performed under the name Batti Baas, releasing the vinyl single Lovin' You on Handcuts Records, which featured Aaron Blackmon. In February 2002, they issued a CD single titled Inside Out through Tokuma Japan Communications.

Subsequently, they signed with Sony Music Associated Records and rebranded as Soulhead. The label invested in their growth by sending them abroad to Australia and New Zealand for a year to improve their English proficiency. Their debut single as Soulhead, Step to the New World, was released on August 21, 2002. In 2006, they transitioned to Sony’s sublabel onenation. Their sound integrated elements of soul, hip-hop, R&B, dancehall, reggae, and funk, often incorporating English lyrics. They frequently worked with the production team Octopussy and collaborated with artists such as Kumi Koda and Soul'd Out. Additionally, Yoshika contributed as a songwriter for performers including Sowelu, Ken Hirai, and Crystal Kay.

On February 21, 2007, they unveiled their greatest hits collection Best of Soulhead, which compiled singles released up to Naked alongside selected b-sides. After a four-year break, they made a comeback with the self-titled album Soulhead on February 24, 2010, under the Avex Group, having switched from SMEJ. Their subsequent Avex release, Jump Up the Wall, arrived on September 28, 2011; this has been their most recent album.

Yoshika launched her solo career with the album My Anthem on July 3, 2013, featuring twelve original tracks plus one remix. Half a year later, she released a remix album based on My Anthem.

By March 2016, their official website under Avex was no longer active.

Since 2014, Yoshika has led the alternative band Free But Sharp Pain, which issued the EP Fall Into Reverie in 2022.

Starting in 2014, Tsugumi has been part of the hip hop duo MaryJane alongside rapper Luna. They released the album Street Names (2014) and the EP Two (2016) through Luna's label Lilbooty Recordings. Tsugumi debuted as a solo artist with LUVPLATE on May 18, 2016. She followed up with singles "Nail Gossip" and "Braid My Hair" in 2019 and released the EP Laid Back in 2021. An official blog post announced Yoshika’s childbirth; in 2022 she also hosted a radio program on FM Karatsu.

Influences

Their musical inspirations include acclaimed artists such as Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, The Beatles, Janis Joplin, Takuro Yoshida, and Ice Cube.

Studio albums

  1. Oh My Sister
    Peak Position: #3 / Copies Sold: 214,545
    Released March 5, 2003
  2. Braided
    Peak Position: #4 / Copies Sold: 139,992
    Released April 28, 2004
  3. Naked
    Peak Position: #5
    Released March 8, 2006
  4. Soulhead
    Peak Position: #40
    Released February 24, 2010
  5. Jump Up the Wall
    Peak Position: #73
    Released September 28, 2011

Best albums

  1. Best of Soulhead
    Peak Position: #5
    Released February 21, 2007

Remix albums

  1. Re-Construct Album Vol.1 Reflection
    Peak Position: #89 / Copies Sold: 9,602
    Released September 26, 2003
  2. Re-Construct Album Vol.2 Crystallized
    Peak Position: #41
    Released June 21, 2006

Yoshika solo albums

  1. My Anthem
    Peak Position: #286
    Released July 3, 2013
  2. My Anthem: Sympathetic Resonance
    Released January 22, 2014

Tsugumi solo albums

  1. Luvplate
    Released May 18, 2016
  2. Laid Back EP
    Released September 24, 2021

Standard singles

(Source)

  1. "Lovin' You feat. Aaron Blackmon" (as Batti Baas)
    January 7, 2001
  2. "Inside Out" (as Batti Baas)
    June 2, 2002
  3. "Step to the New World"
    Peak Position: #24 / Copies Sold: 59,287
    July 24, 2002 (12")
    August 21, 2002 (CD)
  4. "Lover, Knight, Man"
    Peak Position: #36 / Copies Sold: 18,410
    November 20, 2002
  5. "Sora"
    Peak Position: #28 / Copies Sold: 16,035
    February 5, 2005
  6. "Oh My Sister (Remix)/I'm Just Going Down"
    Peak Position: #114 / Copies Sold: 2,561
    May 2, 2003
  7. "Get Up! EP"
    Peak Position: #28 / Copies Sold: 15,967
    July 30, 2003
  8. "You Can Do That"
    Peak Position: #36 / Copies Sold: 18,691
    January 21, 2004
  9. "No Way"
    Peak Position: #50 / Copies Sold: 5,353
    March 24, 2004
  10. "At the Party"
    June 2, 2004
  11. "Fiesta"
    Peak Position: #35 / Copies Sold: 7,773
    May 25, 2005
  12. "Sparkle Train/Got to Leave"
    Peak Position: #30 / Copies Sold: 15,324
    December 14, 2005
  13. "Pray/XXX feat. Koda Kumi"
    Peak Position: #22 / Copies Sold: 10,109
    January 27, 2006
  14. "Kimi no Kiseki/Itsumademo..."
    Peak Position: #56
    December 6, 2006
  15. "Dear Friends"
    Peak Position: #60
    January 24, 2007


12" analog singles

  1. "Too Late" [DJ Watarai remix]/Song For You [DJ Hironyc remix]
    August 20, 2003
  2. "Break Up" [DJ Masterkey remix]/Playboy [Saigenji remix]
    August 20, 2003
  3. "To Da Fakes MCs"
    September 10, 2003
  4. "Lover, Knight, Man" [D.O.I.+Octopussy remix]/Moon Shine feat. Aaron Blackmon [Doggystyle remix]
    September 10, 2003
  5. "Sparkle☆Train" - produced by Mark de Clive-Lowe / You Can Do That - produced by Reel People
    July 13, 2006
  6. "XXX" - produced by SA-RA / "Pray" - produced by Kenny Dope
    July 13, 2006

DVD Releases

  1. Oh My Sister Live & Clips
    Released on October 8, 2003
  2. Soulhead Tour 2006: Naked
    Released on August 9, 2006
  3. Best of Soulhead: 5th Anniversary Tour
    Released on November 11, 2007

Collaborations and Featured Appearances

  1. "Ryuusei no Sadoru" (流星のサドル / Meteor of the Saddle) (February 25, 2004)
    Included on the album Soul Tree ~a musical tribute to toshinobu kubota~
  2. "Like a Queen" (February 23, 2005)
    Featured on the single "Like a Queen feat. Soulhead" / Tomita.Lab
  3. "D.D.D feat. Soulhead" (December 21, 2005)
    From the album BEST ~second session~ by Koda Kumi
  4. "Home party feat. Tsugumi of Soulhead" (August 1, 2007)
    Part of the album おたくgirlsの宴 by lecca
  5. "Beauty and the Beast" (September 26, 2007)
    Included in the album Tribute to Celine Dion
  6. "Love Majic feat. Luna, Tsugumi of Soulhead, and Jamosa" (July 28, 2010)
    From lecca’s album Power Butterfly
  7. "Round Mirror Moon feat. Yoshika" (October 2, 2010)
    Appears on Jabberloop’s album 攻め燃える (Burning Attack)
  8. "Natural High feat. Tsugumi" (October 2, 2010)
    Also from Jabberloop’s album 攻め燃える (Burning Attack)
  9. "Slow Motion feat. Tsugumi" (May 18, 2011)
    Included in Hiroko’s album OPEN THE DOOR
  10. "Dreamers feat. Tsugumi" (October 26, 2011)
    Featured on Nerdhead’s album BEHIND the TRUTH

External links

Related profiles

VVanilla Beans (band)DDay After Tomorrow (band)BBright (Japanese band)MMove (Japanese band)
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