Night Tempo

Night Tempo
Born
Jung Kyung-ho

(1986-02-14) February 14, 1986 (age 40)
Seoul, South Korea
Genres
Occupations
Years active2015–present
Labels
  • Neoncity
  • Sailor Team
  • Moonlights Company
Websitenighttempo.com
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2019–present
GenreMusic
Subscribers44.5 thousand
Views5.9 million
Last updated: April 2021[needs update]
Korean name
Hangul
정경호
RRJeong Gyeongho
MRChŏng Kyŏngho

Jung Kyung-ho (Korean: 정경호; born February 14, 1986), better known as Night Tempo (Japanese: ナイト・テンポ; Korean: 나이트템포), is a South Korean future funk producer known for his Showa Groove series of remixes of 1980's Japanese city pop.[1][2][3] Jung started producing music in 2015, but achieved fame in 2016 with his remix of Mariya Takeuchi's single "Plastic Love," which was uploaded on the YouTube music channel Artzie Music on March 11, 2016, and received over 7 million views on YouTube.

Early life and career

Jung was born on February 14, 1986, in Seoul. As he grew up, he started listening to artists such as Daft Punk, Toshiki Kadomatsu, and Miho Nakayama.[4] His father purchased items from overseas, giving Jung Nakayama's single "Catch Me" as a souvenir.[5] He became a computer programmer and worked night shifts, collecting items such as cassette tapes as the Vaporwave genre rose in the early 2010s.[6]

Music career

Jung started DJing and producing as a hobby during his time as a programmer in 2009, and in 2014 he posted his works on SoundCloud.[7] He came up with the name "Night Tempo" as he produced at mostly at night. On March 11, 2016, the YouTube music channel Artzie Music featured Jung's remix of "Plastic Love" by Mariya Takeuchi.[8][9] With the remix, he started gaining popularity among future funk fans in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the United States.[10][11] The remix also boosted the popularity of the original.[12] He started the label Neoncity Records with a friend from Hong Kong as future funk started to become more popular.[13] He gained attention for its revival of 1980s Japanese genre known as city pop, helping give birth to the future funk subgenre of the vaporwave.[14]

Under the title of the "Showa Idol Groove" series, he has released official re-edits of songs by artists from the 1980s, such as Wink and Anri. He remixed singles from the duo BaBe on February 14, 2020, releasing it on his birthday while also gaining a release from the original label.[15][16] He also created a music video for the remixes as well as holding a release party.[17][18] On April 29, 2020, he released the fifth Showa Groove remixes for Yuki Saito.[19] On August 7, 2020, he released a Showa Groove remix of Shizuka Kudo's songs, including "Arashi no Sugao."[20][21][22]

In 2018, he released his first original album, Moonrise. Their first major original album, Ladies In The City, was released on December 1, 2021.[23] On January 26, 2021, he released the Showa Groove remixes of Miki Matsubara's song "Mayonaka no Door" due to its rise in popularity with TikTok.[24][25][26] He appeared at the live show Show What na Night (Shōwana Naito), broadcast on TikTok for the release.[27] In March 2021, he and Charles Chanton teamed up again for a second line of merch that would release in April.[28] On May 19, 2021, he released a compilation titled Night Tempo presents The Showa Idol Groove which signaled his return to the Showa Groove series.[29][30] The compilation features remixes of Eri Nitta, Hikaru Nishida, Yumi Morio, and Yuyu, which Jung described as "good songs that should be paid more attention."[31][32] In commemoration of the release, he released a visualizer for one of the remix of Hikaru Nishida's song, "Nice-Catch!"[33] The album peaked at No. 170 on the Oricon charts.[34] On June 18, 2021, he remixed the singles "Catch Me" and "WAKU WAKU sa Sete" by Miho Nakayama alongside releasing a visualizer.[35][36][37][38] In July 2021, he remixed the single "Terefonizumu" by Philosophy no Dance, which was included on their third single on August 18.[39][40]

On February 1, 2022, the edited compilation "Japanese City Pop 100" was published.[41] On September 25, 2022, it was announced that Night Tempo would provide a song for SKE48 TeamKII's "No Time" performance, which would begin on December 11 of the same year.[42] In 2023, together with Aoi Yagawa and Miori Ichikawa, they debuted as the retro-pop unit Fancylabo.[43]

Artistry

Influences

Artists like Daft Punk (pictured) have inspired Night Tempo's music.

Jung influences include Daft Punk, Toshiki Kadomatsu, and Miho Nakayama, stating in an interview that he was fascinated by the music of Nakayama and Kadomatsu.[44][45] He also discovered Tatsuro Yamashita and Mariya Takeuchi during his time as a programmer.[46] He has also stated that he listens to other future funk artists, namely from the Sailor Team.[47] He is also influenced by singer Eiichi Ohtaki.[48] Night Tempo is active in the U.S. and Japan and is a fan of Sailor Moon.[49][50]

Musical style

Jung focuses on future funk and vaporwave, taking inspiration from city pop, Japanese music and pop culture, which reminds him of his childhood in Seoul.[51][52] He has also cited his time as a programmer working at night "dictated the type of music he listened to and led to his moniker." In his earlier works, he used samples from the anime seriesSailor Moon in his tracks.[53]

He has also produced chillhop as a way to get into other varieties of music.[54]

Cover arts

Jung has frequently linked with artists Namu 13 and Shiho So for cover artwork, inspired by the artstyle of Sailor Moon and the works of Rumiko Takahashi, writer and illustrator of Ranma ½.[55] He has also collaborated with Hiroshi Nagai.[56]

Discography

Singles

Year Title Label Album/EP
2018 "Come On!" (feat. Super Brass, Tomggg) Moonrise Non-album single
"Yumenotsudzuki ~ Dreams Of Light ~" N/a Non-album single
"Better Days" (feat. Puniden, Super Brass) N/a Non-album single
2019 "Tokyo Night Drive" Neoncity Non-album single

Extended plays

Year Title Label
2019 Cityscape (Tokyo EP) Moonlights Company
Cityscape (Yokohama)

Albums

Year Title Label Peak chart positions
Oricon[57]
2016 Soundcloud Collection N/a
Night Tempo Neoncity
2017 Pure Baby Maker [Rewind]
Fantasy
Nighty Tape Moonlights Company
2018 Babymaker 2 Neoncity
Moonrise Neoncity, Moonlights Company
Pure Present N/a
Nighty Tape 86' Moonlights Company
2019 Showa Idol's Groove
Showa Idol's Groove 2
Yoruin Night Tempo Neoncity
2020 Showa Idol's Groove ・ Finale N/a
Japanese Pop Edit
Funk to the Future Future 1980
2021 Shūchū Concentration Neoncity
Night Tempo presents: The Showa Idol Groove Pony Canyon 170[failed verification]

Remixes

Date Title Original artist(s) Album / EP Label
June 26, 2015 "Special To Me (Night Tempo 100% Pure Remastered)" Wink Soundcloud Collection (2016) N/a
December 7, 2015 "Give Me Up (Night Tempo 100% Pure Remastered)" BaBe Soundcloud Collection (2016)
Pure Present (2018)
BaBe - Night Tempo presents The Showa Groove (2020)
Pony Canyon (Showa Groove)
January 3, 2016 "Mayonaka No Joke (Night Tempo 100% Pure Remastered)" Takako Mamiya Soundcloud Collection (2016)
Pure Present (2018)
N/a
March 11, 2016 "Plastic Love (Night Tempo 100% Pure Remastered)" Mariya Takeuchi
September 24, 2018 "Darling Darling (Night Tempo 'Future Retro' Remix)" KZ & Yano Anna N/a N/a
April 24, 2019 "Samishii Nettaigyo (Night Tempo Showa Groove Mix)" Wink Wink - Night Tempo presents The Showa Groove Polystar
"Aiga Tomaranai Turn It Into Love (Night Tempo Showa Groove Mix)"
"Get My Love (Night Tempo Showa Groove Mix)"
"Special To Me (Night Tempo 100% Pure Remastered)"
July 24, 2019 "Remember Summer Days (Night Tempo Showa Groove Mix)" Anri Anri – Night Tempo Presents The Showa Groove For Life Music
"Lady Sunshine (Night Tempo Showa Groove Mix)"
"Love Is a Two Way Street -Kin Mirai no Kandō- (Night Tempo Showa Groove Mix)"
"Groove A・Go・Go (Night Tempo Showa Groove Mix)"
November 8, 2019 "Kimi wa 1000% (Night Tempo Showa Groove Mix)" 1986 Omega Tribe 1986 Omega Tribe – Night Tempo presents The Showa Groove VAP
"Older Girl (Night Tempo Showa Groove Mix)"
March 17, 2020 "I Don't Know! (Night Tempo Showa Groove Mix)" BaBe BaBe – Night Tempo presents The Showa Groove Pony Canyon
"Give Me Up (Night Tempo Showa Groove Mix)"
April 29, 2020 "Sotsugyō (Night Tempo Showa Groove Mix)" Yuki Saito Yuki Saito – Night Tempo presents The Showa Groove Pony Canyon
"Sutorōhatto no Natsu Omoi (Night Tempo Showa Groove Mix)"
August 7, 2020 "Arashi no Sugao (Night Tempo Showa Groove Mix)" Shizuka Kudo Shizuka Kudo – Night Tempo presents The Showa Groove Pony Canyon
"Wain Hitokuchi no Uso (Night Tempo Showa Groove Mix)"
February 12, 2021 "Mayonaka no Door (Night Tempo Showa Groove Mix)" Miki Matsubara Miki Matsubara – Night Tempo presents The Showa Groove Pony Canyon
"Nītona Gogo 3-ji (Night Tempo Showa Groove Mix)"
June 18, 2021 "Catch Me (Night Tempo Showa Groove Mix)" Miho Nakayama Miho Nakayama – Night Tempo presents The Showa Groove King Records
"Waku Waku Sasete (Night Tempo Showa Groove Mix)"
August 18, 2021 "Telephonism (Night Tempo Melting Groove Mix)" The Dance for Philosophy "Double Standard" Sony Music

Concerts

Name Date(s) Venue or No. of pieces
Wink - Night Tempo presents The Showa Groove Release Party /
Japanese Things Vol. 6
April 26, 2019 The Millennials Shibuya
Fuji Rock Festival '19 July 28, 2019 Red Marquee and Ganban Square
WHITE NIGHT WEEK SHIBUYA November 5, 2019 Shibuya O-East
Night Tempo presents
The Showa Groove Tour
November 27, 2019 – December 7, 2019 club evoL Fukuoka (Nov. 27), Live & Lounge Vio (Nov. 28), Club Metro (Kyoto) (Nov. 29), Circus Osaka (Nov. 30), Sound Lab Mole (Dec. 2), Womb Tokyo (Dec. 4), Circus Tokyo (Dec. 7)
Neoncity Super Countdown December 31, 2019 Circus Tokyo

References

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  2. ^ "昭和歌謡を世界へ、韓国人Djナイトテンポの挑戦". 24 January 2020.
  3. ^ "1980s Japan lives on in Hong Kong as 'future funk' music finds a home". 7 January 2024.
  4. ^ "ナイトテンポ、「昭和歌謡」で世界をグルーヴする韓国人DJの軌跡". Newsweek (in Japanese). February 7, 2020.
  5. ^ Takada, Yutaro (May 24, 2021). "クラブ音楽の常識を覆す 昭和シティポップを盛り上げる韓国人DJ". The Nikkei (in Japanese).
  6. ^ Shiba, Tomonori (December 28, 2020). "「時音」Vol.8 Night Tempo unravels the appeal towards retro culture in this fast-paced society". Tokion.
  7. ^ "INTERVIEW Night Tempo". Qetic. 22 April 2019.
  8. ^ Erina, Tanaka. "Future Funkでソウルから世界へ。Night Tempoインタビュー". HereNow (in Japanese).
  9. ^ "韓国出身のNight Tempoが和製シティ・ポップを広める意味「自分や他者を規定してしまうのはもったいない」". Excite (in Japanese). November 2, 2019.
  10. ^ "『ユリイカ』で「ヴェイパーウェイヴ」特集 人気音楽ジャンルの現在に迫る". Kai-You [jp] (in Japanese). December 25, 2019.
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  16. ^ "Night Tempo、2月に来日公演が決定". LikeDis Music News (in Japanese). January 21, 2020.
  17. ^ "Night Tempo、 公式リエディット企画第4弾はBaBe! 「Give Me Up」昭和グルーヴMV公開!". OKMusic (in Japanese). February 15, 2020.
  18. ^ "Night Tempoが女性デュオBaBeの名曲をアップデート、MVも公開". Natalie (in Japanese). February 14, 2020.
  19. ^ "Night Tempo「昭和グルーヴ」シリーズ、第5弾は斉藤由貴". Barks Music News [ja] (in Japanese). April 29, 2020.
  20. ^ "Night Tempo「昭和グルーヴ」シリーズ、第6弾は工藤静香". Barks Music News [ja] (in Japanese). August 7, 2020.
  21. ^ "海外のシティ・ポップ・ブームの立役者、Night Tempo(ナイト・テンポ)が、工藤静香の昭和グルーヴ作品を遂にオフィシャルで配信リリース!". Pony Canyon (in Japanese). 7 August 2020.
  22. ^ "Night Tempoが工藤静香の楽曲をアップデート。「嵐の素顔」オフィシャル・リエディットMV公開". Barks Music News [ja] (in Japanese). August 21, 2020.
  23. ^ "世界的シティ・ポップ・ブームの立役者、韓国出身のDJ/プロデューサー、Night Tempo(ナイト・テンポ)。自身初となるメジャー・オリジナル・アルバム『Ladies In The City』、12/1にリリース決定!本日より先行シングル「Love Actually feat. Crystal Tea」配信開始!". Universal Music Japan. 2021-10-06. Retrieved 2021-11-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
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  26. ^ "海外のシティ・ポップ・ブームの立役者、Night Tempo(ナイト・テンポ)が、松原みき「真夜中のドア/Stay With Me」を遂に昭和グルーヴで公式リエディット、配信リリース決定!". Livedoor (in Japanese). January 26, 2021.
  27. ^ "Night Tempoが贈る「ザ・昭和グルーヴ」シリーズ第7弾は松原みき". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). January 26, 2021.
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  29. ^ "韓国人プロデューサー・DJのNight Tempo(ナイト・テンポ)による5月19日発売『昭和アイドル・グルーヴ』コンピの全貌解禁!". Pony Canyon (in Japanese). April 21, 2021.
  30. ^ "Night Tempo、『昭和アイドル・グルーヴ』コンピの全貌解禁". Barks Music News [ja]. May 21, 2021.
  31. ^ "韓国人プロデューサー/DJのNight Tempo(ナイト・テンポ)による『昭和アイドル・グルーヴ』コンピ発売!リリースを記念してオリジナルMVを使用、西田ひかる「Nice-catch!」リエディットのビジュアライザーも公開!". Pony Canyon (in Japanese). May 19, 2021.
  32. ^ "Night Tempo『Night Tempo presents ザ・昭和アイドル・グルーヴ』". Eighty One Music (in Japanese).
  33. ^ "Night Tempoのコンピアルバム『昭和アイドル・グルーヴ』リリース、西田ひかる楽曲のビジュアライザー公開". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). May 19, 2021.
  34. ^ "Night Tempo presents ザ・昭和アイドル・グルーヴ". Oricon (in Japanese).
  35. ^ "Night Tempo、キャリアの原点である中山美穂の代表曲をリエディット". Natalie (in Japanese). June 4, 2021.
  36. ^ "Night Tempoが中山美穂「CATCH ME」リエディット作品のビジュアライザー公開". Natalie (in Japanese). June 18, 2021.
  37. ^ "Night Tempoが中山美穂「CATCH ME」リエディット作品のビジュアライザー公開". Line News [jp] (in Japanese). June 18, 2021.
  38. ^ "Night Tempoが中山美穂「CATCH ME」リエディット作品のビジュアライザー公開". Yahoo! Japan (in Japanese). June 18, 2021.
  39. ^ "フィロソフィーのダンス「テレフォニズム」リリックビデオでイラストレーターtamimoonとコラボ". Natalie (in Japanese). July 14, 2021.
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  42. ^ "SKE48 14周年コンサートにDAPUMPら豪華ゲスト出演 新たな挑戦「4つのサプライズ」発表". 2022-12-11. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
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