MintJam is a Japanese hard rock band formed in Tokyo in 2003. They began to create instrumental music for video game covers, and went on to creating their own original instrumental and vocal music. These days they are more heavily focused as a vocal group with a modern rock sound. They have released several full-length albums, as well as many Maxi Singles. In 2023 they celebrated their 20th anniversary with the new album 'Interlude'. They also occasionally play live. Current members include vocalist TERRA and guitarist a2c. Previous members feature guitarist, setzer (who left in 2009) and keyboardist, kya (who left in 2006).
History
MintJam was formed in 2003 by setzer (guitars), and a2c (guitars) as an amateur band in the Japanese indie music community MUZIE. Keyboardist Kya (キャ) joined later that year when MintJam began to achieve wider recognition. In 2006, Kya officially left MintJam after the release of their fifth album Energy Drive. Vocalist TERRA joined MintJam in 2005. Besides vocal works composed by TERRA, MintJam is known for instrumental compositions as both a2c and setzer are both composers and arrangers. In 2012, setzer left MintJam and officially became a supporting member, choosing to focus on his work with his circle Polo Rockers.
MintJam has been an active participant in Japanese coterie performances. They have composed soundtracks and musical scores/background music for Japanese anime and games. They also mixed and published albums on the internet which a select are available on iTunes globally.
MintJam began their performance career with the release of their single album Judgment Day in September 2009. In August 2010, MintJam collaborated with Japanese female singer RITA. The nominal title "MintJam with RITA" allowed MintJam to take part in the Japanese show "ちょっかな".
They released a 20th anniversary album – "Interlude" on October 29, 2023, which featured a mixture of brand new tracks, including a new song featuring original returning members kya and setzer for the track "Never Mind". It also features a '20th Anniversary Edition' of the song "Keep On Jammin'".
Band members
Current Members a2c (guitars, drum programming) 2003–present TERRA (Vocals) 2005–present
Former Members setzer – (Guitars) – 2003–2009 A.koga（エーコガ）– (Composition) 2004–2005 Kya（キャ）– (keyboards) – 2003–2006
Albums
AlbumReleaser DateBRINY AIR POTENEKO ACADEMY ORIGINAL SOUND TRACKS August 17, 2003MISTRAL NOTE POTENEKO ACADEMY ORIGINAL SOUND TRACKS 2 December 30, 2003Ragnarok Online Arrange CD MintJam / GRAVITY March 3, 20041st GIG #Awake August 15, 20042nd GIG #Break Out Nov 10, 2004ATMOSPHERE POTENEKO ACADEMY ORIGINAL SOUND TRACKS 1&2 December 30, 2004虫姫さまアレンジCD はいてない伝说 | || || April 24, 2005 |- |3rd GIG #Crescent || || August 14, 2005 |- |4th GIG #Decide || || December 30, 2005 |- |Passing by / SWAY (风叶×MintJam) || || April 29, 2006 |- |5th GIG #Energy Drive || || August 13, 2006 |- |extra GIG #Crying Moon || || October 9, 2006 |- |Reincarnation || || June 30, 2007 |- |Little Busters! Arrange Album "Rockstar Busters!" || || December 29, 2007 |- |R(MintJam×ViViX) || || December 21, 2007 |- |chronograph || || August 16, 2008 |- |JUDGEMENT DAY || || September 3, 2008 |- |Million KNights Vermilion -Original Soundtrack || || December 29, 2008 |- |KEY tribute album || Vivid Colors || May 5, 2009 |- |Prometheus || || October 11, 2009 |- |Beyond the Eternity (Rita×MintJam) || || May 5, 2010 |- |Identity || || December q11, 2010 |- |Philosophyz / 闇の彼方へ (MintJam Version) || || December 29, 2011 |- |Accel World Original Soundtrack feat. MintJam || || September 26, 2012 |- |Rewrite & Rewrite Harvest festa! Arrange Album "dye mixture" || ||December 29, 2012 |- |Try to be Brave / Weed Spirit || || April 29, 2013 |- |Little Monster | |August 12, 2013 |- |Back-Alley Spiders || || March 19, 2014 |- |Keep on Jamming || || October 12, 2014 |- |Hysteria '' April 26, 2015GuiltyOctober 25, 2015Made-up MindOctober 25, 2016Light Me UpOctober 30, 2016Blue LightningApril 30, 2017ONEOctober 29, 2017EclipseJune 30, 2018Now Or Never April 23, 2023Interlude (20th Anniversary Album) October 29, 2023
References