Andrea
Yoshimi P-We is a Japanese musician best known for her role as the longest consistent drummer in the Japanese rock band, Boredoms. Yoshimi also plays trumpet, guitar, and keyboard, and sings.
Born in Osaka, Japan, Yoshimi P-We started playing drums at the age of 13. She has played with a number of Japanese musicians and artists, including Boredoms, OOIOO, Maher Shalal Hash Baz, Zeni Geva, and Keiji Haino. Yoshimi joined her first band UFO or Die with Yamatsuka Eye (aka Yamantaka Eye) in 1986. Since 1997 she has led the all-female band, OOIOO, and continues to contribute to the current incarnation of Boredoms.
Yoshimi as a Drummer of Japanese Rock Band Boredoms
Yoshimi P-We is an accomplished musician, known best for her work as a drummer in the Japanese rock band Boredoms. In 1994, Yoshimi joined Boredoms as a drummer. In addition to her work with Boredoms, Yoshimi has released two solo albums, “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots” in 2002, and “The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends” in 2012. Yoshimi is not only a talented drummer, but also a visual artist, and has shown her work in Japan and the United states. She is currently living in New York City.
Yoshimi also plays guitar, keyboard, and not to mention, she is also singing. She has also been profiled in M magazine and Japan’s Bomb Magazine. She was voted No. 6 in “The Top 10 Greatest Female Drummers of All Time” by Gigwise in 2011
Yoshimi: A Highly Respected drummer
Yoshimi is highly respected as a drummer, Japanese musician and has been described as “one of the most important drummers in the world.” She was named one of the “50 Greatest Drummers of All Time” by Rolling Stone Japan in 2013.
Yoshimi is also known for her energetic and powerful live performances. In a review of a performance in New York City, The New York Times wrote: “An extended drum solo…was a pummeling physical manifestation of pure sound,” and in another review, stated that Yoshimi is “one of the finest and most exciting drummers in rock today.”
Yoshimi P-We’s Projects
Currently signed to Drag City Records, her most recent solo record was released in 2012. Yoshimi is featured on tracks by Acid Mothers Temple and The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. Yoshimi has also released several solo works, including “Watashi-no”, “Goke, Body & Soul”, and the 7″ vinyl only release “I Wanna Be Your Bride” (2012).
Yoshimi has various projects including appearing as a session player and vocalist on the Flaming Lips’ 2002 album, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. Yoshimi participated as drummer one in the Boredoms 77 Boadrum performance, which occurred on July 7, 2007, at the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park in Brooklyn, New York.
Performed With Other Japanese Musician
In 2014, Yoshimi performed with Japanese musician, UrbandUB in a one-off live performance of Kate Bush’s “Hounds of Love” record. She has been ranked on Rolling Stone Japan’s list of the 100 greatest Japanese rock musicians, at number 36. In 2013 she was placed number 15 on Spin Magazine’s “Hot List”. In 1998, she cofounded the OOIOO with Yuka Yoshimura and Ichiko Hashimoto. She is also a member of Maher Shalal Hash Baz and Zeni Geva.
Yoshimi’s Personal Life
In May of 2017, Yoshimi was diagnosed with stage-one breast cancer. After surgery and radiation therapy, she is now cancer-free. There is an artwork of an acrylic painting by Yoshimi entitled “Her Name Is”. The artwork was based on a photo of Yoshimi’s 25-year-old niece that she took in Tokyo in 2013 during her trip to Japan. The album is dedicated to Yoshimi’s niece who is currently in a battle with cancer. All profits from the album sales will be donated to Yoshimi’s niece and her family.
