Cibo Matto (pronounced [ˈtʃiːbo ˈmatto], Italian for "crazy food") is a New York City-based band formed by two Japanese women, Yuka Honda and Miho Hatori, in 1994Initially, the lyrics in their songs were primarily concerned with food,before expanding into broader subject matter following the addition of Sean Lennon, Timo Ellis, and Duma Love to the band, showcased on their second studio album.
While the two founding members of the group are Japanese expatriates,the group initially did not gain nearly as large a following in Japan as it did in the United States. However, according to Billboard, their first album Viva! La Woman sold 20,000 copies in Japan despite the fact that the group sang in English. Success in the U.S. was notably larger with over 74,000 copies sold.Over time, the group's following in Japan grew, which resulted in their signing to Japanese record label Commmons in 2014.
After close to 10 years spent pursuing other work, Honda and Hatori reunited as Cibo Matto in 2011, playing a series of concerts and recording new material, which culminated in the release of their third studio album Hotel Valentine on February 14, 2014.Hotel Valentine peaked at number 168 on the Billboard 200.
Cibo Matto announced its reunion on March 18, 2011, to perform as part of a benefit concert for victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The concert, which took place on March 27 at Columbia University in New York City, also included Yoko Ono, John Zorn, Sonic Youth, and Mike Patton. Following the success of this show, a second was added, this time featuring the Plastic Ono Band and Patti Smith along with Cibo Matto.The group appeared at the Hollywood Bowl on June 26, 2011, for another benefit, alongside Yellow Magic Orchestra.
On May 16, 2011, Cibo Matto announced its US reunion tour titled "Yeah, Basically Cibo Matto" with a tour Web site and promotional video.During the concerts, the band reportedly spoke about a new studio album that was to be released in 2012. On July 17, 2012, the band announced it would be opening for Wilco at one of its shows. The band's current live lineup includes Yuko Araki on drums.
On June 15, 2013, the band played the Meltdown Festival in London and announced that its new album would be released in 2014. While the performance also featured Yoko Ono on "Know Your Chicken", the group also played new songs titled "MFN", "Check In", and "Tenth Floor Ghost Girl".On December 11, Pitchfork reported that Hotel Valentine would be released on February 14, 2014 (Valentine's Day), and that Cibo Matto had shared its music video for "MFN".Hotel Valentine peaked at number 168 on the Billboard 200.
In 2014, the band signed with Japanese label Commmons.This new relationship resulted in several live dates in Japan including Summer Sonic Festival 2014and shows at Blue Note Jazz Club Nagoyaand Blue Note Jazz Club Tokyo.
In September 2014, Cibo Matto announced their Fall Flavor Tour and the release of their newest music video with a teaser. Rioux opened for multiple US shows. Nels Cline (of Wilco) also performed with the group on tour.The music video for "Déjà Vu" was released on September 18, 2014 in collaboration with New York City-based director Jean Claude Billmaier and creative house Marabigo. Pitchfork Media identified the video as "a colorful, datamosh-y new video",and Spin as a "stylish bubblegum pop-meets-digital-disaster (intentional)."
Cibo Matto completed two small tours in 2015; an "Avocado Tour" of Japan and a "Banana Split Tour" across the eastern US and Canada.
Cibo Matto (pronounced [ˈtʃiːbo ˈmatto], Italian for "crazy food") is a New York City-based band formed by two Japanese women, Yuka Honda and Miho Hatori, in 1994Initially, the lyrics in their songs were primarily concerned with food,before expanding into broader subject matter following the addition of Sean Lennon, Timo Ellis, and Duma Love to the band, showcased on their second studio album.
While the two founding members of the group are Japanese expatriates,the group initially did not gain nearly as large a following in Japan as it did in the United States. However, according to Billboard, their first album Viva! La Woman sold 20,000 copies in Japan despite the fact that the group sang in English. Success in the U.S. was notably larger with over 74,000 copies sold.Over time, the group's following in Japan grew, which resulted in their signing to Japanese record label Commmons in 2014.
After close to 10 years spent pursuing other work, Honda and Hatori reunited as Cibo Matto in 2011, playing a series of concerts and recording new material, which culminated in the release of their third studio album Hotel Valentine on February 14, 2014.Hotel Valentine peaked at number 168 on the Billboard 200.
Cibo Matto announced its reunion on March 18, 2011, to perform as part of a benefit concert for victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The concert, which took place on March 27 at Columbia University in New York City, also included Yoko Ono, John Zorn, Sonic Youth, and Mike Patton. Following the success of this show, a second was added, this time featuring the Plastic Ono Band and Patti Smith along with Cibo Matto.The group appeared at the Hollywood Bowl on June 26, 2011, for another benefit, alongside Yellow Magic Orchestra.
On May 16, 2011, Cibo Matto announced its US reunion tour titled "Yeah, Basically Cibo Matto" with a tour Web site and promotional video.During the concerts, the band reportedly spoke about a new studio album that was to be released in 2012. On July 17, 2012, the band announced it would be opening for Wilco at one of its shows. The band's current live lineup includes Yuko Araki on drums.
On June 15, 2013, the band played the Meltdown Festival in London and announced that its new album would be released in 2014. While the performance also featured Yoko Ono on "Know Your Chicken", the group also played new songs titled "MFN", "Check In", and "Tenth Floor Ghost Girl".On December 11, Pitchfork reported that Hotel Valentine would be released on February 14, 2014 (Valentine's Day), and that Cibo Matto had shared its music video for "MFN".Hotel Valentine peaked at number 168 on the Billboard 200.
In 2014, the band signed with Japanese label Commmons.This new relationship resulted in several live dates in Japan including Summer Sonic Festival 2014and shows at Blue Note Jazz Club Nagoyaand Blue Note Jazz Club Tokyo.
In September 2014, Cibo Matto announced their Fall Flavor Tour and the release of their newest music video with a teaser. Rioux opened for multiple US shows. Nels Cline (of Wilco) also performed with the group on tour.The music video for "Déjà Vu" was released on September 18, 2014 in collaboration with New York City-based director Jean Claude Billmaier and creative house Marabigo. Pitchfork Media identified the video as "a colorful, datamosh-y new video",and Spin as a "stylish bubblegum pop-meets-digital-disaster (intentional)."
Cibo Matto completed two small tours in 2015; an "Avocado Tour" of Japan and a "Banana Split Tour" across the eastern US and Canada.