Fujiya & Miyagi

Despite what the name might suggest, Fujiya & Miyagi is not a Japanese duo. Formed in Brighton, England, at the turn of the 1990s and 2000s, the group emerged from a collaboration between David Best (vocals and guitar) and Steve Lewis (synthesizers). Matt Hainsby (bass) joined the band later. The name combines a brand of audio equipment with a reference to Mr. Miyagi, a character from the movie The Karate Kid. Their sound is reminiscent of Neu!’s krautrock and Kraftwerk, funk, and influences such as Stereolab, Broadcast and Aphex Twin.

Their recording debut came with Electro Karaoke in the Negative Style (2002). Their recognition grew with Transparent Things (2006), which expanded on the mix of hypnotic rhythms, striking bass lines, and restrained vocals. In 2008, the band released Lightbulbs, with drummer Lee Adams already part of the lineup.

Produced by Thom Monahan, Ventriloquizzing (2011) explored a darker atmosphere. Next, Artificial Sweeteners (2014) reinforced the band’s electronic sound. Over this period, the lineup underwent changes until it settled on a quartet consisting of Best, Lewis, bassist Ben Adamo, and drummer Ed Chivers.

In 2017, Fujiya & Miyagi released a self-titled album that compiled material from a trilogy of EPs released between 2016 and 2017. Two years later, Flashback (2019) revisited references to the electronic music that shaped the band members’ youth. In September 2022, Slight Variations was released, continuing the blend of electronic experimentation and danceable rhythms.

In 2026, the band released New Shiny Object, an album introduced by the singles “Lowest Common Denominator,” “Point 33 Recurring,” and “No Green Light.”