THE COINLOCKERS

THE COINLOCKERS (ザ・コインロッカーズ) is Akimoto Yasushi's latest creation.
A band girls group, revealed today in a press conference
https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2126114/full/

• 41 members (including former AKB48 Team 8 member Hayasaka Tsugumi)
  
• Each girl plays an instrument
  
• Ages froms from 12 to 19 years old
  
• Signed with Warner music
• Debut expected april / june 2019

Aki-p's thought on the group name: (google translate)
"Characteristic of taking something important with a coin locker, there is something else you can become yourself, and there are those dreams there," he said."I think that the songs will be quite various genres, if there is a band like members who will change their members, or playing the guitar that is suitable for them, I think that it is interesting that albums will make use of their characteristics and make various songs I was enthusiastic.

Official links (Thanks @radiohifi )

• Official HP: https://yaband-project.com (temporary domain?)
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecoinlockers (locked)or https://twitter.com/the_coinlockers
  
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecoinlockers

 

I have a bad feeling about this. From the start it looked like everything is revolving around shio-chan. Even at the uncovering at Zepp via showroom, they made an excuse to let her stand out. Not a good start.

Edit: Seeing the first reaction to my comment, without the person leaving a proper statement on why he/she disagrees, is what I meant. The project will receive a massive backlash from akb fans, if they leave shio-chan out of core events in the future.

Official HP: https://yaband-project.com (temporary domain?)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecoinlockers
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecoinlockers

You will notice that No.40 is not included at the moment (・о・). I made a mistake she is there, but someone else is missing
You can also pre-register for their official fan club thing on the homepage

 

Is there list with their names somewhere?

 

Just joking now, but it might be a funny concept. Lockers don't have names.
Most of them are still using nicknames, that they used during the audition period on showroom. If you visit their fan room or profile on showroom you can find it. There are some exceptions. At least one person never streamed anything up until the very end of the campaign, where she randomly streamed to confirm that she made it into the group...

 

By looking back at past 48 groups activitites, there's a logical path that led in this project creation.
Just think about it:

• Give me Five
• Heart Ereki
• HKT48 performing as a full orchestra (can someone remind which concert ?)
• The eightles @ Team 8 3rd anniversary

These are some exemples showing that Aki-p has some interest in idols playing instruments.
Current 48 groups just aren't really made to use this kind of talent at full potential, so instead of changing his current formula he created another concept.

 

Well, apart from no.40, there is this girl. I reckon some of you might recognise her from another audition were she failed.

 

are they gonna perform with full members? or are they gonna breakdown them into separate unit?



-----------------------------------------------------------------------
coinlocker number 40 is already shown her rebellious side lol
https://twitter.com/korokoromilky/status/1076758082632351749

 

Does Tsumugi like Rage Against The Machine? I wonder if they would ever consider to do this type of music.

 

It will be senbatsu based. But members will be chosen not on popularity, but on their ability and image to represent the songs(?). Think more in line with sakamichi groups than 48.
But 48 fans have to accept that No.40 Shio, now a beginner bass player, who auditioned as a singer, is not the idol Tsumugi anymore. That is why I can see this project backfiring, unless her old fans accept this.
If you check the other members you will see the broad spectrum they musically cover. Funnily enough a lot of the singers that were into idol music didn't make it to the final 61, except for a few (who were backed with massive donations on showroom).
About the RATM shirt, appearenlty some fashion brand from japan have been making expensive RATM clothing since this year. So it is probably more a fashion thing, but who knows.

 

lol.
hope it will sell good

 

Well, No.40 got told to learn the bass... They are not going to leave her out during for their debut

They are doing a daily member introduction via Instagram. Maybe on twitter as well, but their twitter account has been put on hold at the moment. (There is a band called coin rockers, maybe some there is some clash there, because both use the same katakana)
Edit: new twitter account is https://twitter.com/the_coinlockers ←it has an underscore now!

No.33

Desired position: Vocals, Guitar
Unofficial Nickname during audition: ましまろ

Spoiler

Not going to blow this out of proportion. It is not her fault, but she received large SR donations from one person throughout the audition phases. Instead to investigate it straight away, they took the money first ...
This shows you how weak this system is.

No.34

Desired position: Vocals, Guitar
Unofficial Nickname during audition: サヨン

No.40

Desired position: Bass guitar
Unofficial Nickname during audition: シオ

Spoiler

Originally qualified as a singer during the auditions, now aspiring to be a bass player only

No.63

Desired position: Vocals
Unofficial Nickname during audition:

Spoiler

3rd time lucky? (or maybe more)

No.86

Desired position: Guitar
Unofficial Nickname during audition: はむちゃん

Spoiler

Apparently she is a massive Freddie Mercury fan, but plays guitar. However, she never mentioned, if she can play the keys or not

No.155

Desired position: Vocals
Unofficial Nickname during audition: かりんと

Spoiler

Karinto auditioned for both, vocals and guitar positions. I do not know why, unlike Mashimaru and Sayon, that she is being labeled by the project as vocals only. By the way, she is quite skillful, her guitar skills have improved at a rapid rate during the auditions. Karinto might have an extremely annoying voice, but do not underestimate her. I think she might be one of those musically gifted people

No.202

Desired position: Bass gutiar
Unofficial Nickname during audition: ふにちゃん

Spoiler

During the final selection day she received a train ticket in the post, probably posted by someone from the showroom community(?) or from a real friend. Some viewers on showroom tried to convince her that she passed. Basically, it was just an envelope with nothing but a ticket inside.
But in the end she did passed, when she finally got a bass guitar delivered to her.

No.225

Desired position: Vocals
Unofficial Nickname during audition:

Spoiler

I think she is one of those who did not do any showrooms streams during the audition, but I could be wrong

No.251

Desired position: Drums
Unofficial Nickname during audition: わらび

Spoiler

Warabi has skills. If you think this is another idol project, as in girls applied to become idols, then she is one of the candidates to prove you wrong. Majority of them are serious in becoming musicians

 

So this is Aki-P's latest project? I guess hopping on the Bandori Projects has lit a fire under his butt.

 

The project isn't dead.
THE COINLOCKERS will have a TV show, starting from 04/08, 25h05 JST (or 05/08, 1h05) on Tokyo mx.
Though, I'd like to see more things moving on their site, such as more about the members other than showromm n° xxx
https://yaband-project.com/news/190318/

 

Glad it hasn't died. How many members are final?

 

It seems someone has left the adventure, I count 40 on the official site.

 

Showroom campaign
https://www.showroom-live.com/campaign/the_coinlockers
https://twitter.com/the_coinlockers/status/1115188237637537792

 

First episode of "locker ni nani, ireru?" was aired earlier this week. Unfortunately it is not beibng streamed on tokyo MX's streaming service "mcas.jp", which is a shame. Only alternative is to look it up on bilibili (search for ロッカーに何、入れる？)
Anyone knows if someone is going to sub it? I'm just curious.

 

Imagine if she passes and becomes the lead guitarist.

She'd rival Naachan & Techi for being an ikemen girl.

I dunno how skilled she is but she claimed she's a self-taught guitarist.

Seems the biggest problem is language since she who is a half Italian, just moved to Japan for less than a year.