fripSide

fripSide is a Japanese pop project formed in February 2002 by Satoshi Yaginuma, known as sat, and the vocalist nao. In the original lineup, sat handled lyrics, synthesizers, composition, and arrangement, while nao performed vocals and also wrote lyrics. The project began as an independent act and entered the doujin scene with the 2003 album 'first odyssey of fripSide'. It later expanded into commercial distribution and made its major-label debut with the 2008 single "flower of bravery". fripSide has also worked with support musicians, with sat remaining the central creative figure. nao graduated from fripSide in 2009. Activity resumed that same year with Yoshino Nanjo as vocalist, and she made her debut in the project on "only my railgun," the opening theme for Toaru Majutsu no Index. During Nanjo's tenure, fripSide became strongly identified with anime theme songs, particularly through work connected to To Aru Kagaku no Railgun. Among the songs from this period are "sister's noise", "eternal reality", "dual existence", and "final phase". "sister's noise" became the group's first Oricon No. 1 single. Nanjo announced her graduation in 2021 and left in 2022. After her departure, Mao Uesugi and Hisayo Abe joined as the third-generation vocalists.