No Pressure (band)

No Pressure were an Irish alternative rock group based in Dublin, Ireland. The band consisted of Japanese-born Akio Eiji (vocals, keyboard), Alby Braden (bass), Aodh Da (guitar), and Aaliyah Caelan (drums).

History
No Pressure was formed in 1997 as part of a talent show at a local bar, they were known as "NP" and performed three songs The Flow, High Tide and Fresh. However, before Fresh began, Akio's parents burst into the bar, revealing that he ran away from them after years of abuse at age 17. Before they could take him off the stage, Akio pulled out a 9mm bullet gun containing 9×19mm Parabellum bullets and shot them both in the head, killing them in the process. Akio was arrested and sentenced for one month in prison afterwards, but appealed his sentence by claiming that his parents were illegal drug dealers, which was true. After the trial, they would signed up by EMI Records Ireland and released their first self-titled album in 1998, containing the three songs mentioned above, all of which became hit singles.

In 2001, the band released their second album, How's The Flow Today?, which contains the 2 singles, How's Life? and Rockin' & Rappin', which features American rap rock band, Crazy Town. After an interview with the band on Entertainment Tonight in the US, an unknown man kidnapped Akio and nearly killed him, luckily his life was spared after an unintentional gun shooting.

In 2003, No Pressure released their third album, Higher Expectations, which contained the four hit singles, Sunlight, Everyday and Now, Runaway, & Rockin' World. After the album was released, Alby complained to Akio that [their] sound wasn't good enough for [them], afterwards, they released a more metal-based album on the same year, M.E.T.A.L., which was less successful unlike the previous album.

In 2004, No Pressure apologized about the album and went back to their usual alternative rock genre with the album, Re-Welcoming, which contained the hit singles, Breezie, and Higher Than Royality. The album was mostly focused on pop music due to Alby ''"not wanting to be in the project." ''Alby later returned for The Re-Welcoming Tour.

In 2007, the band released their final album, Re-Incognito, which contained the 3 singles, Juma, Not Like They Used To, and Crazed Out. After the album, Akio caught Alby sleeping with his girlfriend, Aaliyah Caelan. As a result, Akio left and dissolved the band so Akio could work on a new project.