Benjamin Oaks is a Philadelphia-based multimedia artist, composer, producer and activist. In additional to creating electro / organic funk he also works with area singers, songwriters and MCs producing and arranging.

"I tend to create with ideas much like a painter or designer would create with a palette. It could be the mood I'm in that day, an idea I've had or thrown around, sometimes even a phrase. Single, solitary words can be so powerful. That's why I tend to name songs just one word. I write on the fly. I craft a track almost every day. I'm always thinking about rhythm. I don't really sit down and grab the guitar and write songs. I love to play and I do have a huge collection of riffs. I just save them for the right time... the right rhythm... the right word to bring them to life."

Benjamin Oaks is currently working on a new album tentatively called “Dead or Alive” and to be released this summer by his boutique label madPHATTER music. This album will feature a mosaic of rhythmic music- hiphop and acid jazz, metal, dub, break beats and blues. The new project is more song based, will have tighter beat craft, vocals, guitar and also feature guest appearances from local hip-hop artists. More nformation, live dates, music downloads, video and demos can be found at: http://benjaminoaks.com

As well-versed of a musician as Benjamin Oaks is, this will be his first foray into the fusion festival frenzy we all know & love as TAKII. To find out what Asian-flavoerd beats he will be dropping on TAKII 4 ~Rhythm D-Generation X-Treme~ fanatics this summer, just check out our "Events" page.

In the battle of Gettysburg, military scientists smuggled a previously deceased Burlesque dancer into a military lab and worked on her for 150 years, the target: to create a being who would be too hot to handle.  The result: [Ai] (really known as Carmen L., currently residing in New Jersey). There are also rumors circulating that she's a 21-year old Hispanic born in New York City, but that's only what the man wants you to believe (lol). Currently, [Ai] works as a performer, singer, & dance instructor who has experience in multiple styles. She is also a former TAKII Show Champion (from TAKII 2 ~Rebirth~) & cosplay masquerade winner.

See [Ai] as not only a guest judge for this season's TAKII 4 Show, but as 1-half of a tribute duo for J-Pop sensations & disco divas, Pink Lady! Think you can keep a healthy pace with this talented spitfire? Check out our "Events" page to study up on what extremes our esteemed guest will be taking TAKII to this season ^_*.

CCAmanda (really known as Amanda W., from Philadelphia, PA) has been cosplaying since 2003 & has been singing at Anime convention karaoke rooms since her 1st con, BAAF 2003. The 1st song she sang was "Fukai Mori (Deep FOrest)" (from InuYasha). Since then, she's competed in several karaoke contests at conventions; these include AnimeNext, Otakon, & AnimeUSA. She placed 2nd in Otaku Idol 2004 at Otakon & won the karaoke contest at AnimeNext 2004! CCAmanda also has experience singing in musicals & just singing for fun.

For those of us were there (or heard about) TAKII 3 ~Video Game Esctacy~ last season, CCAmanda also established herself as the most self-serving, venemous, & dramatic judge the TAKII Show event had ever seen! Just what will this femme fatale have to say to our TAKII 4 Show hopefuls this season? Can she "put up or shut up" against fellow TAKII Show judge & Asian vocal musician, D-chan? Find out what other brands of mischief CCAmanda will be up to this summer when you check out our "Events" page.

Prior to her involvement with TAKII, Dokudel (known as Alicia L. & the sister of the infamous [Ai]) started on her path to cosplay greatness by making her 1st cosplay outfit in 1998 & subsequently attending her 1st convention in 2001. Over 80 costumes & countless hours later, Dokudel has realized just how much of a passion cosplaying is in her life & how it can spread so much joy in the lives of others. As a result of her adoration for this artform of sorts, she has opened up her own cosplay commission business (Cosplay Forever), volunteered for countless other organizations in a cosplay-related capacity (including Shikkaricon, among others), & hosted cosplay panels at some of the 20+ conventions she has attended over the past 6 years.

A young cosplay afficionado in her own right, Dokudel made her 1st waves @ TAKII in TAKII 2 ~Rebirth~'s Asian Karaoke Idol show, where she took 2nd place. Since then, she has been a dedicated TAKII dealer & has become the fusion festival's unofficial cosplay coordinator. To say the least, TAKII 4 faithful are very glad to have her aboard in being our guest judge & MC (Mistress Of Ceremonies) for our Cosplay Exhibitions ~Battle Royale~! To find out more about how Dokudel plans to take TAKII 4 ~Rhythm D-Generation X-Treme~ to an unprecedented extreme this summer, check out our "Events" page today!

Residing in Philadelphia, PA (the host city of TAKII 4) Jeffrey Branch is an Asian Music enthusiast who just so happens to be the most trusted & reliable source of Pink Lady information (as documented by a hardcore fan) in the entire USA! His site, Pink Lady America, has been mentioned in Japan-based magazines, as well as serving for a portion of the inspiration behind this season's "Pink Lady: A Comical Tribute". Since becoming a dedicated fan of Japanese Pop music in the 1970s, Jeffrey has made numerous trips to Japan & other points on the globe in search of his next Pink Lady fix (& purchasing some wonderful PinK Lady swag along the way, as can be seen in great detail on his website).

Jeffrey Branch is a prime example of a TAKII extremist: someone who is passionate about his love for Asian vocal music & makes every effort to share that same affection with the world. This is why TAKII is extremely honored to have this man grace us with his presence at TAKII 4 ~Rhythm D-Generation X-Treme~ as not only a Pink Lady spectator, but 1 of our 3 judges for our cult-classic TAKII Show!!!!! Wanna find out just who Pink Lady actually is & how TAKII 4 plans to honor them? Need to know how to earn this judge's respect in the Idol competition? Visit our "Events" page ASAP!