Canon Wakeshima

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Kanon Wakeshima at the Japan Expo 2009 in Paris

Kanon Wakeshima ( Japanese 分 島 花 音 , Wakeshima Kanon ; born June 28, 1988 ) is a Japanese singer and cellist . Her debut album Shinshoku Dolce , released in 2009, and the album Lolitawork Libretto , which followed in 2010 , were produced by the well-known Japanese musician Mana .

biography

At the age of three, Wakeshima began playing the cello at the suggestion of her music-loving parents (who therefore gave her the first name Kanon , which is made up of the characters for flower and sound). In middle school she founded a cello duo and her own ensemble group. From the age of 15 she regularly played the baroque cello in classical music ensembles and has appeared in numerous performances and concerts. At this time she also began to be interested in Japanese pop music ( J-Pop ).

After transferring to high school , at the age of 16, she began to compose music and sing. She soon began to play the cello and sing at the same time, which would be characteristic of her later musical career.

While still in high school, she took part in a singing competition run by Sony Music , in which she made it to the finals and was then signed to the DefStar Records label . When she sent in her first demo recording , the well-known Japanese musician Mana (formerly Malice Mizer , now Moi dix Mois ) noticed her and decided to become her producer .

As the first result of this cooperation, the single Still Doll was released in May 2008 , which immediately reached number 33 in the Oricon charts. A short version of this single was used a little later as the end credits for the first season of the anime version of the popular manga series Vampire Knight . In one episode of the series Wakeshima was also heard as seiyū ( voice actress ). For the second season of Vampire Knight , the second single Suna no Oshiro , released in November 2008, was selected as the end credits.

In February 2009, Wakeshima's debut album Shinshoku Dolce was released . Like the previously released singles, it was composed and produced entirely by Mana. Based on Mana's compositions, Wakeshima wrote the lyrics and played the cello parts. The music is characterized by a crossover of J-Pop, classical music and various ambient and electronica elements.

On the occasion of the release of the new album in Europe, Mana organized two smaller concerts for Wakeshima in Paris in February 2009 . In July 2009, appearances at major anime conventions such as the Japan Expo in Paris or the Otakon in Baltimore ( Maryland ) followed.

Kanon Wakeshima at the Japan Expo 2009 in Paris

In July 2010 the second album Lolitawork Libretto was released , which was produced by Mana and half composed. The rest of the compositions and all lyrics are from Wakeshima. On the title track, Wakeshima sings in a duet with Solita , the daughter of the French-Japanese singer Clémentine .

In November 2010 the debut single Calendula Requiem was released by kanon × kanon , a joint project between Wakeshima and Kanon, the bassist of the J-rock band An Cafe . The title track was used as the second theme song of the anime adaptation of the novel Shiki .

In November 2011 she toured Europe with the kanon × kanon × kanon Euro Tour 2011, where she visited Moscow, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, Budapest, Berlin, Bochum, Utrecht, Lyon, Paris and London. In 2019 she moved to London.

Others

Wakeshima names classical interpreters and composers such as Joseph Haydn , Claude Debussy , Erik Satie or Jacqueline du Pré and popular music interpreters such as Émilie Simon or Lady Gaga as musical role models . She also uses fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm as sources of inspiration for her lyrics .

In addition to her work as a singer and musician, Wakeshima also draws pictures that have meanwhile been presented in various art exhibitions, for example in Harajuku or Los Angeles . She names Art Nouveau artists such as Alfons Mucha or Japanese painters from the Rimpa school such as Sakai Hōitsu as role models .

In addition to the musical cooperation with Wakeshima, Mana, who in addition to his work as a musician also runs the fashion label Moi-même-Moitié , also designs and manufactures her clothes.

Discography

Albums

  • 2009 - Shinshoku Dolce ( 侵 食 ド ル チ ェ , "Sweet Desecration"), # 47 ( Oricon )
  • 2010 - Shōjo Jikake no Libretto ( 女仕 掛 け の リ ブ レ ッ ト ), alternative title: Lolitawork Libretto , # 83
  • 2015 - Tsukinami ( ツ キ ナ ミ ), # 30

Singles

canon × canon

  • 2010 - Calendula Requiem ( カ レ ン デ ュ ラ レ ク イ エ ム ), opening title of the anime Shiki
  • 2011 - Koi no Dōtei ( 恋 の 道 程 ), opening title of the anime 30-sai no Hoken Taiiku

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b sonymusic.co.jp: Artist profile of Sony Music . Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  2. ↑ a b cdjapan.co.jp: Canon Wakeshima Special Feature . Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  3. ↑ a b jame-world.com: Interview with Mana . Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  4. ↑ a b originalsoundversion.com: Otakon 2009 - Concert Summary & Interview . Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  5. ↑ a b animedream.com: Interview with Kanon Wakeshima . Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  6. ↑ jame-world.com: Review of Shinshoku Dolce . Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  7. ↑ jame-world.com: Canon Wakeshima and Mana in Paris . Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  8. ↑ a b j-popworld.com: Interview with Kanon Wakeshima . Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  9. ↑ jame-world.com: canon × canon debut single . Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  10. ↑ Canon Wakeshima to Move to London! , June 10, 2019
  11. ↑ Wakeshim Kanon set to move to London , June 3, 2019
  12. ↑ purpleskymagazine.com: Kanon Wakeshima - A Doll's Story . Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  13. ↑ aftercon.com: Interview with Kanon Wakeshima . Retrieved March 26, 2010.

Web links

Commons : Canon Wakeshima  - collection of images
personal data
SURNAME Wakeshima, canon
ALTERNATIVE NAMES 分 島 花 音 (Japanese)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Japanese singer and cellist
DATE OF BIRTH June 28, 1988