Monday Michiru

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Monday Mariano (known under the stage name Monday Michiru ( Japanese Monday 満 ち る ), rarely also as Michiru Akiyoshi ( 秋 吉 満 ち る , Akiyoshi Michiru ); born August 19, 1963 in Tokyo , Japan ) is a Japanese-American singer, songwriter and actress . Her music spans a wide range of styles such as jazz , funk , dance , pop and soul . She is considered to be one of the pioneers in the field of acid jazz in Japan in the early 1990s, although she has developed her own style in her music.

Life and career

Monday was born in Tokyo as the daughter of jazz pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi and jazz saxophonist Charlie Mariano , whose marriage later divorced. She became interested in music from an early age. At the age of eight she began to learn modern dance and ballet , and she played the flute for eight years. While attending the Interlochen Arts Academy , she discovered her passion for singing. She made her debut as a singer at the age of thirteen in a short sequence on Toshiko Akiyoshi's album Insights .

In 1987 she had the lead role in the Japanese film Hikaru Onna (in the credits of which she appears as Michiru Akiyoshi ). Monday's unintended acting career only really took off when she received the Kinema Jumpō Prize and the Japanese Academy Award for Best Young Actress , and was also recognized at the Yokohama Film Festival . Because of these successes she gained notoriety and was seen more often in commercials and generally on television.

In 1991 she concentrated more on music again and released her debut album Mangetsu . In addition to her work as a solo artist, she has also participated in the works of many other musicians, for example Basement Jaxx , Mondo Grosso and DJ Krush .

Her debut was followed by twelve more albums, many compilations, remix albums and various singles.

Monday divorced from her husband, jazz trumpeter Alex Sipiagin in 2015 and currently lives with her son Nikita near New York ( USA ).

Discography

Albums

  • Mangetsu (1991)
  • Maiden Japan (1994)
  • Groovement (1994)
  • Adoption Agency (1995)
  • Jazz Brat (1995)
  • Delicious Poison (1996)
  • Look Into the Past (To See the Future) (1997)
  • Mermaid (1998) [mini album]
  • Double Image (1998)
  • Optimista (1999)
  • Episodes In Color (2002)
  • Look Into the Past (To See the Future) Part 2 (2002)
  • 4 Seasons (2000)
  • moods (2003)
  • Routes (2005)
  • Alternate Routes (2007)

Compilations and remix albums

  • Selections 1997-2000 (2001)
  • Recollections 1997-2000 (2001)

EPs

  • Naked With You (1992)
  • Sunshine After the Rain (1995)
  • Broken Tears (1995)
  • You Make Me (1998)
  • Yellow Bird (1999)
  • Premiumix (1999)
  • Play It By Ear (1999)
  • Tomorrow's Sunrise (1999)
  • New Beginnings (2000)
  • Chasing After the Sun (2000)
  • Fallin (2000)
  • Introspection (2000)
  • Naked Breath (2004)

Singles

  • Higher (1999)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Monday Michiru
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Monday Michiru Sipiaguine (until the divorce); Monday Michiru Mariano (maiden name); Monday 満 ち る (Japanese); 秋 吉 満 ち る (Japanese); Akiyoshi Michiru
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Japanese-American singer, songwriter, and actress
DATE OF BIRTH 19th August 1963
PLACE OF BIRTH Tokyo