Kanon Wakeshima
Kanon Wakeshima (分 岛 花 音jap, Wakeshima Kanon, born 28 June 1988) is a Japanese singer and cellist. Your published in 2009 debut album Shinshoku Dolce and the subsequent 2010 album Lolita Work Libretto were produced by the famous Japanese musician Mana.
Biography
At the age of three years Wakeshima began at the suggestion of her music-loving parents ( therefore also the unusual first names canon gave her, which is composed of the character for flower and clay) with playing the cello. In middle school she founded a cello duo and their own ensemble group. From the age of 15, she played regularly in classical music ensembles, the baroque cello and performed at numerous performances and concerts. At that time she also began to take an interest in Japanese pop music (J- Pop ).
After the transfer to secondary school, at the age of 16, she began even to compose music and sing. Soon she began doing at the same time to play cello and sing what should be characteristic of her later career as a musician.
During her high school years, she participated in a singing competition from Sony Music, where she came to the final round and was taken thereupon by the label DefStar Records. When she einsandte a first demo recording, including the well-known Japanese musician Mana was (formerly Malice Mizer, Moi dix Mois now ) aware of them and decided to become their producer.
As a first result of this cooperation was published in May 2008, the single Still Doll, the number 33 immediately reached on the Oricon charts. An abridged version of this single was little later used as credits music for the first season of the anime version of the popular manga series Vampire Knight. In an episode of the series Wakeshima was also heard as a seiyū ( voice actor ). For the second season of Vampire Knight released in November 2008, the second single Suna no Oshiro was selected as the closing credits.
In February 2009, appeared Wakeshimas debut album Shinshoku Dolce. It was, as already previously released singles, completely composed by Mana and produced. Starting from Manas compositions penned the lyrics to Wakeshima, playing the Cello Part. A characteristic feature of the music is a crossover of J -pop, classical music and various ambient and electronica elements.
To celebrate the release of the new album in Europe organized mana for Wakeshima in February 2009, two smaller concerts in Paris. In July 2009, followed by appearances at major anime conventions such as the Japan Expo in Paris or Otakon in Baltimore (Maryland).
In July 2010, the second album Lolita work libretto, which was produced by Mana and composed half appeared. The remaining compositions as well as all the lyrics come from Wakeshima. On the title track Wakeshima sings in duet with Solita, daughter of the French- Japanese singer Clémentine.
In November 2010, the debut single Calendula Requiem by kanon × kanon, a joint project of Wakeshima and Kanon, the bassist of the J- rock band An Cafe has been published. The title track was used as the second theme song of the anime adaptation of the novel Shiki.
Others
As musical role models Wakeshima called classical performers and composers such as Joseph Haydn, Claude Debussy, Erik Satie or Jacqueline du Pré and popular musical performers such as Émilie Simon and Lady Gaga. As a source of inspiration for her lyrics serve her also fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen or the Brothers Grimm.
Besides her work as a singer and musician Wakeshima also records images that have now been presented already in various art exhibitions, as in Harajuku or Los Angeles. As models are called Art Nouveau artists like Alfons Mucha or Japanese painter of the Rimpa school like Sakai Hōitsu.
In addition to musical collaboration with Wakeshima designs and manufactures Mana, the musician still the fashion label Moi - même - Moitié operates alongside his work, even their clothes.
Discography
Albums
- 2009 - Shinshoku Dolce (Japanese侵食 ドルチェ, Sweet desecration )
- 2010 - Lolita Work Libretto (Japanese女 仕掛け の リブレット, Shōjo Jikake no Libretto )
Singles
- 2008 - Still Doll
- 2008 - Suna no Oshiro (Japanese砂 の お 城)
- 2010 - Lolita Work Libretto ~ Storytelling by Solita ~
- 2010 - Calendula Requiem (Japaneseカレンデュラ レクイエムthan kanon × kanon )