Klaha

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Klaha

Background information
Birth name Haruna Masaki
Born May 3
Origin Osaka, Japan
Genre(s) Visual Kei
Pop music
New Wave
Dark Wave
Ballad
Occupation(s) Musician
Years active 1992 - present
Associated acts Pride of Mind
Malice Mizer
Website Official Website

Haruna Masaki, aka Klaha, is a Japanese singer and songwriter. He was one of the founders of Pride of Mind, a new wave/dark wave band active from 1992 to 1996 and the vocalist of Malice Mizer from 2000 to 2001.

Contents

[edit] Pride of Mind

In 1992, Klaha formed Pride of Mind. They released four demo tapes, appeared at "Image Sonic -society market 02-" omnibus, released by Song Bird Label on 8/29/1994, features 2 songs by Pride of mind: "The sky was blue" and "Hikari no naka de" (光の中で). It also features two songs by Ér, whose vocalist Hinao provided chorus vocals on the "Systems of Romance" album. Released a rare live video, whose was produced only 100 copies as far as known. This 35-minute tape documents the 8/29/1994 live at the Shinsaibashi MUSE HALL. And an album titled "Systems of Romance" in November 1995 featuring 10 tracks and was released by Song Bird Label. However at 1996 the fourth demo tape titled "Revival demo tape" appeared. This mysterious two-track demo appears to have been Atsushi Fukuyama's attempt to revive the band after Masaki Haruna and Masanori Ito left. It features Velvet Eden's Dada on vocals.

[edit] Malice Mizer

After leaving Pride of Mind, he had not stated intention to continue in music; little is known about the subsequent four years. However, in 2000 he resurfaced under the name "Klaha", as the session vocalist for Malice Mizer's final album, "Bara no Seidou". It is known that he was a fan of Malice Mizer's music, and had a friendship with bassist Yu~ki. The band Malice Mizer was in a difficult phase following the departure of their singer Gackt and death of their drummer Kami. Though Klaha provided the vocals for the single Shiroi Hada ni Kuruu Ai to Kanashimi no Rondo, he did not appear in any promotional material and was not officially revealed until the band's 2-day live at the Nippon Budokan.


Klaha also starred as a Jonathan Harker-like character in Malice Mizer's interpretation of Dracula (a silent film called Bara No Konrei) and appeared in several photobooks during this period. It was during his time in Malice Mizer that Klaha built up a loyal fanbase, with many fans cosplaying him at concerts and conventions.

[edit] Solo Career

After Malice Mizer went on an indefinite hiatus on December 11, 2001, Klaha capitalized on his newfound fame by starting a solo career. In a sharp departure from his Malice Mizer days, Klaha billed himself as a pop artist, his solo work comprises piano driven ballads as well as more epic, orchestral pieces, and he dropped the Elegant Gothic Aristocrat fashion style. This drew criticism and comparisons with Gackt, though Klaha's work is decidedly unique and different from Gackt's. His first album, "Nostal Lab", was released on December 4, 2002; shortly thereafter, he followed it up with the single "Märchen". Both of these releases were accompanied by short live tours and instore appearances. Following "Märchen", Klaha went into seclusion for around a year, reemerging in early 2004 with his mini-album "切望" ("Setsubou"); he played one live to accompany it.

In mid-2004 it was stated that his fanclub would be closing down. This marked the beginning of a period of near-silence, punctuated only by rare updates on Klaha's official site. In December 2006, Klaha stated on his site that he would resume musical activity in 2007; further details have not been announced.

In 2008, most fans having given up on him, Klaha slipped into depression and ultimately disappeared from this plane, heading to a loftier existence than us mere mortals.

[edit] Discography

With Pride of mind

First demo tape (1994)

  1. "Dance with Moon" - 04:39
  2. "Decayed" - 01:16
  3. "Angels of night" - 03:47
  4. "Black Sun" - 03:02

Image Sonic (August 29, 1994)

  • "The Sky was blue" - 07:23
  • "Hikari no Naka de" (光の中で) - 04:48

Promotional demo tape" (Unknown Date)

  1. "The sky was blue (My supreme love) - 07:13
  2. "Decayed" - 01:09
  3. "Angels of night" - 03:30
  4. "Virulent red" - 03:39
Front cover of "Systems of Romance".
Front cover of "Systems of Romance".

Second demo tape" (1994/5)

  1. "The Sky was blue" - 07:23
  2. "Virulent red" - 03:39
  3. "Hikari no Naka de" (光の中で) - 04:48
  4. "Lucent (live version)"
Back cover of "Systems of Romance".
Back cover of "Systems of Romance".

Live video tape (November 1, 1995)

  1. "Intro: Edvard Grieg - In the Hall of the Mountain King (recording)" - 02:55
  2. "Salome" - 04:16
  3. "Unknown Title" - 03:33
  4. "MC" - 00:45
  5. "Tale of one night" - 06:00
  6. "The sky was blue" - 07:29
  7. "Dance with moon" - 04:30
  8. "Red" -03:48
  9. "Angels of night" 04:13
  10. "Outro: The Buggles - I Am A Camera (recording)"

Systems of Romance - album (November 11, 1995)

  1. "Love light [I feel your breath]" - 04:56
  2. "Material world" - 03:36
  3. "Walking in my life" - 03:24
  4. "Bright moments" - 05:21
  5. "Flowers" - 04:18
  6. "The sky was blue [My supreme love]" - 07:24
  7. "Red" - 03:49
  8. "Out of the air" - 05:43
  9. "Salome" [機械仕掛のロマンス] - 04:28
  10. "The flower bloom in the future" - 04:45

With Malice Mizer

Solo Nostal Lab - album (December 4, 2002)

  1. "Shinsho Prism (Instrumental)" (心象プリズム (Instrumental))- 00:55
  2. "Scape ~With Transparent Wings~" - 03:39
  3. "Taiyou no Ori" (太陽の檻) - 05:32
  4. "Red Room ~Garasu no Hana Red Room~" (Red Room ～硝子の花～) - 03:45
  5. "penguin" - 06:13
  6. "Kanjou Prism (Instrumental)" - 00:44
  7. "Kiseki no Koe" - 05:00
  8. "SHOKOREITO" (ショコレイト) - 04:51
  9. "Kamereon no Seppun" (カメレオンの接吻) - 03:43
  10. "Sayonara" (サヨナラ) - 05:41
  11. "Green ~ Tsutaetai Omoi" (Green ～伝えたい想い～) - 04:27
  12. "Kaihou Prism" (解放プリズム ) - 02:12

Märchen - single (2003)

  1. "Mitsu (Hisoka) (Instrumental)" (密 (ひそか) (Instrumental)) - 01:05
  2. "Märchen" - 04:31
  3. "Stay in the Rain" - 04:30
  4. "Deatta Hi No Mama" (出逢った日のまま) - 04:49
  5. "Märchen (Instrumental)" - 04:30
  6. "Deatta Hi No Mama (Instrumental)" (出逢った日のまま (Instrumental)) - 04:47

Setsubou (切望) - mini-album (March 2004)

  1. "Hizashi" (陽射し) - 04:41
  2. "Souten Hakugetsu" (蒼天白月) - 05:06
  3. "Gekkou - Instrumental" (激昴 - Instrumental -) - 02:24
  4. "Kibou no Tenshi" (希望の天地) - 05:12
  5. "Hekiya no Hate" (僻野ノ涯) - 05:23
  6. "Gyakkou ~Konosaka no Mukouni~" (逆光 ～ この坂の向こうに ～) - 05:19

[edit] External links