Kanon Wakeshima
| Kanon Wakeshima | |
|---|---|
 Kanon Wakeshima performing at Japan Expo 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | June 28, 1988 |
| Origin | Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres | Neoclassical darkwave, Dark ambient, baroque pop, synthpop |
| Occupations | Singer, Musician, Cellist |
| Instruments | Vocals, Cello, Piano |
| Years active | 2008 - Present |
| Labels |
DefStar Records Warner Music Japan |
| Website | Official Site |
Kanon Wakeshima (分島 花音 Wakeshima Kanon, born June 28, 1988) is a Japanese singer and cellist.[1] Originally produced by musician and fashion designer Mana, Wakeshima debuted under the DefStar Records label on May 28, 2008 with the single "Still Doll", the ending theme for the anime adaptation of the manga series Vampire Knight. She also provided the voice for a maid that appears in the eighth episode of the series. Wakeshima's second single "Suna no Oshiro", released on November 12, 2008, was used as the ending theme for the series' second season (subtitled Guilty).[2]
She was nominated for a Best Newcomer award for 2008 in the fourth annual Shōjo Beat Music Awards, nominees of which are determined by surveying "record companies, music journalists, music experts, and music fans".[1]
Life and Career
Early Life
Before her birth, Wakeshima's music-loving parents wished that she would be a musician. At the age of three, she began learning cello, marking her entry into the world of music. In junior high school she formed her own ensemble group. At the age of fifteen, she transited from her former classical ensembles into playing in the baroque section. Appearing in a variety of recitals and concerts throughout her school years, she began writing her own music and combining singing with her cello playing at the age of sixteen. As she transited from junior high school to high school, she began writing her own music and singing. She gave her first vocal performances during a high school festival.[3]
Debut and First album: Shinshoku Dolce
Wakeshima auditioned at Sony Music Entertainment as a singer, originally not intending to include her cello playing with her demo tape, but later changed her mind after experimenting with performing with the piano. She became a finalist at the audition, contracting with the Sony subsidiary DefStar Records and debuting on May 28, 2008 with her first single, "Still Doll".[4] The single was chosen as the ending theme for the first season of the anime adaptation of Vampire Knight.[2][5][6] She also provided the voice for a maid that appears in the eighth episode of the series.
Kanon released her second single, "Suna No Oshiro", on November 12, 2008. The song was used as the second ending theme for Vampire Knight.
Kanon was nominated for a Best Newcomer award for 2008 in the fourth annual Shōjo Beat Music Awards, nominees of which are determined by surveying "record companies, music journalists, music experts, and music fans".[1]
Kanon released her debut album, Shinshoku Dolce, on February 11, 2009.
Kanon performed at Japan Expo 2009 in Paris, France, and appeared at Otakon 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Second album: Shoujo Jikake no Libretto ~Lolitawork Libretto~
The song "Toumei no Kagi" was released as a digital single on September 16, 2009. The song was used as the theme song of the online game Avalon no Kagi.
On July 27, 2010 Kanon released her second album, Lolitawork Libretto along with a music video for the song "Lolitawork Libretto ~Storytelling by Solita~".
Kanon x Kanon
In 2010, Kanon formed a duo with An Cafe's bassist Kanon, called Kanon x Kanon. The duo sang the second theme song for the anime adaptation of Shiki, called "Calendula Requiem", which was released November 23, 2010.
On June 28, 2011, Kanon x Kanon released their second single, "Koi no Doutei", which was used as the opening song for the anime 30-sai no Hoken Taiiku.
Kanon was also invited to AM² 2011, an anime convention in Anaheim, where she had both, a solo and a Kanon x Kanon concert. Following AM2 Kanon also appeared at Hyper Japan 2011 in London in July and in Ani-Com and Games Hong Kong 2011.
At the end of 2011 Kanon went on her first European tour with Kanon x Kanon.
Solo Career with Warner Home Video
Kanon released a solo double a-side single on November 7, 2012 called Foul Play ni Kurari / Sakura Meikyuu. "Foul Play ni Kurari" was used as the ending theme song of the anime To Love-Ru, and "Sakura Meikyuu" was used as the theme song for game Fate / Extra CCC.
On January 25, 2013 Kanon played at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, Korea. Kanon performed at Animethon 2013 in Edmonton, Alberta.
In November of 2013, Kanon started on "The Strange Treat!" tour. She covered hide's song "Beauty & Stupid" for the December 2013 tribute album Tribute VI -Female Spirits-.[7]
She will release a new single in February, 2014. The song "signal" will be used as the new ending of the anime TV series Strike the Blood. One of her songs will also be used as the opening theme of the upcoming anime TV series Selector Infected WIXOSS.[8]
Concert Tours
- Kanon x Kanon European Tour (2011)
- The Strange Treat Tour (2013)
Discography
- Shinshoku Dolce (2009)
- Lolitawork Libretto (2010)
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Vampire Knight | Maid / Voice | 1 Episode (S01EP08) | |
Awards and Nominations
| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Shojo Beat Music Awards | Best Newcomer | Kanon Wakeshima | Nominated |
Trivia
- Kanon currently has four Cellos. The white cello is known as "Mikazuki-san", which means "crescent moon" and this is the cello she normally uses during live performances. The red cello is known as "Nanachie-san", which means "wisdom" used in most music videos. According to Wakeshima, Nanachie-san is very hard to play but she manages. Her third cello is a brown cello called "Yaeharu-san", which means "multi-layered spring". Yaeharu-san is very special to Wakeshima as she has had it since middle school, and it is the one she practices on and records with. Hew newest is a new silver cello named "Momotose."[9]
- Kanon has a tattoo of a rose on the inside of her right arm.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 North, Dale (February 2009). "Fourth Annual Shojo Beat Music Awards". Shojo Beat (Viz Media) 5 (2): 315–216.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "ディスコグラフィ" (in Japanese). Sony Music Online. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
- ↑ Sugie, Yuki. "Artist Profile: Kanon Wakeshima". Sony Music. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
- ↑ Takahashi, Szkoropad (translator). "Kanon Wakeshima Special Feature". CD Japan/Neowing. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
- ↑ "音楽情報サイト". Hot Express Music Magazine (in Japanese). 2008-03-25. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
- ↑ "J!-ENT INTERVIEW: Kanon Wakeshima by J!-ENT's Dennis A. Amith". Retrieved 2009-08-11.
- ↑ "hide Tribute VI -Female SPIRITS-". cdjapan.jp. Retrieved 2013-12-15.
- ↑ "Steins;Gate's Satō, anohana's Okada Make selector infected WIXOSS Anime". Anime News Network. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
- ↑ Wakeshima, Kanon. "The Lolita Revolution". The Lolita Revolution. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kanon Wakeshima. |
- Official Website (Japanese)
- Kanon Wakeshima at Maru Music
- Kanon Wakeshima Interview at Anime Dream
- Kanon Wakeshima Interview for Purple SKY