Himeka

Himeka

Himeka and conductor Yukihiro Notsu in Tallinn Maritime Days

Himeka and conductor Yukihiro Notsu in Tallinn Maritime Days, July 2011
Background information
Birth name Catherine St. Onge
Born July 20, 1981
Origin Quebec, Canada
Genres Pop
Occupation(s) Singer
Years active 2009–present
Labels Sony Music Japan International (2009-2012)
Mages./amuleto (2012-2014)
Website www.himeka.info

Catherine St. Onge (born July 20, 1981), better known by her stage name Himeka, is a French Canadian singer active in Japan.

Biography

At the age of 15, Himeka's interest in Japanese culture began to develop when she saw an episode of Sailor Moon.[1] In 2008, she moved to Japan in order to pursue a singing career.[2] She was the winner of the Second Annual Animax Anison Grand Prix, which gathers aspiring singers from all over Japan for the chance to make a professional debut and sing a theme song in an anime television show.[3] Her debut single "Asu e no Kizuna", released on May 27, 2009, was the opening theme to the anime adaptation of the PlayStation 3 video game Valkyria Chronicles.[4] The single debuted at number 28 on the Oricon single charts.[5]

Her second single was titled "Hatenaki Michi", and was released on November 25, 2009.[6] It was the featured ending song for a new anime named Tegamibachi. The singled peaked at number 33 on the weekly Oricon chart.[7][8]

Himeka, Yukihiro Notsu and Suomen Nuoriso-Orkesteri at Finncon/Animecon 2011 in Finland

Himeka's first cover album, Anison: Utattemita, was released on 3 March 2010.[9] Her third single, "Mirai e...", was released on May 26, 2010. It was featured as the ending theme in the anime Senkō no Night Raid.[10] Himeka's first digital single, "La la la, Sekai o Hitotsuni", was released on July 2010. The song was an official support song for the World Cosplay Summit 2010 in Nagoya, Japan.[11]

Himeka's first original album titled "Himekanvas" has been released on November 31, 2011 and includes all her released singles, seven original songs and two cover songs.[12] On 12 February 2012, Himekagave her first solo live concert in the Shibuya Boxx hall.[13] The concert sold out.[14]

On 1 July 2012, Himeka confirmed that, in April 2012, she had moved to a new label named Mages./amuleto (5pb.).[15] Later, it was confirmed that she would release a new single named "Where I Belong" scheduled to be released on 24 October 2012.[16] The song would be the ending theme for a series named Audrey no Kami Appli Shin Seiki Up Date. On April 1, 2014, it was announced that she was no longer signed to a label.[17] On her Twitter, she did express that she will continue to pursue a career in music.[18]

It was announced not long after, that she was releasing a song under the name AG7 with 7 other Animax Anison Grand Prix winners. The song is named Endless Nova and is going to be released on July 23, 2014. It will be included on a single released by the latest Anison Grand Prix winner named Tatsuyuki Kobayashi.[19]

Discography

Albums

Cover albums

Singles

Digital singles

References

  1. ↑ "Official website profile" (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. 2009-05-10. Retrieved 2008-05-10.
  2. ↑ "J!-ENT interviews Himeka by J!-ENT's Dennis A. Amith". Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  3. ↑ "27-Year-Old Canadian Wins Animax's Singing Contest". 2008. Retrieved March 26, 2009.
  4. ↑ "Canada's St. Onge to Sing Valkyria Anime's Theme Song". 2009. Retrieved March 26, 2009.
  5. ↑ "Asu e no Kizuna" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2009-06-19.
  6. ↑ Sony Music Japan International (2009). "Official website" (in Japanese). Retrieved October 10, 2009.
  7. ↑ Sony Music Japan International (2009). "Official website" (in Japanese). Retrieved September 8, 2009.
  8. ↑ "Tegamibachi official website" (in Japanese). 浅田弘幸／集英社・テガミバチ製作委員会・テレビ東京. 2009-09-08. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
  9. ↑ Sony Music Japan International (2010). "Official website" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-01-03.
  10. ↑ Himeka (2010). "Official blog". Retrieved March 11, 2010.
  11. ↑ Himeka (2010). "Official blog of Himeka". Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  12. ↑ Sony Music Japan International (2011). "Official website of Himeka". Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  13. ↑ Sony Music Japan International (2012). "Official website of Himeka". Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  14. ↑ Sony Music Japan International (2012). "Official website of Himeka". Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  15. ↑ Sony Music Japan International (2012). "Official website of Himeka". Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  16. ↑ Cdjapan (2012). "Cdjapan Whre I Belong". Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  17. ↑ https://twitter.com/HlMEKA/status/450960774819622914
  18. ↑ Japanator (2014). "Japanator - Himeka no longer signed with label". Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  19. ↑ Avex Trax (2014). "Avex Trax - Tatsuyuki Kobayashi official website". Retrieved 29 June 2014.

External links