Mami Kawada

Mami Kawada

Kawada at Bangkok Comic Con in 2014
Background information
Native name 川田 まみ
Born February 13
Origin Sapporo, Japan
Genres Rock, electronic rock, trance
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Years active 2001–present
Labels
Associated acts
Website mami-kawada.jp

Mami Kawada (川田 まみ Kawada Mami, born February 13) is a Japanese pop singer who is signed to NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan and is a member of I've Sound, a musical group which produces soundtracks for eroge games and anime. Born and raised in Sapporo, Japan, Kawada made her musical debut in 2001 after being discovered by her music teacher Eiko Shimamiya with the release of the song "Kaze to Kimi o Daite". She released her first single in 2002. Her first album, Seed, was released in 2006. She first performed overseas in Taiwan in 2007 and later appeared at the Bangkok Comic Con in Thailand in 2014. Her music songs have been featured as theme music for various anime such as Shakugan no Shana, A Certain Magical Index, Hayate the Combat Butler, Jormungand, and Tokyo Ravens.

Biography

Debut

Kawada's vocal talents were first discovered by Eiko Shimamiya, who was her teacher at the Mitsuno Music School in Sapporo, Hokkaido.[1] She was introduced to I've Sound, a music production group which featured Shimamiya as a member. Kawada joined I've Sound in 2001, and in that year released her debut song titled "Kaze to Kimi o Daite" (風と君を抱いて, "Embrace You and the Wind"), which was used as the opening theme to the eroge Miss You.[2][3] The song was later compiled on I've Sound's 5th compilation album Out Flow (2003).[4]

In 2002, she released her first song associated with an anime, "Sora no Mori de" (空の森で, "In the Forest of Sky"), the ending theme to the anime Please Teacher!. The song was released in a split single with singer Kotoko, who performed the series' opening theme "Shooting Star".[5] That same year, Kawada and Shimamiya performed a number of theme songs for visual novels as the unit Healing Leaf,[6] although only one of those songs, "Ame ni Utau Ballad" (雨に歌う譚詩曲, "A Ballad Sung in the Rain"), was featured in an I've Sound Compilation.[7] In mid-2003, she performed the ending theme to the anime Please Twins!, "Asu e no Namida" (明日への涙, "Tears for Tomorrow").[8]

Seed (2005–2006)

In 2005, Kawada signed a contract with Geneon Entertainment (now NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan) and released her first major single "Radiance", which was used as the opening theme to the anime Starship Operators.[9] Later that year, she released her second single "Hishoku no Sora", which was used as the opening theme to the anime series Shakugan no Shana.[10] It became her best-selling single and sold approximately 37,000 copies, peaking at 11th at the Oricon weekly charts.[11][12]

In March 2006, Kawada and Kotoko released a split single for the OVA adaptation of the game Baldr Force, with Kawada performing the ending theme, "Undelete" and Kotoko performed the opening theme "Face of Fact (Resolution ver.)".[13] Four weeks later, Kawada released her debut album Seed. The album reached number 12 in the Oricon weekly charts and charted for five weeks, selling more than 25,000 copies.[12][14] Later that year, Kawada held her first live tour, where she distributed a pamphlet CD containing the first instance of a song that she both performed and composed by herself, "Carpe Diem".[15]

Savia (2007)

After her success with "Hishoku no Sora", Kawada released "Akai Namida", an insert song for the Shakugan no Shana movie in May 2007.[16] She also sang "Tenjō o Kakeru Monotachi" (天壌を翔る者たち, "Those Who Scale Heaven and Earth"), the movie's ending theme, together with Kotoko, Shimamiya, Mell and Kaori Utatsuki under the name Love Planet Five.[17] Three months later, she performed the second ending theme to the series Hayate the Combat Butler, "Get My Way!".[18] Kawada's next single, "Joint", was released on October 31, 2007. The titular song was used as the opening theme to the series Shakugan no Shana Second.[19] The single marked her first top 10 single entry as it reached number 9 in its first week on the Oricon weekly charts, eventually selling 37,000 copies and charting for 19 weeks.[12][20] After Kawada's success with her fifth single, she performed at her first live concert outside of Japan on January 19, 2008, at the KHS Hall in Taiwan.[21][22] In late March 2008, Kawada released her second album Savia. The album included "Sense", used as the ending theme of episode 24 of Shakugan no Shana Second, as well as "Akai Namida" and "Get My Way!".[23] It peaked at number 15 on the weekly charts and charted for five weeks.[24]

Linkage (2008–2010)

In 2008, Kawada released "PSI-Missing" and "Masterpiece", which were used as opening theme songs to the anime series A Certain Magical Index. The singles' B-sides, "Ame" (雨, "Rain") and "Jellyfish" respectively, were also used as insert songs in the series.[25][26] In late 2008, Kawada opened her official website together with her official fan club "M.A.L.L." an acronym that stands for "Mami Artist Lasting Live".[27]

In June 2009, Kawada released a single "L'Oiseau bleu",[28] which was originally included in the I've Sound 10th Anniversary 「Departed to the future」 Special CD BOX released on March 25, 2009.[29] Kawada also performed the opening and ending themes to the original video animation series of Shakugan no Shana, Shakugan no Shana S. The opening theme "Prophecy" was released on November 18, 2009.[30]

On March 24, 2010, Kawada released her third album Linkage.[31] containing the singles "PSI-Missing", "Masterpiece" and "Prophecy", as well as the ending theme to Shakugan no Shana S, "All in Good Time", and a cover of the song "Dreams", originally performed by the Irish rock band The Cranberries.[31] In the same year, she started writing lyrics for other I've singers, beginning with "Piece of My Heart", an insert song used in the eroge Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate, sung by Nami Maisaki.[2] Kawada also performed the game's opening theme "Initiative".[32]

Square the Circle (2010 to 2012)

In autumn 2010, Kawada performed the opening theme to the second season of A Certain Magical Index, "No Buts!", which eventually became her highest charting single to date, reaching number 6 in its first week in the Oricon weekly charts.[33][34]

On February 16, 2011, she released her 10th single "See Visions", the second opening theme to the second season of Index.[35] Four months later, she wrote the lyrics for the song "Lead to the Smile", the solo debut of I've singer Rin Asami, who started her career that year.[2] She also performed the second opening theme to the third season of Shakugan no Shana, "Serment", which was released on February 1, 2012.[36] She also performed the song "U/N" which was used as the ending theme of episode 15 of Shakugan no Shana Final as well as the series' final ending theme "Kōbō" (光芒, "Beam of Light").[37] Later, she released the single "Borderland", which served as the opening theme to the anime TV series Jormungand, on May 29, 2012.[38] She released a new album titled Square the Circle on August 8, 2012.[39]

Mami Kawada Best Birth (2013 to present)

Kawada released a greatest hits album titled Mami Kawada Best: Birth on her birthday, February 13, 2013,[40] which includes all of her singles except for "Prophecy".[40] It also includes "Fixed Star", the ending theme to the movie Toaru Majutsu no Index: Endymion no Kiseki.[40] The album peaked at number 4 on the Oricon daily charts and at 15 on the Oricon weekly charts.[41] "Fixed Star" was released as a single on February 20, 2013.[42] She performed the song "Snap Out of It!!" together with Maon Kurosaki, which was released on the music collection Toaru Majutsu no TV Songs released on August 28, 2013.[43] Kawada released the single "Break a Spell", which serves as the second ending theme to the anime TV series Tokyo Ravens, on February 26, 2014.[44][45]

Kawada made an appearance at the Bangkok Comic Con in Bangkok, Thailand in July 2014,[46] and the Animao Anime Music Festival event in Shanghai, China in November 2014.[47] She performed the song "belief" which is used in the 2014 video game Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax.[48] She made an appearance at the Animax Carnival event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2015.[49][50] Kawada will perform the ending theme to the second season of the anime television series To Love-Ru Darkness.[51]

Musical style and influences

Kawada's musical style mainly fuses rock with trance.[22] When Kawada debuted in 2001, she originally felt that the music she earned in her career was pocket money. She also felt happy that she could be based in Sapporo where she could be close to her family and friends, as well as to I've Sound whom she felt was like a second family to her. After Kotoko made her major debut in 2004, I've Sound management began discussing the possibility of Kawada making a major debut. At first, she was a bit hesitant, because she felt that she would be thrust into the spotlight, but eventually she accepted the idea. For the first ten years of her career, she always felt that she was a beginner, but this began to change when younger singers made their debuts and began to treat her as an older sister.[3]

In an interview with Famitsu, Kawada related her experience writing the lyrics for "Joint". Kawada said that she was challenged in writing lyrics for the song, since her previous single "Get My Way" was different from her previous singles. Kawada would read the source material of every anime before writing lyrics for its theme songs. She named the song "Joint" because of Shana II‍‍ '​‍s theme of characters Shana and Yūji Sakai fighting together.[22][52] In response to comments that the expressions in her voice were very varied, Kawada stated that she simply sings with the music in the way that she most enjoys.[53]

Kawada's primary producer was I've producer Tomoyuki Nakazawa, who produced "Radiance" as well as her first three albums. Nakazawa also came up with each album's concept and title.[54] However, in 2010, Kawada began to cooperate more with other producers. She also began working more in Tokyo. When producing Square the Circle, Nakazawa asked Kawada what sort of album and what sort of songs did she want. Kawada said that she wanted an album whose songs would be reminiscent of her visual image and stage persona, as opposed to her private self.[55]

Kawada's favorite artist is Alanis Morissette.[56]

Discography

References

  1. ↑ "Biography" (in Japanese). Mami Kawada official website. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Discography". I've Sound. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "川田まみ インタビュー". Ticket Pia. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  4. ↑ "OUT FLOW" (in Japanese). I've Sound Explorer. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  5. ↑ "『WOWOWアニメ「おねがい☆ティーチャー」 OP&EDテーマ 　『Shooting Star / 空の森で』KOTOKO/川田まみ". Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Healing Leaf - 歌手データベース｜I've Sound Explorer" (in Japanese). Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  7. ↑ "雨に歌う譚詩曲 / Healing Leaf" (in Japanese). I've Sound Explorer. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  8. ↑ "WOWOWアニメ『おねがい☆ツインズ』 オープニングテーマ 『Ｓｅｃｏｎｄ　Ｆｌｉｇｈｔ』KOTOKO＆佐藤裕美" (in Japanese). Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Starship Operators スターシップ・オペレーターズ" (in Japanese). Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  10. ↑ 川田まみ/緋色の空 [Mami Kawada / Hishoku no Sora] (in Japanese). Geneon Universal Entertainment. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  11. ↑ "緋色の空". Oricon. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree']. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved October 10, 2014. (subscription required (help)).
  13. ↑ "［MAXI SINGLE］　OVA「BALDR FORCE EXE RESOLUTION」" (in Japanese). Geneon Universal Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 23, 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  14. ↑ "SEED". Oricon. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  15. ↑ "CARPE DIEM" (in Japanese). I've Sound Explorer. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
  16. ↑ "川田まみ/『赤い涙/Beehive』" [Mami Kawada / "Akai Namida / Beehive"] (in Japanese). Geneon Universal Entertainment. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  17. ↑ "「天壌を翔る者たち」 Love Planet Five" ["Tenjō o Kakeru Monotachi" Love Planet Five] (in Japanese). Shakugan no Shana Production Committee. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Mami Kawada's web site (news)" (in Japanese). Geneon. Archived from the original on 2007-07-03. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  19. ↑ "川田まみ/Joint" [Mami Kawada / Joint] (in Japanese). Geneon Universal Entertainment. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  20. ↑ "JOINT". Oricon. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  21. ↑ "台湾ライブ 詳細情報". Geneon Universal Entertainment. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 "5th Single『JOINT』をリリースする川田まみにインタビュー！". Famitsu (in Japanese). October 22, 2007. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  23. ↑ "川田まみ／SAVIA" [Mami Kawada / SAVIA]. Geneon Universal Entertainment. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  24. ↑ "SAVIA". Oricon. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  25. ↑ "TVアニメ「とある魔術の禁書目録」OPテーマ 川田まみ／PSI-missing〈通常盤〉". J.C. Staff. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  26. ↑ "「とある魔術の禁書目録」新OPテーマ マキシシングル 川田まみ／Masterpiece". J.C. Staff. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Official website". NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  28. ↑ "L'Oiseau bleu" (in Japanese). I've Sound Explorer. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  29. ↑ "I've Sound 10th Anniversary「Departed to the future」Special CD BOX". I've Sound Explorer. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  30. ↑ "川田まみ/Prophecy" [Mami Kawada / Prophecy] (in Japanese). Geneon Universal Entertainment. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "川田まみ/Linkage" [Mami Kawada / Linkage] (in Japanese). Geneon Universal Entertainment. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  32. ↑ "INITIATIVE" (in Japanese). I've Sound Explorer. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  33. ↑ "No buts!" (in Japanese). Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  34. ↑ "川田まみが歌う「とある魔術の禁書目録II」OPがオリコン6位！記念コメント到着！". Zakzak (in Japanese). November 11, 2010. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
  35. ↑ "See visionS" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  36. ↑ "「Serment」 川田まみ" ["Serment" Mami Kawada] (in Japanese). Shakugan no Shana Production Committee. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  37. ↑ "灼眼のシャナF SUPERIORITY SHANAⅢ Vol.3" (in Japanese). Shakugan no Shana Production Committee. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  38. ↑ "川田まみ「Borderland」 (TVアニメ「ヨルムンガンド」オープニングテーマ)　先行配信！". Geneon Universal Entertainment. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  39. ↑ "４th ALBUM「SQUARE THE CIRCLE」発売決定！" (in Japanese). Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 "[BEST ALBUM] MAMI KAWADA BEST -BIRTH-". Geneon Universal Entertainment. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
  41. ↑ "BIRTH" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  42. ↑ "[13th SINGLE] FIXED STAR". Geneon Universal Entertainment. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  43. ↑ とある魔術の楽曲目録 [Toaru Majutsu no TV Songs] (in Japanese). Neowing. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  44. ↑ "Break a spell". Oricon. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  45. ↑ "CD -TVアニメ「東京レイヴンズ」公式サイト-" (in Japanese). Tokyo Ravens Production Committee. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  46. ↑ 川田まみ　海外イベント出演！ (in Japanese). NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  47. ↑ "首届ANIMAO动漫文化节～川田麻美/黑崎真音/KOTOKO" (in Chinese). Mao Livehouse. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  48. ↑ "電撃文庫 FIGHTING CLIMAX 公式サイト" (in Japanese). Sega. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  49. ↑ "Event Info | Animax Carnival Malaysia 2015". Animax. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  50. ↑ "Animax Carnival 2015 Malaysia First Ever Animax LIVE! Concert". Ani-Culture.net. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  51. ↑ "TVアニメ「To LOVEる -とらぶる- ダークネス 2nd」ED担当決定！". NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan. March 21, 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  52. ↑ "川田まみ、最強のハード楽曲「JOINT」インタビュー". Barks.jp. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  53. ↑ "Joint" (in Japanese). Excite Japan. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  54. ↑ 中沢伴行 [Tomoyuki Nakazawa] (in Japanese). I've Sound. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  55. ↑ "川田まみ「SQUARE THE CIRCLE」インタビュー" (in Japanese). Natalie (website). Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  56. ↑ "Biography" (in Japanese). Geneon Universal Entertainment. Archived from the original on October 16, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2014.

External links