Here's a new video from Kanon Wakeshima. In it, French singer Solita reads a book and Kanon is the girl acting out the stories. It's all got a pretty Alice in Wonderland feel (not surprising) but there is a bit of original style to it as well. The one thing I can't get past though is how terrible Solita looks! It's like they intentionally make her look oily and grumpy just to make Kanon look better. I mean that lighting under her face! Those makeup-less closeups! Her total lack of emotion or movement! What's going on?! Otherwise it's a perfectly passable Kanon song just like all her other stuff. Oh, and I still wish they'd do more with Kanon's cello playing. They really seem to be phasing that out, despite every promo of her prominently featuring the instrument.
It's time again for another look into the only otaku magazine that counts, Otaku USA Magazine!
In the October 2009 issue (which should be in stores now) I've got an exclusive interview with Kanon Wakeshima. I had the chance to talk with her before her appearance at Otakon this year. She talks a bit about he various musical and artistic inspirations, what it's like working with Mana and various other aspects of her seemingly storybook life. You can also read my review if her album Shinshoku Dolce on the website. And speaking of reviews, I take a look at the new Vamps album in the new issue.
Aside from my contributions, there's the usual amazing work from the usual cast of characters. Check out the awesome cover story on the first Evangelion movie from a few of the OUSA crew. There are also dozens of manga reviews, some hot looking video game stuff and some pretty great cosplay.
I hope you get a chance to check out the new issue and spread the otaku love!
In case you've been wondering where all the daily content has been here on the A-Z, well, what can I say? Life is busy and Zac is lazy.
But that doesn't mean that I've been totally dormant! Just in case you didn't already know, I am also a regular contributor to Japanator. A few of the recent Japanese music related things I've done over there include:
- A review of sorts of the newest Perfume album called Triangle. I don't exactly give it high marks for originality, and I think that raised the dander of some of the more hardcore fans...
- Another somewhat snarky review of the new album from the crazy vis-kei band Mix Speaker's Inc. called Monsters Junk in My Pocket. While I don't really find anything interesting about the music, you really need to check out their totally over-the-top (even for vis-kei!) style.
- An exclusive interview with American songwriter and performer Becca. She's managing to make a name for herself in Japan. She also just recently played at Otakon 2009.
Something else that I had nothing to do with but that I know readers will be interested in is the coverage of Kanon Wakeshima's recent stop over in LA for a live show and autograph session. Ace0fClub5 once again managed to get some amazing photos of the event.
So, things may be a little quiet here from time to time, but I'm certainly not slowing down. (Oh yeah, there's all that new stuff for Otaku USA Magazine too...) Maybe just choosing my battles a little more carefully. But never fear! More is on the way.
Baltimore, MD (May 11, 2009) – Rising star Kanon Wakeshima will make her US debut at Otakon 2009. Wakeshima brings a unique and haunting sound composed of baroque cello, strong vocals, and electronic arrangements.
A promising newcomer who took up the cello at age 3, Wakeshima began performing at age 15, splitting her time between performing in classical ensembles and providing vocals to a pop/rock group. A few years later, she entered an audition held by Sony Music Japan, in which she was a finalist -- and won an artist deal with Sony label DefSTAR Records Inc.
Her incredible talent attracted the attention of Visual-Kei star Mana (Moi dix Mois, Malice Mizer), who became the sound & visual image producer for Kanon for her debut single "still doll" (released in May 2008) from her first album. Wakeshima's rich, haunting sound fits well with the Gothic & Lolita street fashion culture -- for which Mana (who is also the designer of his own Moi-meme-moitie apparel brand) is very well known.
Her highly anticipated first album, Shinshoku Dolce, was released in February 2009. A record-breaking in-store performance at France's biggest CD retailer, FNAC, paired with a sensational concert in Paris, put her on the road to international stardom. Wakeshima has also become the 2009 "Best Newcomer" Shojo Beat Music Award winner.
Wakeshima is also a talented illustrator. Fans flocked to her November 2008 exhibition along with the mini-concert in Tokyo's fashion-conscious Harajuku, and she regularly posts her artwork on her Web site (http://www.kanonweb.jp). Samples of her music can be found on her MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/kanonwakeshima.
ABOUT OTAKON AND OTAKORP, INC.: Now entering its sixteenth year, Otakon is an annual celebration of Japanese and East Asian popular culture, and also one of the largest gatherings of fans in the United States. Otakon celebrates popular culture as a gateway to deeper understanding of Asian culture, and has grown along with the enthusiasm for anime, manga, video games, and music from the Far East. Since 1999, Otakon has been held in Baltimore, Maryland; currently, Otakon is one of Baltimore's few large, city-wide events, drawing over 22,000 individual members for three days each year (for a paid attendance of over 60,000 "turnstile" attendees). Otakon is a membership-based convention sponsored by Otakorp, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based, 501(c)3 educational non-profit whose mission is to promote the appreciation of Asian culture, primarily through its media and entertainment. Otakorp, Inc. is directed by an all-volunteer, unpaid staff – we are run by fans, for fans.
For more information about Otakorp, Inc., see http://www.otakon.com/otakorp/index.asp For more information and the latest news on Otakon 2009, see http://www.otakon.com/
In a sea roiling with wave after wave of icy salt water, it's understandable that a person would eagerly grasp at any handhold proffered up by the briny deep. In the sea of idol after frigid, vapid idol, the cello slinging Kanon Wakeshima is a welcome life-preserver.
Allegedly only 18 or 19 years old, Wakeshima started out her career with hopes of being a singer. She had a lifetime of training with the cello, but almost let her unique talents fall to the wayside when she was preparing a demo. She reconsidered and used her cello playing along with her singing, and Song snatched her up.
Don't let the slightly dark/vis-kei look fool you though. She is first and foremost a pop idol, just in a slightly different setting. Her 2009 debut album Shinshoku Dolce is pure pop with a layer of dark chocolate and lace. Her singles also give a slightly false impression, being the more gothic of the songs offered. Sure, they are full of the requisite organs and reverby hallways, but the production makes it obvious that her songs are about her voice above all else. Produced by vis-kei god Mana (Malize Mizer, Moi dix Mois,) the album is also jam packed with his disdain for "real" instruments and is instead rife with his usual cheesy pallet of fake drums, stings and hokey synths. This drains much of the lifeblood out of what might otherwise be very rich and pretty songs.
Stripped down to the bone, when Wakeshima is allowed to flaunt her unique traits, i.e. her lower register voice and her cello playing, the songs really do shine with a dark light. All too often it seems like she is being pressed into the standard j-pop mold. While she is guaranteed to appeal to those with a darker world view, the shallowness and overall low-rent production might turn off those with truly refined pallets.
J-Pop and J-Rock are only the beginning. The modern Japanese music scene is just as vibrant and varied as any other music scene in the world. I'm Zac Bentz, writer, musician, designer and all around Japanese music fanatic. Here I hope to share with you a comprehensive (!!) list of Japanese artists and bands (with a strong focus on underground and indie acts) that you may or may not have heard of, in the hopes of expanding our mutual awareness of Japanese music.
I don't mean to suggest that everything I listen to is great. Quite the contrary, I hope that you will take the time to recommend your own favorite artists in the comments so that we can all learn a bit more about the huge range of Japanese music that's out there.
"The best Japanese music blog in the world." - Door Slam "Definitely a must-visit for J-pop and J-rock fans!" -The Otaku "Zac Bentz loves music. A lot." -Japanator "Very cool!" -J-ENT "...one of the foremost blogs and information centers on all J-pop and J-rock...the top source for tour information on Japanese bands in the US..." -YankeeOtaku "Wer mehr darüber wissen will, der sollte sich mal hier umschauen, ein sehr gutes J-Music Blog übrigens." -CommandSheep "...very well-written, and there’s an excellent range of artists...a useful resource." -International Wota "не плохая энциклопедия японских исполнителей/групп" -Diary.ru "Great resource for Japanese music fans who want to explore today's J-rhythms beyond Johnny's Entertainment bishonen music and anime music. XD" -Kaishi "If you are a J-Rock fan, [ZB's A-Z] is a must see." -Crunchyroll community "Otaku USA magazine finally got wise and hired Zac Bentz as a J-music contributing editor."-Radicalpatriot "Reviews practically every Asian band that has ever created a recording."- Zallie "Gewährt spannende Einblicke in die japanische Musikszene." -Laut.de
