Aya Kamiki Explained

Aya Kamiki
Native Name:Japanese: 上木彩矢
Birth Name:Tsukada Ayako (Japanese: 塚田 綾子)
Birth Date:10 September 1985
Birth Place:Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Alma Mater:Hinode High School
Children:1
Years Active:2003–present
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is a Japanese singer, actress and model. Her music ranges from pop, rock to R&B. She resides in Osaka, and is signed with Tokyo-based AVEX recording label. She is the vocalist of the rock band Uroboros and the rock duo Sonic Lover Reckless with Lovebites guitarist Miyako.[1] [2]

Biography

Kamiki learned to play the piano when she was 4 years old. In junior high school, she began singing live. Influenced by punk rock, she also learned how to play the guitar.

In 2005, Kamiki released her two mini-albums "Constellation" and "Rock On" from the independent record label Weed Records. Kamiki's singing career was mainly active in Osaka, where she garnered positive results. Her voice was so full of force that it was part of her reputation. She made appearances in music and fashion magazines, which caught people's attention.

In 2006, Kamiki signed on with Giza Studio and released her first major label single "Communication Break" on March 15. On April 12, her second single "Pierrot" was released. The song was respectively written and composed by B'z members Koshi Inaba and Tak Matsumoto, although the lyrics in Kamiki's version were slightly modified. It was released on the same day as the B'z single "ゆるぎないものひとつ" (Yuruginaimono Hitotsu), which contained "Pierrot" as its 2nd Beat (B-side). The single reached 9th place on the Oricon charts. Her third single "Mou Kimidake-wo Hanashitari-wa Shinai" peaked at the 11th place, and her first full album "Secret Code" debuted at 5th place. In order to promote Secret Code's release, Kamiki held two mini-concerts. One was as "Black Kamiki" and was performed at Tower Records in Shibuya. The other (later on the same day), was as "White Aya" and was performed at HMV in Shibuya. Entrance was free, provided that you had purchased Secret Code at the corresponding store.

Early 2007, Kamiki was one of the winners of the 21st Japan Gold Disc Award's New Artist of the Year. In 2009, she moved the Avex Trax label and before leaving Ginza Studio, she released a best album titled, "Greatest Best" and she released her 12th single named "WBX (W-Boiled Extreme)"[3] on November 11.

She makes an appearance as an in-game character in the 2008 visual novel (later released internationally in 2018). She also sang its theme song "Sekai wa Sore demo Kawari wa Shinai" (世界はそれでも変わりはしない), known in English as "The World Doesn't Change So Easy", which was released as a single in December 2008.[4]

In 2010, her fourth album, Individual Emotion, was released on January 27, and one track, "The Light" was released as a PV. Then on July 14, her 13th single, "Revolver" was released, then shortly after on August 11, she released her mini-album, "Gloriosa".

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart positionsSales[5]
JPN

[6]
JPN

[7]
Secret Code 5
  • JPN: 65,000
Ashita no Tame ni: Forever More
  • Released: October 10, 2007
  • Label: Giza Studio
  • Formats: CD, digital download
8
  • JPN: 24,600
Are You Happy Now?
  • Released: September 10, 2008
  • Label: Giza Studio
  • Formats: CD, digital download
10 13
  • JPN: 18,000
Individual Emotion 23 27
  • JPN: 9,900

Compilation albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart positionsSales
JPN

JPN

Aya Kamiki Greatest Best 30 33
  • JPN: 8,300
The Final Journey
  • Released: September 7, 2011
  • Label: Avex Trax
  • Formats: CD, digital download
69 83
  • JPN: 1,500

Video albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart positionsSales
JPN

Aya Kamiki First Live 3
  • JPN: 10,600
Aya Kamiki Music Video #1
  • Released: November 7, 2007
  • Label: Giza Studio
  • Formats: DVD
8
  • JPN: 6,900
The Final Journey -Final Edition-
  • Released: September 7, 2011
  • Label: Giza Studio
  • Formats: DVD
23
  • JPN: 900

Extended plays

TitleDetailsPeak chart positionsSales
JPN

JPN

W.H.Y?
  • Released as Klim (久里夢)
  • Released: March 24, 2004
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD
Constellation
  • Released: May 25, 2005
  • Label: Weed
  • Formats: CD
Rock On
  • Released: September 21, 2005
  • Label: Weed
  • Formats: CD
Gloriosa 39 75
  • JPN: 4,100
EVILÄLIVE
  • Released: March 9, 2011
  • Label: Avex Trax
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
45 46
  • JPN: 2,600

Singles

Single #InformationSales
indie"Breath"
  • Released: May 21, 2003
  • Studio Album: N/A
  • Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: /
/
copies sold
Debut /
1st
"Communication Break" (1st Major)
  • Released: March 15, 2006
  • Studio Album: Secret Code
  • Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #48
7,825
copies sold
2nd"Pierrot"
  • Released: April 12, 2006
  • Studio Album: Secret Code
  • Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #9
38,127
copies sold
3rd"Mou Kimi Dake wo Hanashitari wa Shinai"
  • Released: May 31, 2006
  • Studio Album: Secret Code
  • Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #11
21,967
copies sold
4th"Nemutteita Kimochi Nemutteita Kokoro"
  • Released: November 1, 2006
  • Studio Album: Ashita no Tame ni ~Forever More~
  • Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #19
12,605
copies sold
5th"Misekake no I Love you"
  • Released: May 23, 2007
  • Studio Album: Ashita no Tame ni ~Forever More~
  • Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #24
9,505 
copies sold
6th"Ashita no Tame ni"
  • Released: July 25, 2007
  • Studio Album: Ashita no Tame ni ~Forever More~
  • Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #24
7,168
copies sold
7th"SUNDAY MORNING" 5,885
copies sold
8th"Kimi Sarishi Yuuwaku" 4,302
copies sold
9th"Summer Memories"
  • Released: August 6, 2008
  • Studio Album: Are you happy now?
  • Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #35
5,469
copies sold
10th"Sekai wa Sore demo Kawari wa Shinai"
  • Released: December 3, 2008
  • Studio Album: AYA KAMIKI Greatest Best
  • Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #42
4,378
copies sold
11thby Kamiki Aya and TAKUYA"WBX (W-Boiled Extreme)"
  • Released: November 11, 2009
  • Studio Album: Individual Emotion
  • Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #8
53,886
copies sold
12th"Revolver"
  • Released: July 14, 2010
  • Studio Album: Gloriosa
  • Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #34
2,351
copies sold
13th"UNREAL"
  • Released: May 9, 2012
/
copies sold
14th"V/S"
  • Released: November 21, 2012
/
copies sold

UNREAL and V/S singles were sold during live concerts; the title songs can be downloaded via iTunes.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Asriel黒瀬の新プロジェクト・UROBOROSがデビュー . . 2015-08-03 . Japanese . 2018-11-27.
  2. Web site: 上木彩矢×mi-yaがロックユニット結成、プロデューサーはNATCHIN . . 2017-08-15 . Japanese . 2018-11-27.
  3. Billboard Japan Top 100. December 5, 2009. Billboard. 9 August 2011.
  4. 上木彩矢のライブにイシイ総監督のサイン会など、『428 ~封鎖された渋谷で~』が発売記念イベントで渋谷をジャック!? . 19 January 2019 . . 2008-12-04.
  5. Web site: 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' . . January 17, 2014. (subscription only)
  6. Web site: 上木彩矢の作品. . 2021-10-05.
  7. Top Album Sales|JAPAN Charts|Billboard JAPAN . Billboard . ja.