Hello! I'm officially back from Christmas and ready to post more about my favorite artists. This time, I'll present an artist with a beautiful and unique voice that is really underrated: Ayaka Hirahara.
Ayaka Hirahara in the booklet of her single 'Keropak'
Ayaka started her career in 2003 with the release of the single 'Jupiter'. This single brought the style that would mark her career: the adaptation of classical music to new songs sung by her. In 2004, 'Jupiter' was one of the best-selling singles in Japan.
Following the release of her first single, Ayaka had a 2004 full of releases, starting with the second single 'Ashita', which was used as the main theme for the 'Yasashi Jikan' drama, and ending with the released of two successful albums.
Live performance of 'Ashita' - Such a beautiful song!
Despite the popular debut, Ayaka's singles sold less and less during the following years. Still, she kept releasing three or two single every year, proving that her superb vocal talent was enough to maintain her in the industry.
It was only in 2008 that the singer achieved another hit with the release of 'Nocturne/Campanula no Koi'. The song peaked at 6th in the sales ranking and ended up selling more than a hundred thousand copies.
'Nocturne/Campanula no Koi''s cover
In 2009, Ayaka released her first 'My Classics!' album, containing many rearrangements of famous classical compositions. After a quiet year, Ayaka began 2010 with a surprising duet with Norimasa Fujisawa called 'Sailing my Life', used as the theme for DisneyNature's film 'Oceans'.
'Sailing my Life''s Music Video - Two awesome singers together!
The singer then released 'My Classics! 2' with new songs and a special treat for fans: the japanese version of 'Love Never Dies', theme of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical 'Love Never Dies', a sequel to the famous 'Phantom of the Opera'. Ayaka was personally asked by Andrew to sing the song after he watched her live performance in a japanese music show.
Ayaka and Andrew together at the 'Love Never Dies''s premier
Closing the year of 2010, Ayaka produced another single, called 'Greensleeves'. The sequel to 'My Classics! 2' is scheduled to March 2011 and before that another single is expected.
'Greensleeves''s Music Video
Ayaka Hirahara is a true singer with great influences and excellent compositive abilities. It's sad to see that her singles aren't selling as well as they used to. At least I'm glad to know that she won't stop singing just because of that. Nowadays she seems to be like a hidden gem. Hopefully she can get the recognition she deserves in the next years!
Now go and listen to her awesomeness! ^^
Do you know which song Ayaka Hirahara was singing on that Japanese music show that Andrew Lloyd Weber saw??? It must have been a song which showed her ability to sing pure soprano, which 'Love Never Dies' requires.