Former Kalafina member KEIKO to have her solo debut in May ~ First attempt at writing lyrics/A song with a sprinting vibe
One year after the disbandment of the female vocal unit Kalafina former member KEIKO (34) is set to solo debut in May. Her deep beautiful alto voice will return.
After leaving the group Kalafina with ten years worth of memories it took some time until she was able to face music again. She has been taking a well-deserved break, became a qualified dressing instructor for traditional clothing and travelled to Cambodia to visit the ruins there. At one point someone asked her what kind of songs she would like to sing but she had no idea, she could not answer. That came as a great shock to her. That’s when she decided she would use that opportunity to start a search for what she wanted. By listening to music of different genres she started to find ways of expressing herself.
“Maybe I don’t need to find a concrete answer in my research. I felt like it wasn’t so much about having a result, it was more about the process of aiming for something, that was more my style. It’s fun to meet new people and try out new things that you have never done before.”
Starting this spring she will be signed up with the agency Tristone who also manage Shun Oguri, Miwa and many other talents. In May she will be releasing the songs 「命の花」 and 「Ｂｅ Ｙｏｕｒｓｅｌｆ」 under the label Avex. 「命の花」 will be her first attempt at writing lyrics. 「Ｂｅ Ｙｏｕｒｓｅｌｆ」is a new kind of song with a sprinting vibe. “I added lyrics to some melodies I liked but I only wanted to listen to those songs, not sing them. So I thought I would try singing the type of songs that I had never sung before. I tried a few things but if something was no good I didn’t even bother, I was fired up and wanted to face the music with all my might.
Of course she treasures the path she has taken in the past. “I have always and will always treasure Kalafina’s music.” But she would also like to step up and make new music as solo artist for everyone who already knows her and for those who are yet to discover her. An album release is scheduled for autumn, a tour is also planned.
“I have a strong desire to take up this challenge” Everyone, please look forward to KEIKO’s energising music!
The interview was conducted in late March, here’s Keiko’s comment in response to the spread of the new coronavirus.
“Nowadays, the industry is brought to a standstill and as everyone else I want to protect the people most precious to me. Still, I have chosen this time to start being active again. Things are changing day by day, I hope we can overcome all obstacles by supporting each other, by being flexible and strong. I hope the day arrives soon when I am able to share my music with all of you!”
