AYA (rock artist)
From Wiki.theppn
AYA (亜矢) is a female J-Rock artist on the BMG FUNHOUSE label, heavily influenced by the Seattle sound of the early 90's. She debuted in 2001 with the single Hands. After releasing her third album, BAGHDAD SKY, AYA would slip into hiatus until mid-2006 when it was announced that she would sing the ending theme song for the the anime Le Chevalier D'Eon, entitled OVER NIGHT.
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Information
AYA was born in a small town in Hokkaido. She first became interested in music in primary school after hearing an electric guitar being played after attending a concert by The Ventures. She would then enter a girls' punk band in junior high school, in which she was the electric guitarist. However, at age 15, AYA dropped out of high school.
AYA moved to Tokyo, where she began singing in bars. The band that she was in at the time were invited to attend a pop vocal contest. Even though the band had won, the band's songwriter suddenly passed away before their debut.
After finding out her own talent at songwriting, AYA would try to debut with a solo project. She performed at such places such as American army bases and Shibuya. Soon, she would be signed by BMG Records (after completing a total of 30 demo track recordings). The first song she had written, Hands, became her debut single.
Her demo tapes were surprisingly heard by Grammy award winning rock producer, Adam Kasper (Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Queens of the Stone Age) who decided to produce her songs after being impressed by the songs' quality. AYA would travel to Seattle to record three songs with Kasper. In fact, Matt Cameron of Pearl Jam would play drums on the pieces.
AYA would further release two more singles before her debut album (CRAZY MERMAID and Sentaku no Asa). However, she would later return once again to Seattle to record further tracks for Senjou no Hana. During these sessions, AYA would get the chance to collaborate with the bassist of Nirvana, Krist Novoselic.
In the period after the album's release, AYA would extensively tour (doing such things as playing at Summer Sonic Festival and opening for Yazawa Eikichi's 30th anniversary tour.
In 2003, AYA would release a mini-album entitled Kinjirareta Uta and a special live EP entitled AYA BITCH PROJECT. In mid 2004, AYA would release her second full-length album, BAGHDAD SKY. This album would reach #235 on Oricon charts (AYA's only charting release on the charts). After this time, AYA would fall into hiatus.
In mid-2006, it was announced that a song on rock artist Tsuchiya Anna's debut album strip me?, would be composed by AYA. This was revealed to be the power ballad Forever. This was followed by further news of activity, as a new AYA song, Over Night, would be used as the ending theme to a new Anime entitled Le Chevalier D'Eon. Instead of the song being released as a single, it was put solely on the Le Chevalier Soundtrack.
Discography
Albums
- [2002.04.24] Senjou no Hana (戦場の華; A Flower in the Battlefield)
- [2004.06.09] BAGHDAD SKY
Mini-Albums
- [2003.03.26] Kinjirareta Uta (禁じられた歌; The Forbidden Song)
Singles
- [2001.04.25] Hands
- [2001.07.25] CRAZY MERMAID
- [2002.03.20] Sentaku no Asa (選択の朝; The Morning That I Choose My Own Way)
- [2003.10.14] AYA BITCH PROJECT (Special Live CD)
Compilation / Other
- [2006.11.22] Chevalier ~Kizuna to Houfuku~ Original Sountrack (#30 OVER NIGHT)
