Emi Maria | |
|---|---|
 Emi Maria performing at the Hibiki Music Festival 2009. | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 9 June 1987 Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea |
| Origin | Kobe, Japan |
| Genres | Pop, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Labels | Freest Inc. (2007) K.S.R. (2008) Victor Entertainment (2009–present) |
Emi Maria (stylized as EMI MARIA; born 9 June 1987) is a Japanese Papua New Guinean R&B singer-songwriter who debuted in 2007 with the EP Between the Music.
Emi Maria was born in 1987 in Papua New Guinea. [1] Her mother is Japanese-New Guinean, while her father is Papua New Guinean. [1] She spent the first five years of her life in Papua New Guinea, before moving to Kobe in Japan. [1]
She first started listening to R&B at 6 due to her sister, listening to such artists as Janet and Michael Jackson, and K-Ci & JoJo. [2] She began writing lyrics in junior high school. [1] By high school, she had started writing music and producing her own tracks. [1] She participated in the MTV Star Tour, and started performing lives in the Kansai area from 2006 onwards. [3] In 2007, she started appearing on many different Japanese urban artists' albums as a guest artist, such as Seeda and MC Moggy. [4]
In 2007, Emi Maria released her first EP, Between the Music on Freest Inc., a label she had created for herself. [1] Her debut single "I Gotta (Summer Kiss)" was picked as the iTunes Japan single of the week in August 2008. [5]
She debuted as a major label artist in 2009, with the release of a digital single "One Way Love" under Victor Entertainment. [1] During this time, she had some of her highest profile collaborations. "Luv Is..." was a song Emi Maria performed with R&B singer Jay'ed, which features on his top 10 album Musication. [6] In December, she had her first top 10 hit, as a featured artist on Seeda's single "Wisdom", which reached number 8 on the Oricon singles charts. [6] After the release of her first physical single in 2010, "Show Me Your Love", Emi Maria released her first major label album, Contrast . [1]
| Year | Album information | Oricon Album charts |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | A Ballad of My Own
| 44 |
| 2010 | Contrast
| 50 |
| 2011 | Blue Bird
| 151 |
| Year | Album Information | Oricon Album charts |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Between the Music
| — |
| 2008 | iTunes Live from Tokyo
| — |
| 2010 | Cross Over
| 166 |
| Release | Title | Notes | Chart positions | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oricon Singles Charts | Billboard Japan Hot 100 | RIAJ digital tracks* | |||||||||||
| 2008 | "I Gotta (Summer Kiss)" | Appears as a remix on album | — | — | — | A Ballad of My Own | |||||||
| "Ai to Yume no Aida de" (愛と夢のあいだで, "In Between Love and Dreams") | Radio single, music video filmed | — | 55 | — | |||||||||
| 2009 | "One Way Love" | Digital download | — | 37 | — | Contrast | |||||||
| 2010 | "Show Me Your Love" | 141 | 27 | 31 | |||||||||
| "We Standing Strong" feat. Jay'ed | Digital download | — | — | — | |||||||||
| "Summer Night Bxxxh / Change My Life (Red Spider Dub)" | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| "Mr. Alien" | — | — | — | Cross Over | |||||||||
| "Mirror" | — | — | — | Cross Over/Blue Bird | |||||||||
| "Nobody Like You" | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 2011 | "A.S.A.P. (Imasugu ni Kaketsukete)" (A.S.A.P.～今すぐに駆けつけて, "Run to Me A.S.A.P.") | — | — | — | Blue Bird | ||||||||
| "Proud" | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 2017 | "Lost in Tokyo" | — | — | — | — | "—" denotes that the song was not released in that format, or it did not chart. *Japan Hot 100 established February 2008, RIAJ Digital Track Chart established April 2009. | |||||||
| Release | Title | Notes | Chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oricon Singles Charts | Billboard Japan Hot 100 | RIAJ digital tracks | ||||
| 2008 | "Flash" DJ Komori feat. Chie (Foxxi Misq), Emi Maria | Digital download | — | — | — | What's R&B? |
| 2009 | "Wisdom" Seeda feat. Ill-Bosstino, Emi Maria | 8 | — | — | Seeda Best | |
| Release | Title | Notes | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "In da Club" Tomogen feat. Emi Maria, GS (Doberman Inc.), Yūgi (Infumiaikumiai) | 06 Out Side | |
| "Free" I-Dea (performed by Emi Maria) | Deniece Williams cover | Re;cover | |
| "Tropical" (トロピカル, Toropikaru) MC Moggy feat. Wolf Pack, Emi Maria | Katrina | ||
| 2008 | "2 My Fans" 10forefdee feat. Kayzabro, Emi Maria | 104: 4 Japanese | |
| "Tropical" (トロピカル, Toropikaru) Wolf Pack feat. MC Moggy, Emi Maria | Gold Experience | ||
| "Yume no Konseki" (夢の痕, Dream Traces) Hannya | Background vocals. | Doctor Tokyo | |
| "Sky55" L-Vokal feat. Emi Maria | Free | ||
| 2009 | "Luv Is..." Jay'ed feat. Emi Maria | Musication | |
| "My Life Is One Way..." Urali feat. Emi Maria | Departure | ||
| "2 My Fans" (Live) 10forefdee feat. Kayzabro, Emi Maria | DVD release. | 10forefdee Release Tour Final | |
| "I Gotta (Winter Kiss)" (Live) Emi Maria |
Hikaru Utada, who is also known by the mononym Utada, is a Japanese-American pop singer, songwriter and producer. Utada has become one of the most influential and best-selling musical artists in Japan.
Mai Kuraki is a Japanese pop and R&B singer-songwriter and record producer. After releasing her US debut single "Baby I Like" in 1999, Kuraki signed with Giza Studio and released her Japanese debut single "Love, Day After Tomorrow" in 1999. In 2000, she released her debut album, Delicious Way, which debuted at number-one and sold over 2.2 million copies in its first week. The album has spawned four top-three singles, "Love, Day After Tomorrow", "Stay by My Side", "Secret of My Heart", and "Never Gonna Give You Up". Eventually, the album sold over 3.5 million copies nationwide and became the best-selling album in Japan in 2000, and has been the ninth best-selling album in Japan of all-time.
Chihiro Onitsuka is a Japanese singer-songwriter.
Crystal Kay Williams is a Japanese singer, songwriter, actress and radio host.
"Traveling" is a song recorded by Japanese–American recording artist Hikaru Utada. It was released as the second single from her fourth studio and third Japanese language album, Deep River (2002). The track was written and composed by Utada, whilst production was handled by Utada, her father Teruzane Utada, and long-time collaborator Akira Miyake. Musically, "Traveling" is a dance-pop song, influenced by house music. Lyrically, it discusses human activities and dreams.
"Keep Tryin'" is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Hikaru Utada for her sixth studio and fourth Japanese album, Ultra Blue (2006). It premiered on February 22, 2006 as the fifth single from the album in Japan. It was written and composed by Utada, whilst production was handled by Utada, her father Teruzane Utada, and Miyake Akira. It included the B-side track "Wings", which also appeared on the parent album. Musically, "Keep Tryin'" is a pop song with lyrics that contain self-empowerment themes. Upon its release, the track received generally mixed reviews from music critics.
Salyu is a Japanese singer, produced by Takeshi Kobayashi. She debuted in 2000 as the fictional singer Lily Chou-Chou for the film All About Lily Chou-Chou, and later debuted as a solo artist in 2004. She is best known for her charity single collaboration with Bank Band in 2006, "To U." Salyu has also worked as a voice actress for the Japanese-language version of the game Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box (2007), in which she voiced the character Mrs. Rose. In 2011, Salyu embarked on a new solo project going by the name salyu × salyu.
Aya Kamiki 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.
Jyongri is a Japanese pop singer of Korean ancestry currently signed with EMI Music Japan.
"Kaze o Ukete" is the twelfth single by Japanese recording artist Aya Ueto. It was released on August 3, 2005 as the second single from Ueto's fourth studio album License. "Kaze o Ukete" served as theme song for the animation film Konjiki no Gash Bell!! Movie 2: Attack of the Mecha-Vulcan.
"Reincarnation" is a song by Japanese recording artist Ami Suzuki for her second greatest hits album, Ami Selection (2011). It was written by Emi Hinouchi and produced by Taku Takahashi. It was Suzuki's first collaboration with both Hinouchi and Takahashi. It premiered on February 25, 2009, as the lead single from the album. The CD and digital cover sleeve has a close-up of Suzuki hovering a GCI bubble. The DVD cover sleeve features a slightly altered version of it.
"Usotsuki" is the tenth single by Japanese recording artist Aya Ueto. It was released on November 17, 2004, as the third and final single from Ueto's third studio album Re.. "Usotsuki" was initially scheduled to be released on October 27, 2004, but was eventually postponed for three weeks. The single was released in two formats: the limited edition, which includes a bonus DVD featuring the music video for "Usotsuki," and standard CD-only edition.
"Automatic" is a song recorded by Japanese–American singer Hikaru Utada, taken as the lead single from her debut album First Love (1999). It was released on December 9, 1998, through Toshiba-EMI in three physical formats: mini CD single, standard-size CD single and 12" vinyl. Additionally, the single included the A-side "Time Will Tell", which originally served as the B-side for these versions. The song was written and co-produced by Utada, while Akira Miyake and the singer's father Teruzane Utada served as producers. Despite working recording in English under the name Cubic U, "Automatic" is Utada's first Japanese recording, and was released after she enrolled into high school in Japan.
Mao Abe is a Japanese singer-songwriter.
"Shōjo Robot" is a song by Rie Tomosaka, written by rock musician Ringo Shiina. It was released as her final single before her hiatus, on June 21, 2000. The song was used as an ending theme song for the Nippon Television variety show Fun.
"Little Girl" is Japanese singer-songwriter miwa's second major label single, released on June 23, 2010. The B-side "Soba ni Itai Kara" is a re-recording of miwa's second independently released single from 2008.
Change Myself is Japanese pop musician Iconiq's debut album, released on March 10, 2010. The album was initially planned for a February 24 release, which was postponed for two weeks.
Ryujin Kiyoshi is a Japanese singer and songwriter. He debuted as a major label artist in 2009, with the single "Morning Sun." He is best known for this song, as well as writing Yui Horie's 2011 single "Immoralist."
Ami Selection is the second compilation album by Japanese recording artist Ami Suzuki, and her first released on the Avex label. It was released on December 7, 2011.
"Cappuccino" is a single by Japanese entertainer Rie Tomosaka, released on January 27, 1999. "Cappuccino" and its B-side "Mokuren no Cream" were both written by musician Ringo Sheena. In 2014, Sheena released a cover of the song on her album Gyakuyunyū: Kōwankyoku, which reached number 98 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Chart.
| Authority control: Artists |
|---|
