MAA (singer)

Last updated

MAA
Birth nameMaria
Also known asMar
Born (1986-01-25) January 25, 1986 (age 38)
Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • lyricist
  • TV host
  • model
InstrumentVocals
Years active2006–present
Labels
Website tntc-maa.syncl.jp

MAA is a Japanese recording artist, former TV host and model. Previously known as Mar (stylized as MAR), she was vocalist of the alternative rock band Marbell from 2006 to 2010. When they disbanded she embarked on a solo career, switching to pop music.

Contents

History

MAA was born on January 25, 1986, in Yokosuka, Kanagawa to a Japanese mother and an American father. She started as a model and later became a host for a TV show called Visual Shock. [1] Through this job she met fashion designer H. Naoto (who would later design the clothes and outfits for Marbell). [1]

2006–2010: Marbell

In 2006, she, going by the name Mar, and Tsunoda Takanori formed the alternative rock band Marbell. [2] They were later joined by bassist Azusa and drummer yu-ya before releasing their debut album Sister on May 14, 2008. [2] The band toured throughout Japan, mainly performing live in Tokyo, but also performed at the 2008 Otakon convention in the United States. [3] Four of the songs from their album were performed by the band on May 3, 2008, at the first day of the hide memorial summit, [4] which gave Marbell the opportunity to play for a huge audience at Ajinomoto Stadium. However, the band was inactive throughout 2009 and on March 10, 2010, it was officially announced that Marbell had disbanded after only four years together.

2010–present: Solo

Only six months later Mar debuted as a solo artist, under the name MAA, with the single "Ghost Enemy". The EP Monkey Kingdom was released on December 1, 2010, and reached number 158 on the Oricon chart. [5] On July 21, 2011, her third single "OKay" was released and became the ending song for NTV's Happy Music. [6] She released her first full-length album BubbleMan Engine on October 12. [7]

Discography

Albums and EPs
Singles
Other contributions
With Marbell

Related Research Articles

Siam Shade was a five-piece Japanese rock band, formed in Tokyo in 1991. The classic line-up of Hideki on vocals, Natchin on bass, Kazuma and Daita on guitar, and Jun-ji on drums broke onto the visual kei scene alongside a multitude of other artists in the early 1990s and enjoyed a decade of relative popularity before disbanding in early 2002. The members have reunited several times since 2007 for one-off concerts and short tours. Outside Japan, Siam Shade is best known for "1/3 no Junjō na Kanjō", which was the sixth ending theme of the Rurouni Kenshin anime. Daita's work on their song "Triptych" was named the 83rd best guitar instrumental by Young Guitar Magazine in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hide (musician)</span> Japanese musician (1964–1998)

Hideto Matsumoto, known professionally as hide, was a Japanese musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the rock band X Japan from 1987 to 1997 and a solo artist from 1993 onward. He also formed the United States–based rock supergroup Zilch in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D'espairsRay</span> Japanese band

D'espairsRay was a Japanese visual kei rock band active from 1999 to 2011. The lineup of Hizumi on vocals, Karyu on guitar, Zero on bass and Tsukasa on drums remained the same, with the group having released four full-length records, three EPs and thirteen singles. Outside Japan, D'espairsRay have toured Europe and North America and had domestic releases in those territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miyavi</span> Japanese musician and actor (born 1981)

Takamasa Ishihara, better known by his stage name Miyavi, is a Japanese guitarist, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor known for his finger-slapping style of playing a guitar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vidoll</span> Japanese visual kei rock band

Vidoll was a Japanese visual kei rock band formed in 2002. Their concept was "Occult Romance". After going major, they had several top 40 singles before disbanding in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galneryus</span> Japanese power metal band

Galneryus is a Japanese power metal band, formed in Osaka in 2001 by guitarist Syu and vocalist Yama-B. Originally the only official members, the two utilized several support musicians until bassist Tsui, keyboardist Yuhki, and drummer Jun-ichi officially joined for the release of their debut album in 2003. Yama-B left the group in 2008 citing musical differences, and Yu-To, who replaced Tsui in 2006, left the following year. Galneryus recruited Sho on vocals and Taka on bass, and released the album Resurrection in 2010. Jun-ichi left in 2016, and the following year the band released their highest-charting studio album, Ultimate Sacrifice, which reached number 13. In 2017, Loudwire named Galneryus one of the 10 Best Japanese Metal Bands.

Raphael was a Japanese visual kei rock band formed in March 1997, when the members were only 15. They quickly achieved popularity, headlining the Nippon Budokan and reaching the top 20 on the Oricon charts, but disbanded in January 2001, after guitarist Kazuki died at age 19. The remaining three members reunited Raphael for two concerts in 2012 and for a 2016 tour.

Oblivion Dust is a Japanese rock band first active from 1996 to 2001; they reunited in 2007. Although they were originally largely influenced by early 1990s American grunge bands, since reuniting their music has become straight alternative rock. They stand out in the Japanese scene as most of their songs are written and sung in fluent English.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inoran</span> Japanese musician and singer-songwriter (born 1970)

Kiyonobu Inoue, better known exclusively by his stage name Inoran, is a Japanese musician, singer and songwriter. He is best known as the rhythm guitarist and co-founder of the rock band Luna Sea since 1986. He started his solo career in 1997. Luna Sea disbanded in 2000, and he formed Fake? with Oblivion Dust vocalist Ken Lloyd a year later. In 2005 he left Fake? and founded Tourbillon with Luna Sea vocalist Ryuichi Kawamura and Hiroaki Hayama. He rejoined Luna Sea when they reunited in 2010, and in 2012 formed Muddy Apes with bassist Taka Hirose and guitarist Dean Tidey, both from Feeder, and 8otto's vocalist Maeson. In 2011, Inoran became the first Japanese musician to have a signature model guitar with Fender.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pink Spider</span> 1998 single by hide with Spread Beaver

"Pink Spider" is the ninth single by Japanese musician hide, the second to bear the hide with Spread Beaver name, released on May 13, 1998, eleven days after his death. It debuted at number 1 on the Oricon Singles Chart and was the 11th best-selling single of the year, being certified Million by the RIAJ. It was also named "Song of the Year" at the 13th Japan Gold Disc Awards.

Naoto Hirooka, better known as h.NAOTO, is a Japanese imaginations-related fashion designer. H. Naoto's style of clothing and accessories could be classified under Japanese punk and Gothic Lolita, and he has been called the "most visible and successful of the labels fixated on that style."

Jin Akanishi is a Japanese musician, singer, songwriter and actor. He has been active since 1998 as one of the two lead vocalists of the J-pop boy-band KAT-TUN before starting a solo career in 2009. Akanishi has also acted in several films and dramas.

La'cryma Christi was a Japanese visual kei rock band originally active from 1991 to 2007. At their peak, they were considered one of "the big four of visual kei" alongside Fanatic Crisis, Malice Mizer and Shazna. They reunited for a concert in 2009 at the V-Rock Festival, for their short reunion tour in 2010, and for a 15th anniversary tour in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vamps (band)</span> Japanese rock duo

Vamps is a Japanese rock duo formed in 2008 by Hyde and K.A.Z. Only a year after their founding, Vamps performed its first international tour, ten dates in the United States, and in 2010 they went on their first world tour. Originally signed to Hyde's own record label Vamprose, every release the band has had to date has reached the top ten on the Oricon music chart. In 2013, the group changed labels to Universal Music Group's Delicious Deli Records and produced their worldwide debut release. After several tours and collaborations with Western acts, Vamps worked with outside producers and songwriters for the first time on the 2017 album Underworld before temporarily ceasing all activities at the end of that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hizaki</span> Japanese musician and record producer

Hizaki is a Japanese visual kei metal musician, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as guitarist of the symphonic power metal band Versailles. He is also a member of Jupiter and has a solo career. Before forming Versailles he was in several independent bands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Versailles (band)</span> Japanese visual kei metal band

Versailles is a Japanese visual kei symphonic metal band formed in 2007 by vocalist Kamijo and guitarist Hizaki. After recruiting bassist Jasmine You, drummer Yuki and guitarist Teru, they performed their first show on June 23. Their key characteristics are their Rococo-esque costumes, dueling guitars and heavy but melodic arrangements. The group gained a significant worldwide following soon after forming as their debut EP Lyrical Sympathy (2007), released by Kamijo's own label Sherow Artist Society, received a simultaneous European release and they performed in Europe and the United States the following year. Their first full-length album, Noble released in 2008, was also released in North America in 2009.

Angelo is a Japanese visual kei rock supergroup, formed in 2006 by three members of Pierrot. Originally a trio of vocalist Kirito, bassist Kohta and drummer Takeo, guitarists Karyu (ex-D'espairsRay) and Giru (ex-Vidoll) joined in 2011. After 15 years and 13 studio albums, Angelo began an indefinite hiatus following two concerts at Yoyogi Daini Taiikukan on January 15 and 16, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marbell</span> Japanese rock band

Marbell was a Japanese rock band active from 2006 to 2010 and signed to their own independent label, N-Records. The band's clothes and outfits were all designed by famed fashion designer H. Naoto.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">50% & 50%</span> 1993 single by hide

"50% & 50%" is the second single by Japanese musician hide, released on August 5, 1993. It reached number 6 on the Oricon chart. His first single "Eyes Love You" was released on the same day. Both singles' covers are identical except; "50% & 50%" is red, whereas "Eyes Love You" is green. They form a 3D picture when they are placed side by side. It was certified gold upon release by RIAJ.

Heidi. is a Japanese visual kei rock band formed in Tokyo in February 2006. They gained popularity after performing at the memorial concert on the 10th anniversary of the death of the musician hide on May 4, 2008, to tens of thousands of people. Their third album was released in Europe by Gan-Shin records in 2009 and the following year Heidi. signed to major label Geneon Universal Entertainment.

References

  1. 1 2 "Interview with MarBell at Otakon". jame-world.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Otakon Announces Sunday Acts: The Underneath and MarBell". animenewsnetwork.com. July 10, 2008. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  3. "Underneath, MarBell at Otakon, Versailles at Anime USA". animenewsnetwork.com. July 12, 2008. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  4. "hide Memorial Summit Day 1 – Part B". jame-world.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  5. 1 2 "MAAのアルバム売り上げランキング". oricon.co.jp. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  6. "MAA releases full PV for "OKay"". tokyohive.com. July 21, 2011. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  7. "MAA reveals tracklist for her upcoming album, "BUBBLEMAN ENGINE"". tokyohive.com. August 6, 2011. Retrieved December 17, 2011.