V (Hiroyuki Sawano album)

Last updated

V
Cover art for "V", album by Hiroyuki Sawano.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 18, 2023 (2023-01-18)
Recorded2021–2022
Genre
Length38:00
Label Sacra Music
Producer Hiroyuki Sawano
SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] chronology
iv
(2021)
V
(2023)
Singles from V
  1. "Avid"
    Released: April 25, 2021
  2. "Hands Up to the Sky"
    Released: June 9, 2021
  3. "Lilas"
    Released: March 20, 2022
  4. "Outsiders"
    Released: April 10, 2022
  5. "Lemonade"
    Released: December 21, 2022
  6. "FakeIt"
    Released: January 1, 2023

V is the fifth studio album by Hiroyuki Sawano's vocal project SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]. It was released on January 18, 2023, through the Sony Music label Sacra Music. [1] Five singles were released from the album: "Avid", "Hands Up to the Sky", "LilaS", "Outsiders" and "Lemonade".

Contents

Background

Various singles were released prior to the album announcement, the first one being "Avid / Hands Up to the Sky". The first track off the album, "Avid" with Japanese singer mizuki from the band UNIDOTS, was released on April 25, 2021, as a pre-order track from the single and was used as the 1st ending theme for the TV anime series 86. [2] [3] A music video was released on May 29, 2021. [4]

The second track off the album, "Hands Up to the Sky", featuring the Japanese singer Laco, was used as the second ending theme for the TV anime series 86 and was released on June 9, 2021. [5] A music video was released on June 12, 2021. [6]

The third single off the album, "LilaS", was announced to be a collaboration with Japanese singer Honoka Takahashi from the band Regal Lily. It was released on March 20, 2022, and was used as the ending theme for the last episode of 86 Second Season . [7] The animation used on the episode was released on Sawano's Official YouTube Channel. [8]

The fourth track off the album, "Outsiders", featuring the Japanese singers Junki Kono and Sho Yonashiro from the boy band JO1, was used as the ending theme for the TV anime series Fanfare of Adolescence and was released on April 10, 2022. [9] [10] The music video was released on the same day. [11]

On June 10, 2022, Japanese singer Aska announced on his official blog that he had collaborated on a song by Sawano but no further details were revealed. [12] On November 11, 2022, Aska revealed the name of the song, being 地球という名の都 (lit. "A City Called Earth"). [13]

On November 19, 2022, Sawano announced V on Twitter and his official website and that it would include the four tracks previously released. He also revealed that he would work on the anime movie The Seven Deadly Sins: Grudge of Edinburgh as theme song composer with the song "Lemonade", sung by Japanese singer XAI. [14]

On November 29, 2022, Sawano started to unveil tracks from the album via his official Twitter account, uploading a short video preview teasing the vocalist from each track, using the hashtag "nZk_v" and these teasers were uploaded every Tuesday before the release. [15]

On December 1, 2022, 地球という名の都 (lit. "A City Called Earth") with ASKA was officially announced by Sawano on his Twitter with a short audio teaser and comments from both musicians about how was the creative process for the song. [16] [17] [18]

On December 8, 2022, the song "Balk" with Japanese singer suis from Japanese duo Yorushika was announced in Sawano's Twitter. [19] [20]

On December 15, 2022, the song "7th String" with Japanese singer ReN was announced on Sawano's Twitter following the V teasers. [21] [22]

On December 21, 2022, the song "Lemonade" with Japanese singer XAI was released on streaming services along with the premiere of the movie The Seven Deadly Sins: Grudge of Edinburgh. Along with the release announcement, another track was added to the album tracklist, "Colors" with Japanese singer Hata Motohiro. [23]

On December 26, 2022, the song "Colors" with Japanese singer Hata Motohiro was announced in Sawano's twitter. [24] In the comments about the collaboration of this song, Sawano stated that he was able to work with Motohiro as they were involved in the production for the anime film One Piece Red. The song will have a short anime film with the same name, produced by Tetsuro Araki and animated by WIT Studio. [25]

On December 31, 2022, it was announced during the broadcast for the Fate Project for New's Eve 2022 that Sawano produced the theme song for the TV special Fate/Strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn. The song called "Fake It" with Japanese singer Laco was released on January 1, 2023. Along with the announcement, the tracklist was published. [26]

On January 5, 2023, it was announced that an instrumental version of the album called V (Instrumental) would be released digitally on the same day of the album's release. [27]

Musical style

When creating an album, Sawano stated that he not always start with a concept in mind. Instead, he primarily creates what they want to at that time. [28]

Sawano has described the album to be more focused on overseas sound, specifically on EDM-rhythms and Synthpop, rather than the previous albums which were more focused on a Rock sound. Even though the album was created with this style in mind, "FakeIt" is a rock song with electronic rhythms in the background and is the only song with this style on the album. [29]

In regards to the lyrics, Sawano has said that he often uses English lyrics, but this is solely to create a groove. Therefore, rather than wanting the pronunciation to be perfect, he is more interested in hearing how the melody sounds when it is sung in English. [30]

When he decided to work with suis from Yorushika, he had two songs that he felt they were suit for her: A ballad and an upbeat song. In an interview, suis declared she decided to sing "Balk" - the upbeat song as she felt it was a one-time opportunity. [31]

When asked about "7th String" and the collaboration with ReN, Sawano stated that he composed the song in his twenties, and when he heard Ren's voice, he thought it was fitting for him to sing it. [32]

Track listing

All music is composed by Hiroyuki Sawano

V track listing
No.TitleLyricsPerformed byLength
1."IiIiI" SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]2:04
2."FakeIt"
  • Benjamin
  • cAnON.
SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Laco2:54
3."Lemonade"
  • Benjamin
  • cAnON.
SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:XAI2:48
4."Balk"cAnON.SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:suis (from Yorushika)2:41
5."7th String"
  • Benjamin
  • cAnON.
SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:ReN4:47
6."Outsiders"
  • Benjamin
  • cAnON.
SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Junki Kono & Sho Yonashiro (JO1)2:50
7."Hands Up to the Sky"cAnON.SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Laco3:29
8."LilaS"Honoka TakahashiSawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Honoka Takahashi4:06
9."Avid"cAnON.SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:mizuki4:09
10."Colors"cAnON.SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Hata Motohiro2:51
11."Chikyū to Iu Na no Miyako" (地球という名の都)ASKASawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:ASKA 3:30
12."V" SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]1:50

Notes

Charts

Chart performance for V
Chart (2023)Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [33] 9
Japanese Digital Albums (Oricon) [34] 3
Japanese Hot Albums ( Billboard Japan ) [35] 7

Related Research Articles

Elephant Kashimashi, sometimes abbreviated as Elekashi, is a Japanese rock band from Kita, Tokyo, formed in 1981. It has consisted of vocalist and guitarist Hiroji Miyamoto, guitarist Toshiyuki Ishimori, bassist Seiji Takamidori and drummer Yoshiyuki Tominaga since 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daichi Miura</span> Musical artist

Daichi Miura is a Japanese singer, songwriter, dancer, and choreographer. He also directs his own concerts. He belongs to Rising Production and has a record contract with Avex. He is from Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. He has an official fan club called "Daichishiki"(大知識).

Hiroyuki Sawano is a Japanese composer, arranger, lyricist, pianist, and music producer best known for his work on many anime series, video games, television dramas, and movies. His works include the musical scores for Attack on Titan, The Seven Deadly Sins, Blue Exorcist, Guilty Crown, Kill la Kill, Seraph of the End, and Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn. In addition to his role on the soundtrack, Sawano also composes many opening and ending theme songs. Overall, he has already provided the music for over 100 visual media works.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisa (Japanese musician, born 1987)</span> Japanese singer-songwriter (born 1987)

Risa Oribe, better known by her stage name Lisa, is a Japanese singer and songwriter from Seki, Gifu, signed to Sacra Music under Sony Music Artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sayuri (musician)</span> Japanese musician, singer and songwriter (born 1996)

Sayuri is a Japanese singer, musician and songwriter.

Anly is a Japanese pop singer-songwriter from Ie, Okinawa. She started playing the guitar at six years old, and started writing music in junior high school. In high school, she played live at various locations in Okinawa and Tokyo, allowing her to release two indie singles in 2015 before being signed to Sony Music Records. She released her debut single "Taiyō ni Warae" in 2015 and her debut album Anly One in 2017.

<i>2V-ALK</i> 2017 studio album by

2V-ALK is the second studio album by Hiroyuki Sawano's vocal project SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]. It was released on September 20, 2017 through the Sony Music label SACRA MUSIC. 2V-ALK was proceeded by the singles "Into the Sky", "CRYst-Alise", "e of s", "gravityWall" and "sh0ut".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yumiko Takino</span> Japanese idol, member of STU48

Yumiko Takino is a Japanese idol singer, model, and presenter. She is a member of STU48 and the lead performer for the title songs in the group's first five singles, and is also known for her saxophone playing.

Reona is a Japanese singer who is signed to Sacra Music. Having been active as a cosplayer and independent musician, she made her major debut in 2018 as the singing voice of the character Elza Kanzaki in the anime series Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online. Her first single under her own name was released in August 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Re: I Am</span> 2013 single by SawanoHiroyukinZk:Aimer

"Re: I Am" is the fifth single by Japanese singer Aimer, released on March 20, 2013 under Defstar Records. Written by Hiroyuki Sawano, the song was used as the theme song of episode 6 of the mecha anime OVA series Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, as well as the opening theme of episode 18 of the OVA's TV edit version Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn RE:0096. The single peaked at No. 6 on the Oricon Singles Chart and No. 27 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.

Real Fake is a Japanese television mini-series that aired on MBS on the channel's programming block, Dramaism. The series was written and directed by Nobuhiro Mouri, with production by Dub, Inc. The production stars Yoshihiko Aramaki, Keisuke Ueda, Ren Ozawa, Masanari Wada, Ryuji Sato, Ryunosuke Matsumura, Toshiyuki Someya, and Shouta Aoi, all of whom have been involved in 2.5D musicals. A second season titled Real Fake 2nd Stage is scheduled for broadcast on June 15, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yoasobi</span> Japanese pop duo

Yoasobi is a Japanese music superduo formed in 2019 by Sony Music Entertainment Japan, composed of Vocaloid producer Ayase and singer-songwriter Ikura. Represented by the slogan "novel into music", the duo originally released songs based on selected short stories posted on Monogatary.com, a social media website for creative writing operated by the label. Stories were later also sourced from various media like stories written by professional authors, books, letters, and plays, etc.

The year 2021 in Japanese music.

<i>IV</i> (Hiroyuki Sawano album) 2021 studio album by SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]

IV is the fourth studio album by Hiroyuki Sawano's vocal project SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]. It was released on March 3, 2021, through the Sony Music label Sacra Music. Five singles were released from the album: "Tranquility", "Trollz", "Chaos Drifters", "CRY" and "time".

Kohta Yamamoto is a Japanese composer, arranger and lyricist best known for his role on the soundtrack of many anime series. His works include the scores for Attack on Titan: The Final Season and 86—with the latter winning the 8th Anime Trending Awards in the category Best Soundtrack.

SennaRin is a Japanese singer, lyricist and illustrator, signed to Sacra Music under Sony Music Labels. Starting her singing career by covering J-pop music and anime songs, she made her debut as a solo artist on April 13, 2022, with the release of her debut EP Dignified. Two tracks from the EP, "dust" and "melt", were used as the opening and ending theme song in the anime film series The Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These Gekitotsu. SennaRin's first single, "Saihate", was featured as the ending theme song in the anime Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War.

The year 2023 in Japanese music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akihito Okano</span>

Akihito Okano is a Japanese musician, vocalist of rock band Porno Graffitti. Born in Nakasho, Innoshima City, Hiroshima.

References

  1. "SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] 5th Album「V」発売決定&新曲「LEMONADE」が映画『七つの大罪 怨嗟のエジンバラ 前編』主題歌に決定! | SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | ソニーミュージックオフィシャルサイト". SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | Sony Music (in Japanese). Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  2. "6月9日、SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] 10thシングル『Avid』発売決定! | SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | ソニーミュージックオフィシャルサイト". SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | Sony Music (in Japanese). Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  3. SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]の「Avid (feat. mizuki) - Single」 (in Japanese), April 25, 2021, retrieved December 19, 2022
  4. SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:mizuki『Avid』Music Video , retrieved December 21, 2022
  5. "6月9日発売の最新シングルは両A面! TVアニメ「86―エイティシックス―」の新たなエンディングテーマ『Hands Up to the Sky』収録決定! | SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | ソニーミュージックオフィシャルサイト". SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | Sony Music (in Japanese). Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  6. SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Laco「Hands Up to the Sky」Music Video 86―エイティシックス― ver. , retrieved December 21, 2022
  7. "TVアニメ「86―エイティシックス―」第2クール最終話エンディングテーマとなる、SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]新曲『LilaS』の配信スタート!コラボレーションムービーも公開! | SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | ソニーミュージックオフィシャルサイト". SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | Sony Music (in Japanese). Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  8. SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Honoka Takahashi『LilaS』×TVアニメ「86―エイティシックス―」Collaboration Movie , retrieved December 21, 2022
  9. "SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] 11th Single『OUTSIDERS』発売決定! | SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | ソニーミュージックオフィシャルサイト". SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | Sony Music (in Japanese). Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  10. "SawanoHiroyuki【-30k】Staff / 🎧解禁情報🎧 - Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  11. SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:河野純喜&與那城奨 (JO1) 『OUTSIDERS』 Music Video , retrieved December 21, 2022
  12. "△!#)✣✫﹆❀⦿✖︎・・・。|BLOG|ASKA Official Web Site 「Fellows」". ASKA Official Web Site 「Fellows」 (in Japanese). June 10, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  13. "完成だ|BLOG|ASKA Official Web Site 「Fellows」". ASKA Official Web Site 「Fellows」 (in Japanese). November 3, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  14. "SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] 5th Album「V」発売決定&新曲「LEMONADE」が映画『七つの大罪 怨嗟のエジンバラ 前編』主題歌に決定! | SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | ソニーミュージックオフィシャルサイト". SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | Sony Music (in Japanese). Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  15. "澤野弘之 [nZk] / SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] :??? ▼[nZk] 5th Album「V」 2023.1.18 Release - Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  16. "ASKAさんをゲストボーカルに迎えた、SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]の新曲「地球という名の都」、1月18日発売のアルバム「V」に収録決定! | SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | ソニーミュージックオフィシャルサイト". SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | Sony Music (in Japanese). Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  17. "澤野弘之 [nZk] / SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] :ASKA「地球という名の都」- Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  18. "SawanoHiroyuki Official FanClub【-30k】". SawanoHiroyuki Official FanClub【-30k】 (in Japanese). Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  19. "澤野弘之 [nZk] / SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] :suis (from ヨルシカ)「B∀LK」- Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  20. "suis(from ヨルシカ)さんをゲストボーカルに迎えたSawanoHiroyuki[nZk]の新曲「B∀LK」、1月18日発売のアルバム「V」に収録決定! | SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | ソニーミュージックオフィシャルサイト". SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | Sony Music (in Japanese). Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  21. "澤野弘之 [nZk] / SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] :ReN「7th String」 - Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  22. "SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]最新アルバム「V」に、ReNさんの参加が決定。さらに2月4日開催、「SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] LIVE 2023」への出演も決定! | SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | ソニーミュージックオフィシャルサイト". SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | Sony Music (in Japanese). Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  23. "映画『七つの大罪 怨嗟のエジンバラ 前編』主題歌、SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]新曲「LEMONADE」 本日配信開始! | SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | ソニーミュージックオフィシャルサイト". SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | Sony Music (in Japanese). Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  24. "澤野弘之 [nZk] / SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] :Hata Motohiro「COLORs」- Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  25. "SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]最新アルバム「V」に、秦 基博が参加!新曲「COLORs」が「TOHO animation ミュージックフィルムズ」コラボソングに決定! | SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | ソニーミュージックオフィシャルサイト". SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | Sony Music (in Japanese). Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  26. vv-alkline (December 31, 2022). "SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]新曲「FAKEit」が、TVスペシャルアニメーション『Fate/strange Fake -Whispers of Dawn-』テーマソングに決定!". SawanoHiroyuki.com (in Japanese). Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  27. "SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]最新アルバム「V」、インストゥルメンタルバージョンの配信が決定! 本日1月5日(木)よりiTunesプリオーダー開始! | SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | ソニーミュージックオフィシャルサイト". SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | Sony Music (in Japanese). Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  28. Inc, Natasha. "澤野弘之×suis(from ヨルシカ)|SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]新曲「B∀LK」が引き出す、ボーカリストsuisの新たな魅力 (2/2) - 音楽ナタリー 特集・インタビュー". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved January 27, 2023.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  29. "SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] 憧れのASKAとのコラボレーションも実現。5thアルバムに注いだ澤野弘之ボーカルプロジェクトの今のモード". THE FIRST TIMES (in Japanese). Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  30. Inc, Natasha. "澤野弘之×suis(from ヨルシカ)|SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]新曲「B∀LK」が引き出す、ボーカリストsuisの新たな魅力 - 音楽ナタリー 特集・インタビュー". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved January 27, 2023.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  31. Inc, Natasha. "澤野弘之×suis(from ヨルシカ)|SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]新曲「B∀LK」が引き出す、ボーカリストsuisの新たな魅力 - 音楽ナタリー 特集・インタビュー". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved January 27, 2023.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  32. "SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] 憧れのASKAとのコラボレーションも実現。5thアルバムに注いだ澤野弘之ボーカルプロジェクトの今のモード". THE FIRST TIMES (in Japanese). Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  33. "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-01-30" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  34. "Oricon Top 50 Digital Albums: 2023年01月30日付" (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  35. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of January 25, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved January 25, 2023.