The Official ayaka Thread

[hallelujah_united]

Hot on the heels of the article on her posted by skal, I present to you the official ayaka thread!

For the uninitiated, here's a bit on the girl who has exploded onto the J-Pop scene this year:

Originally Posted by wiki.theppn and wikipedia

ayaka (絢香) is a solo Warner Music Japan artist who debuted in 2006 with the ballad I believe, which was used as the drama Rondo's theme song. This single reached #3, making it the highest debut single rank reached by a female singer/songwriter since Utada Hikaru's Automatic / Time Will Tell in 1998. Her first album was the highest selling debut in nearly ten years.

Profile
Stage Name: Commonly seen as '絢香 ayaka' or just 'Ayaka'.
Real Name: Iida Ayaka (飯田絢香)
Birthday: 1987.12.18
Birthplace: Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
Height: 157cm (5' 2")
Blood Type: O
Favourite Artists: Carole King, Dreams Come True, Gavin DeGraw, Hirai Ken, Sheryl Crow, The Beatles, Toby Lightman

ayaka's Career So Far

Ayaka started being heavily interested in the music scene from her high school days. In the summer of her first year at high school, her first live was held (however, she only sung covers during it). In the winter of the same year, she started learning how to make songs by herself after attending music lessons. In the spring of her second year at high school she further started learning to compose songs at the "Voice" musical coaching centre in Fukuoka. While there, she met music producer Nishio Yoshihiko (who produces such artists as YUI), who signed her onto Warner Music Japan as a major label artist.

Aya first started performing at various concerts from August 2005; mostly performing in Shibuya. Even though she had not officially debuted yet, from December 2005 Ayaka's song Mikadzuki was used as the theme song to the NHK TV show @ Human. There was even a music video released for the song (showing Ayaka sitting in a boat in a river in a cave), and it was broadcast all over Asia. However a single was not made for this song until much later on. In mid-December, Ayaka even performed alongside melody., Koda Kumi and Ashlee Simpson at the MTV Cool Christmas 2005 TV concert. She performed an as of now unreleased song Kiyoshiko no Yoru (きよしこの夜) (Silent Night sung in Japanese), I Believe and Mikadzuki.

In early 2006, Ayaka would now debut onto the music scene. Her debut single, I Believe, was the opening theme song to the extremely popular drama Rondo (starring Takenouchi Yutaka and Choi Ji Woo), which first aired on the 15th of January. On this same day, the I Believe single was downloadable across online stores in Japan. When Ayaka's single hit shelves on the first of February, it managed to debut at #3 on Oricon weekly singles charts; the highest charting debut single for a singer-songwriter since Utada Hikaru's Automatic / Time Will Tell in 1998. This single became a long charting single; staying in the top 10 for a total of six weeks (quite a rare occurrence). By the 26th of February, the single had broken more than 1,000,000 downloads after only being on sale for 42 days. When the single had completely stopped selling, it had racked up over 220,000 copies. An English version of the title track was used by figure skater Miki Ando in the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics as well as at the Skate America Competition for her long program, though it was never released.

Ayaka followed up this single with a commemorative single of her first live tour, melody ~SOUNDS REAL~. The single was only a limited edition single; having only 50,000 copies made of it. The single reached a significantly lower position of #14. Up until this point, Ayaka's career could be compared to that of Nakashima Mika's. Both singers debuted with long-charting drama tie-up singles, followed by a limited edition single.

Ayaka's third single once again gained a major tie-up. The song Real Voice was used as the drama Suppli's ending theme song. Similarly, the B-side to melody ~SOUNDS REAL~, Blue Days, was used as an insert song for this same drama. Real Voice reached #11 on Oricon charts, and charted for a longer period than Melody due to its non-limited status.

To follow the release of this single, Ayaka's debut album First Message was planned for release on the 6th of August. However, the album was mysteriously canceled and a new single was planned for release; Mikadzuki, the song released before Ayaka's official debut. This song was given an additional tie-up (as the au Music Store commercial song) and a new music video was shot for the single. Her First Message album was finally rescheduled to be released on the first of November.

Discography

Singles
[2006.02.01] I believe #3
[2006.05.10] melody ~SOUNDS REAL~ #14
[2006.07.19] Real voice #11
[2006.09.27] Mikadzuki (三日月; Crescent Moon) #1

Albums
[2006.11.01] First Message #1

In the meantime, ayaka is currently on the First Message Live Tour to promote her debut albu, which is projected to go past the 600,000 mark in sales this week.

Spread the ayaka love in here!

[Mirai Noah]

Yay! I love ayaka! My favorite song by her is "I believe". I can't wait to hear her album (I asked for it for Christmas).

[hallelujah_united]

My favourite would be Real voice, so upbeat and makes you feel so refreshed.

[ayu_fan929]

Mikkatsuki and I believe are my favourites.

[Raleigh]

I love ayaka. Her vocals are so beautiful

[summersnow]

Hmm.. this thread is quite dead lately eh? Not much people here listen to her music?

I really love her strong and husky vocal!! Now I'm officially her fan!! HAHA~ Really like her album so much!! And recently she just got the Best New Artist award in Japan Record Taisho~ She really has the potential eh~

[hallelujah_united]

Lazy to give updates lately, LOL.

But yup, in this time she's garnered the Best New Artist award, appeared on Kouhaku, and First Message has sold over 800,000 copies. Hopefully she brings the momentum into 2007.

[summersnow]

Haha it's okay..

Wahh more than 800k copies?? That's fast!! She really deserved the best new artist award ne~

[stardusties]

Dude. ayaka's my fav Japanese vocalist hands down , she's way too amazing to be on the 2nd page...-bump-

Her first album is really cool , I personally only like like 4 songs, (but only becasue ballads these days put me to sleep )

Kimi no KISS de... is my FAV song of hers

[ayu_fan929]

First Message passed the 900k mark already. I wonder if it's going to break the million?

[truehappiness]

I think it will.

[summersnow]

^Yup... It's around 930K right now? I'm sure it'll pass the 1 million mark but needs to take some time.. It's moving slowly right now! Ganbatte ayaka! =)

[stardusties]

that's so cool , i hope she makes it, she realy deserves it

[Kodayumi]

i love ayaka

The one million mark would easily achieved

[huyuhuyu]

First Message has such good sales for a debut album. go ayaka!!

[djamaya2007]

I made this...hope you all like it.


Ayaka - I believe [ Dj Amaya 2007 ~Enishi~ Remix ][mix 2] :

mediafire.com :
http://www.mediafire.com/?2zctkhcgowt

Ayaka - I believe [ Dj Amaya 2007 ~Enishi~ Remix ][Instrumental] :

Mediafire.com:
http://www.mediafire.com/?0emnuggd1oz

[m2yu]

nice thx! her best for I believe..
^^ her album's cover is quite cute too... hehe 'First Message'

[ayu_fan929]

Has anyone heard WINDING ROAD (the song w/Kobukuro?) Don't really like it....

[Keishi]

I heard it's a jazz song, is it right?


I'm quite new to this singer.
I just download First Message (haven't listened to it, though), but I've heard Mikazuki, and it's amazing <3

I'm about to listen to First Message.

[happytoadstool]

i just saw the mikazki PV in a local music channel here! That just shocked me... and it was played during the time slot when their playlist for popular current songs are played, not in some segment which shows special foreign mtvs. this is my second encounter with mikazuki being played in local tv after it was used as a background song in a local love show here during one scene. I'm from the Philippines btw, a place were j-pop isn't mainstream... so this is weird yet really good for ayaka, since she's bein heard in a foreign country.