鬼束ちひろ
Chihiro Onitsuka (鬼束ちひろ, Onitsuka Chihiro, born October 30, 1980 in Nango, Miyazaki, Japan) is an alternative rock / folk / pop singer-songwriter and pianist.
Chihiro Onitsuka's music is heavily seeded with ballads and folk music, having grown up listening to The Carpenters and Carole King. She has written and composed most of her own songs, even citing Jewel as a major influence in her decision to pursue singing as a career. She started singing, performing and writing in high school, then eventually decided to leave for Tokyo to further her dreams.
She had allegedly written over 60 songs six months after her move to Tokyo. In early 2000 she was signed on to Toshiba EMI and debuted with the single Shine (シャイン), but it did not manage to break the charts. It was her sophomore single, Gekkou, that placed #11 on the Oricon charts, possibly fueled by the fact that it was also used as the ending theme to the television drama Trick. Her next single, Cage, was released later in the year. In 2001 her song 'Innocence' was used in a television campaign for Silicon Valley based Applied Materials. The commercial was saw quite a bit of airtime such as on US Channels CNN and the then CNBC.
Chihiro's first album, Insomnia (インソムニア), was released more than a year from her own debut, garnering critical acclaim by placing #1 on the the Oricon charts with over a million units sold. Her subsequent albums,This Armor and Sugar High also enjoyed similar success on the charts.
In early September 2003, Chihiro recorded her October single Ii Hi Tabidachi, Nishi e, a cover of a 1978 song, to be used as the theme for Japan Railway's "Discover the West" campaign. She recorded this song right before she took a hiatus to have throat surgery.
In early 2004, Toshiba EMI released a Singles Box against her wishes. This caused so much anguish that she left Toshiba and signed on as an artist under Universal Music, and gained a lot more freedom in her work. Currently she has released one single, Sodatsu Zassou (育つ雑草), which was a major change from her folk-pop style into rock. Prior to the release, she held a concert in which she performed the song and a Nirvana cover. Contrary to popular belief, at this time was not when she announced a hiatus; no hiatus was announced and the subsequent lack of release from her has been a great mystery to her fans, who eagerly anticipate the next release and hope that one will indeed be forthcoming.
It is interesting to note that even though Chihiro is on a different label, Toshiba EMI has still been releasing her music in the forms of DVD's and singles collections. The singles collection does not even have a photo of Chihiro as the cover, and instead a drawing replaces her. It is most likely that they will stop soon as there are no more new songs or footage that they own.
in 2007 February 20, According to Universal Music, she has written more than 10 songs, and she started recording since last spring. Inside there is a song showing stong emphasis on "I am still alive". [Note: It is in response to "I am dying" in Sodatsu zassou.] She is going to release a new single in the beginning of summer, following with a scheduled release of an album. Kobayashi Takeshi (47) is responsible for the production
Later in the year saw the release of Las Vegas (2007) preceded by the single Everyhome. Everyhome reached #9 on the Oricon music charts; making it one of her most successful releases to date. It is during the promotional period for Last Vegas, that it was discovered, in the popular magazine Barfout, that Onitsuka attempted Suicide in 2004. Precipitated, perhaps, by both her Vocal Polip and an eating disorder that saw her drop to 79 KG.
Though her come-back was under way, 2010 became a tumultuous year. Onitsuka's personal life took a turn, resulting in Hospitalization and a Lawsuit. Though, this did not slow down her career, releasing the single 青い鳥 (Aoi no Tori) in 2011 followed by 剣と楓 (Ken to Kaide) under a new label For Life Entertainment.
In 2012, Onitsuka paid tribute to her influences by releasing Famous Microphone (2012). A collection of covers including Simon and Garfunkle's Scarborough Faire and Bette Midler's The Rose.
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