Welcome back to an exciting end of the year, today I get to announce the release of my first ever album, but also the release of my first music video in two years!
"SPADES & STARS" is available now on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon and in japanese record stores (Tower Records, HMV, Neowing, CD Japan, etc.)
"SPADES & STARS" is available now on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon and in japanese record stores (Tower Records, HMV, Neowing, CD Japan, etc.)
The Road So Far
I wanted to use this opportunity to reflect on the progress of myself as an artist & producing my first ever record.
Back in 2015 I already made a single with the label "Grow Seeds Record" in Tokyo, sadly the licensing and getting it pressed into an actual CD were too expensive for me to cover, barely working part-time and having no experience in the music industry. However thanks to generous patreon donators I was able to save up and practise with my vocal coach during my hiatus.
I was able to perform at cosplay events and model in the meantime, but since I left my previous agencies I had to look for every performance opportunity myself. Which doesn't mean I don't have agency offers coming in, but I have learned a lot out of my bad experiences and rather not put myself in the same position of handing my entire life, schedule, image, etc. to a company I met once, if I can't see them giving me freedom in what I create. I made an entire video about this topic titled "Why I am not an idol anymore" during #VEDA.
The first discussion for my album happened at the Grow Seeds office in May this year.
Shortly after (on the same day) I contacted Flaviyake, if she would be interested in a collaboration, then contacted my vocal coach to set me up a schedule, and things were in the making shortly after.
Because the release month was set on December from the very beginning there wasn't as much time to prepare my vocals and most of the lyrics were written within the rush of one week. The recording was done during 4 days in August, I also vlogged some of it.
Also during August, before even starting recording I got to perform a preview of the songs that were finished at that time at Ueno Summer Festival (Vlog, Full Performance). It was my first time performing at an outdoor music festival and it's something I'll probably never forget.
Back in 2015 I already made a single with the label "Grow Seeds Record" in Tokyo, sadly the licensing and getting it pressed into an actual CD were too expensive for me to cover, barely working part-time and having no experience in the music industry. However thanks to generous patreon donators I was able to save up and practise with my vocal coach during my hiatus.
I was able to perform at cosplay events and model in the meantime, but since I left my previous agencies I had to look for every performance opportunity myself. Which doesn't mean I don't have agency offers coming in, but I have learned a lot out of my bad experiences and rather not put myself in the same position of handing my entire life, schedule, image, etc. to a company I met once, if I can't see them giving me freedom in what I create. I made an entire video about this topic titled "Why I am not an idol anymore" during #VEDA.
The first discussion for my album happened at the Grow Seeds office in May this year.
Shortly after (on the same day) I contacted Flaviyake, if she would be interested in a collaboration, then contacted my vocal coach to set me up a schedule, and things were in the making shortly after.
Because the release month was set on December from the very beginning there wasn't as much time to prepare my vocals and most of the lyrics were written within the rush of one week. The recording was done during 4 days in August, I also vlogged some of it.
Also during August, before even starting recording I got to perform a preview of the songs that were finished at that time at Ueno Summer Festival (Vlog, Full Performance). It was my first time performing at an outdoor music festival and it's something I'll probably never forget.
Mixing and mastering was done at JAM Studios and after that my team and I completed the CD, packaging, and booklet design and submitted everything to the licensing company & distributor.
Then I was left to wait and start planning music videos and tour.
I decided to put my tour around December, even tough it meant most people wouldn't know the songs yet, and set a lot of dates within events of live houses, one of them being the 10th Anniversary Event of Broken Doll in Shimokitazawa. Touring and also documenting the whole tour with a professional (not just vlogging from my perspective) was a whole different experience.
The live recordings of separate songs, a BTS as well as full shows will be out throughout the next few weeks on my channel.
Then I was left to wait and start planning music videos and tour.
I decided to put my tour around December, even tough it meant most people wouldn't know the songs yet, and set a lot of dates within events of live houses, one of them being the 10th Anniversary Event of Broken Doll in Shimokitazawa. Touring and also documenting the whole tour with a professional (not just vlogging from my perspective) was a whole different experience.
The live recordings of separate songs, a BTS as well as full shows will be out throughout the next few weeks on my channel.
Plans For The Future
To be absolutely honest, I have no idea what my next few years or even months will look like, all I know is that making music, performing live and writing lyrics are a passion I am not going to give up on so easily, and even though I already have a lot of non-music projects lined up for the coming season, this will definitely not be my last release.
I am looking forward to future performances, I still got two days left on my tour and I am excited to meet a lot of you guys again. And if you are watching from behind the screen, I'm glad you're there, on this journey with me.
- Himezawa
I am looking forward to future performances, I still got two days left on my tour and I am excited to meet a lot of you guys again. And if you are watching from behind the screen, I'm glad you're there, on this journey with me.
- Himezawa
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