Welcome back!
I recently had the chance to give an interview for my home state newspaper "Der Neue Tag" which actually ended up in today's front page article!
I'm very excited to receive the news and wanted to share the news with my English speaking audience.
Translations once more have been done by fiuefey!
If you're interested in the online version of the article you can find an archived version HERE (German)
I recently had the chance to give an interview for my home state newspaper "Der Neue Tag" which actually ended up in today's front page article!
I'm very excited to receive the news and wanted to share the news with my English speaking audience.
Translations once more have been done by fiuefey!
If you're interested in the online version of the article you can find an archived version HERE (German)
English Translation:
Krummennaab meets Tokyo
Himezawa is now singing
News from Krummennaab's Tokyo-Export: Sabrina Schultes presents her first album. The 22-year-old has been living in Japan's capital since 2015, where, until now, she has predominantly attracted attention as a model of the Japanese manga-comic-style. Soon, a bigger emphasis will be on music.
Tokio. “White flags, folded to paper planes, float out of deep-black rooms across the night-lit windowsills”, Himezawa describes her first album. On the 7th of December, it releases worldwide. The Japanese cosplay-star has her origin in the Upper Palatinate (we reported). As Sabrina Schultes she grew up in Krummennaab, but soon took a rather uncommon path: after finishing middle school followed an education in singing and acting, first in Leipzig and finally in London. From there she dared the next step to Japan in 2015, after an agency had sent her an inquiry. Since her youth, her heart belonged to the Japanese cosplay-culture. As Himezawa she delves into the world of Manga-Comics. In Japan the scene and market is huge – as a European, she is exotic.
Regardless, Himezawa has worked hard for her achievements. Until now she has earned money as model, moderator, cosplayer and author – now, also as a singer. But she has also already made some experience in this métier: back in 2015, she released her single “Wagamama Love”. The first album's title is now named “Spades & Stars”. Twelve songs, with each six in English and Japanese respectively, are available. Himezawa has written most of the lyrics herself. She is especially proud of “Clock Machine”, which she has co-created with the singer-songwriter Flaviyake. The Russian artist lives in Los Angeles.
Himezawa calls “Spades & Stars” a concept album. This means there is a consistent, progressing story throughout the songs. Main topic is a destructive love story. “Not necessarily between two people, but rather between a dreamer and their notion of the world”, Himezawa explains. The entire album was created in roughly four months, the vocal recordings were done after four days. The most time consuming task was getting the 'Okay' of the producer, who took three months to take the CDs into stock. The entire album is “Do-It-Yourself”. A label took care of the professional production, but it was funded by Himezawa herself. Fans contributed via crowdfunding, the rest came from the earnings of her books.
She has even planned a tour herself: “Usually a project manager does this, but I wanted it to be as Himezawa as possible.” Now, she's already on-tour. During shows in Tokyo, Himezawa is accompanied by live musicians. “It's what I'm most excited about yet afraid of”, she admits. The outfits for her tour are rather punky. Fishnet stockings, slit jeans and shorts, leather jackets and crop tops. Tattoos, blue and pink wigs. “What I end up deciding on always depends on the date and how I feel”, she admits, winking.
At least once per show Sabrina “falls” into the crowd. “My manager always says it's dangerous”, Himezawa explains. But for her, her fans are like family: “I'm always happy to see familiar faces, and refuse to let myself be scared.”
Outside of Japan Himezawa won't be able to tour just now. “If somebody wishes for a concert in Germany, they can support me on patreon.com/himezawa”, Sabrina said. Her further plans are to produce even more music and “to bring together as many people as possible in a project.” Himezawa is especially excited for the “Charity Live Performances”, where the incomes will be donated. “Every year, I donate a part of my earnings on my birthday to a different charity”, she explains.
Himezawa is now singing
News from Krummennaab's Tokyo-Export: Sabrina Schultes presents her first album. The 22-year-old has been living in Japan's capital since 2015, where, until now, she has predominantly attracted attention as a model of the Japanese manga-comic-style. Soon, a bigger emphasis will be on music.
Tokio. “White flags, folded to paper planes, float out of deep-black rooms across the night-lit windowsills”, Himezawa describes her first album. On the 7th of December, it releases worldwide. The Japanese cosplay-star has her origin in the Upper Palatinate (we reported). As Sabrina Schultes she grew up in Krummennaab, but soon took a rather uncommon path: after finishing middle school followed an education in singing and acting, first in Leipzig and finally in London. From there she dared the next step to Japan in 2015, after an agency had sent her an inquiry. Since her youth, her heart belonged to the Japanese cosplay-culture. As Himezawa she delves into the world of Manga-Comics. In Japan the scene and market is huge – as a European, she is exotic.
Regardless, Himezawa has worked hard for her achievements. Until now she has earned money as model, moderator, cosplayer and author – now, also as a singer. But she has also already made some experience in this métier: back in 2015, she released her single “Wagamama Love”. The first album's title is now named “Spades & Stars”. Twelve songs, with each six in English and Japanese respectively, are available. Himezawa has written most of the lyrics herself. She is especially proud of “Clock Machine”, which she has co-created with the singer-songwriter Flaviyake. The Russian artist lives in Los Angeles.
Himezawa calls “Spades & Stars” a concept album. This means there is a consistent, progressing story throughout the songs. Main topic is a destructive love story. “Not necessarily between two people, but rather between a dreamer and their notion of the world”, Himezawa explains. The entire album was created in roughly four months, the vocal recordings were done after four days. The most time consuming task was getting the 'Okay' of the producer, who took three months to take the CDs into stock. The entire album is “Do-It-Yourself”. A label took care of the professional production, but it was funded by Himezawa herself. Fans contributed via crowdfunding, the rest came from the earnings of her books.
She has even planned a tour herself: “Usually a project manager does this, but I wanted it to be as Himezawa as possible.” Now, she's already on-tour. During shows in Tokyo, Himezawa is accompanied by live musicians. “It's what I'm most excited about yet afraid of”, she admits. The outfits for her tour are rather punky. Fishnet stockings, slit jeans and shorts, leather jackets and crop tops. Tattoos, blue and pink wigs. “What I end up deciding on always depends on the date and how I feel”, she admits, winking.
At least once per show Sabrina “falls” into the crowd. “My manager always says it's dangerous”, Himezawa explains. But for her, her fans are like family: “I'm always happy to see familiar faces, and refuse to let myself be scared.”
Outside of Japan Himezawa won't be able to tour just now. “If somebody wishes for a concert in Germany, they can support me on patreon.com/himezawa”, Sabrina said. Her further plans are to produce even more music and “to bring together as many people as possible in a project.” Himezawa is especially excited for the “Charity Live Performances”, where the incomes will be donated. “Every year, I donate a part of my earnings on my birthday to a different charity”, she explains.
