Akiko Shikata
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
singer-songwriter
and composer, who is known for writing music for games and anime
. She is best known for her contributions to the Ar tonelico, Shadow Hearts
and Umineko no Naku Koro ni
games, as well as anime adaptations of Umineko no Naku Koro ni and Tales of Symphonia.
Shikata's music is known for its ethnic feel and complex vocal chorus work. In a single Shikata song, there may be as many as 200 separate vocal tracks recorded for it.
, and later when she learnt the piano classical music.
In 2001, she formed the independent label Vagrancy, associated with the dōjin music
scene that makes independent music game releases. She originally had no intention of singing, but felt dissatisfied with creating songs just from synthesiser sounds.
Later in the year, she released her debut EP, Midori no Mori de Nemuru Tori, through her site. In the next few years, she releases many works through her site, mostly instrumental albums performed with a music box. Her first full-length album Haikyo to Rakuen (2003) topped the charts at Japanese independent music download site Muzie for 24 months. In the same year, she worked on the soundtrack for the independent game "Hanakisō," her first major game-related work.
In 2004, she held her first ever live tour. In 2005, she debuted as a major label artist under the Hats Unlimited label run by violinist Taro Hakase
. Her association with the label led to Shikata working on many game soundtracks, such as Shadow Hearts: From the New World
and Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia
. Shikata continues to work with the Ar tonelico franchise today, releasing music for both the second
and third
games.
Her second major-label album, Raka, was released in 2006. It featured several songs from games (two songs used in Hanakisō, as well as a rearrangement of the opening theme song from Ar tonelico). It was her first top 40 album, ranking at #34 on the Oricon
albums chart.
In 2007, Shikata became associated with the dōjin soft
game Umineko no Naku Koro ni
, releasing an EP featuring music from the game (including the eponymous theme song). This was her first top 30 release. In 2009, her third album Harmonia
broke the top 20.
In 2009, Shikata made her first moves into singing for anime
, with her first single "Katayoku no Tori" being used as the opening theme song for the anime adaptation of Umineko no Naku Koro ni. In 2010, her second single "Inori no Kanata" was used as the ending theme song for Tales of Symphonia (Tethe'alla Version).
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and composer, who is known for writing music for games and anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
. She is best known for her contributions to the Ar tonelico, Shadow Hearts
Shadow Hearts
is a series of role playing games for the PlayStation 2. The original Shadow Hearts was developed by Sacnoth and released by Midway in the United States on December 11, 2001. The sequel, Shadow Hearts: Covenant , was also made by the same group, although Sacnoth reformed itself into a company...
and Umineko no Naku Koro ni
Umineko no Naku Koro ni
is a Japanese murder mystery dōjin soft visual novel series produced by 07th Expansion. The first game in the series, Legend of the Golden Witch, was first released at Comiket 72 on August 17, 2007 playable on the PC; the game sold out in thirty minutes...
games, as well as anime adaptations of Umineko no Naku Koro ni and Tales of Symphonia.
Shikata's music is known for its ethnic feel and complex vocal chorus work. In a single Shikata song, there may be as many as 200 separate vocal tracks recorded for it.
Biography
Shikata was born in Tokyo. She first developed an interest in music when she was very little, after constantly singing with her mother. She was first interested in songs from Minna no UtaMinna no Uta
, literally Everyone's Songs, is a five minute NHK TV and radio program broadcasting several times daily since 1961. The program is generally used as filler at the end of regular television programs...
, and later when she learnt the piano classical music.
In 2001, she formed the independent label Vagrancy, associated with the dōjin music
Dojin music
, also called in Japan, is a sub-category of dōjin activity. Dōjin are basically non-official self-published Japanese works which can be based on official products or completely original creations...
scene that makes independent music game releases. She originally had no intention of singing, but felt dissatisfied with creating songs just from synthesiser sounds.
Later in the year, she released her debut EP, Midori no Mori de Nemuru Tori, through her site. In the next few years, she releases many works through her site, mostly instrumental albums performed with a music box. Her first full-length album Haikyo to Rakuen (2003) topped the charts at Japanese independent music download site Muzie for 24 months. In the same year, she worked on the soundtrack for the independent game "Hanakisō," her first major game-related work.
In 2004, she held her first ever live tour. In 2005, she debuted as a major label artist under the Hats Unlimited label run by violinist Taro Hakase
Taro Hakase
is a Japanese musician who specialises as a violinist.He is best known internationally for playing the violin on Celine Dion's song "To Love You More" which appears on the US edition of her Let's Talk About Love album...
. Her association with the label led to Shikata working on many game soundtracks, such as Shadow Hearts: From the New World
Shadow Hearts: From The New World
is a console role-playing game developed by Nautilus and published by XSEED Games in 2005. It is the third official game in the Shadow Hearts series....
and Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia
Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia
Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia, released in Japan as is a PlayStation 2 console role-playing game produced by Banpresto and Gust. There were other media releases based on the game, including the comic Ar tonelico -arpeggio-, the OVA Ar tonelico, and several drama CDs.The story begins on the...
. Shikata continues to work with the Ar tonelico franchise today, releasing music for both the second
Ar tonelico II: Melody of Metafalica
Ar tonelico II: Melody of Metafalica, known in Japan as is a video game, developed by Gust for the Sony PlayStation 2 which was released in Japan on October 25, 2007, in North America on January 20, 2009, and was set to be released in the EU on 29 May 2009, however a problem with the barcode...
and third
Ar tonelico III: Sekai Shūen no Hikigane wa Shōjo no Uta ga Hajiku
is a console role-playing game produced by Gust and published by Namco Bandai in Japan and by NIS America in North America for the Sony PlayStation 3. It is the third and final installment, taking place in the Reyvateil-ruled country of Clusternia, located in an area known as Sol Cluster, and set...
games.
Her second major-label album, Raka, was released in 2006. It featured several songs from games (two songs used in Hanakisō, as well as a rearrangement of the opening theme song from Ar tonelico). It was her first top 40 album, ranking at #34 on the Oricon
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
albums chart.
In 2007, Shikata became associated with the dōjin soft
Dojin soft
, also sometimes called , are video games created by Japanese hobbyists or hobbyist groups , more for fun than for profit; essentially, the Japanese equivalent of independent video games. Most of them are based on pre-existing material, but some are entirely original creations...
game Umineko no Naku Koro ni
Umineko no Naku Koro ni
is a Japanese murder mystery dōjin soft visual novel series produced by 07th Expansion. The first game in the series, Legend of the Golden Witch, was first released at Comiket 72 on August 17, 2007 playable on the PC; the game sold out in thirty minutes...
, releasing an EP featuring music from the game (including the eponymous theme song). This was her first top 30 release. In 2009, her third album Harmonia
Harmonia (album)
Harmonia is the third major studio album by J-pop artist Akiko Shikata. It was released on March 18, 2009.-Track list:# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Amnesia# #...
broke the top 20.
In 2009, Shikata made her first moves into singing for anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
, with her first single "Katayoku no Tori" being used as the opening theme song for the anime adaptation of Umineko no Naku Koro ni. In 2010, her second single "Inori no Kanata" was used as the ending theme song for Tales of Symphonia (Tethe'alla Version).
Studio albums
- 2001: Midori no Mori de Nemuru Tori (EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
) - 2003: Haikyo to Rakuen
- 2005: Navigatoria
- 2006: Raka
- 2009: HarmoniaHarmonia (album)Harmonia is the third major studio album by J-pop artist Akiko Shikata. It was released on March 18, 2009.-Track list:# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Amnesia# #...
Soundtrack albums
- 2003: Hanakisō Sound Tracks
- 2008: Umineko no Naku Koro ni (EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
)
Compilation albums
- 2007: Istoria: Musa
- 2008: Kara*Cola: Hymmnos Orgel Collection
- 2010: Utau Oka: Ar=ciel Ar=dor
- 2011: Byakumu no Mayu ~Ricordando il Passato~
Instrumental albums
- 2002: Petit Fours (music box)
- 2003: Horizon Blue (music box)
- 2003: Kurenawi (instrumental)
- 2004: Viridian (music box)
- 2005: Wisteria (music box)
- 2007: Kalliope: Piano Concert (piano)
- 2007: Hanakisō Koukyoukyoku (orchestra)
- 2009: Fluff: Orgel Arrange Mini Album (EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
) (music box) - 2010: Nijiiro Crayon: Orgel Arrange Mini Album (EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
) (music box) - 2011: lirica: Orgel Arrange Mini Album (EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
) (music box)
Singles
- 2009: Katayoku no Tori
- 2010: Inori no Kanata
- 2011: Utsusemi