Salyu
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
singer, produced by Takeshi Kobayashi. She debuted in 2000 as the fictional singer Lily Chou-Chou
for the film All About Lily Chou-Chou
, and later debuted as a solo artist in 2004. She is best known for her charity single collaboration with Bank Band in 2006, "To U." Salyu has also worked as a voice actress for the Japanese language version of the game Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box (2007), in which she voiced the character (known as Babette in the English version).
player, for the Toshiba Brave Lupus
team.
Salyu learnt piano from a young age, however abruptly stopped these lessons in junior high school. Salyu began singing in elementary school after contracting pneumonia. On advice by her doctor to regain her lung strength, she was enrolled into a choir.
In 1998, while attending high school in outer Tokyo, Salyu was inspired to become a singer after watching a friend performing at a live house. Salyu auditioned in high school for a Sony musician audition and was accepted, later attending a Sony music training facility. Music producer Takeshi Kobayashi happened by chance to see a talking/singing audition video of Salyu, and 30 seconds into the tape, he was so impressed that he decided to meet her the next day. Kobayashi decided to work with her, and the pair soon began making demo tapes together. He gave her the stage name Salyu, which he chose as is was similar to the French greeting salut. Kobayashi was at the time preparing a soundtrack to Shunji Iwai
's online novel and later film, All About Lily Chou-Chou
. The novel and film centred around a fictional singer, Lily Chou-Chou
, who began releasing actual music in 2000. The project was a collaboration between Iwai, Kobayashi and Salyu, as the vocalist for the project. This project allowed Salyu to perform on prominent music shows Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ and Music Station
in June 2000.
After the release of the film in 2001, the group ceased to release music. Salyu began to perform concerts as a solo artist, performing on average once every two months due to her lack in self-confidence in her live performance skills. Kobayashi continued to work with her during this period, giving her music, and was the one who allowed he to debut as a singer in 2004. Her debut single was a collaboration with Ilmari
from the hip-hop group Rip Slyme
, called "Valon." Salyu later released a solo version of this song, "Valon-1," several months later. Salyu's second solo single "Dialogue" was awarded the Space Shower Best New Artist Video for 2004. After four singles, Salyu released her debut album Landmark in June 2005, which reached #22 on Oricon
's weekly albums charts. Two days later, Salyu performed her first one man live, at the Shibuya Club Quattro.
In 2006, Salyu reached a much greater audience through the Bank Band charity single "To U," in which she was a featured vocalist. The single was extremely successful, reaching number 2 on Oricon
's single charts and being certified platinum. Her next singles "Name" and "Platform" (the film Metro ni Nottes theme song) were her first solo singles to chart in the top 20. Salyu's second studio album Terminal
was her first top 10 release, charting at number 2.
Her 2007 singles "Liberty" and "Iris (Shiawase no Hako)" were her first works not to feature Kobayashi, instead were self-produced and co-written with Zentaro Watanabe. In late 2008, Salyu released her first greatest hits album, Merkmal, that marked 10 years since meeting Kobayashi. This was followed by her first performance at Budokan, during her tour for Merkmal. In 2009, Salyu's single "Corteo (Gyōretsu)/Halfway" became her first top 10 single. In 2010, Salyu released her third studio album, Maiden Voyage, which was her first self-produced album.
Salyu's fourth album, S(o)un(d)beams, has been announced for release on March 23, 2011. It is a special collaborative album with Cornelius
, exploring to what extent Salyu's voice can be used as an instrument.
She began branching into musicians other than Kobayashi in 2006, when musicians Yo Hitoto
and Sarasa Ifu wrote lyrics to the songs on her "Tower" single. Her first song with her billed as the lyricist was "I Believe," from her 2007 album Terminal
. Her 2007 singles "Liberty" and "Iris (Shiawase no Hako)" were her first works to be self-produced and her first singles to feature her own lyrics, though Salyu wrote the songs in collaboration with musicians Tatsuya Kokufu and Zentaro Watanabe. This was also the first time Salyu has not worked together with Kobayashi on a music release.
2010's Maiden Voyage was the first album of Salyu's to be self-produced. It featured predominately writing by Kobayashi, however six songs featured lyrics by Salyu, two music by Salyu, and one, "L.A.F.S.," was even arranged by Salyu.
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, produced by Takeshi Kobayashi. She debuted in 2000 as the fictional singer Lily Chou-Chou
Lily Chou-Chou
is a Japanese band that debuted in 2000. Initially a fictional band that produced music for the 2001 Shunji Iwai film All About Lily Chou-Chou, the group later reformed in 2010 for the 10th anniversary of the film...
for the film All About Lily Chou-Chou
All About Lily Chou-Chou
is a 2001 Japanese film written and directed by Shunji Iwai. The film portrays the rough lives of high school children in Japan, and centres around the music of a fictional singer Lily Chou-Chou.-Plot:...
, and later debuted as a solo artist in 2004. She is best known for her charity single collaboration with Bank Band in 2006, "To U." Salyu has also worked as a voice actress for the Japanese language version of the game Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box (2007), in which she voiced the character (known as Babette in the English version).
Biography
Much of Salyu's personal information and history has not been revealed publicly. Her official website's profile, for example, only lists her musical releases and commercial tie-ups, as opposed to her background. However, she has revealed two personal facts about herself in her blog: her first name is and that she has four siblings. Her older brother, was a former professional rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player, for the Toshiba Brave Lupus
Toshiba Brave Lupus
Toshiba Brave Lupus is a Japanese rugby union team in the Top League. They are based in Fuchu, Tokyo, as is their local rival Suntory Sungoliath. They won the second ever Top League championship in the 2004-5 season and the Microsoft Cup in 2005 under their innovative and inventive coach Masahiro...
team.
Salyu learnt piano from a young age, however abruptly stopped these lessons in junior high school. Salyu began singing in elementary school after contracting pneumonia. On advice by her doctor to regain her lung strength, she was enrolled into a choir.
In 1998, while attending high school in outer Tokyo, Salyu was inspired to become a singer after watching a friend performing at a live house. Salyu auditioned in high school for a Sony musician audition and was accepted, later attending a Sony music training facility. Music producer Takeshi Kobayashi happened by chance to see a talking/singing audition video of Salyu, and 30 seconds into the tape, he was so impressed that he decided to meet her the next day. Kobayashi decided to work with her, and the pair soon began making demo tapes together. He gave her the stage name Salyu, which he chose as is was similar to the French greeting salut. Kobayashi was at the time preparing a soundtrack to Shunji Iwai
Shunji Iwai
is a Japanese film director/video artist, writer and documentarian.-Life and career:Iwai was born in Sendai, Japan, Miyagi prefecture. He attended Yokohama National University, graduating in 1987....
's online novel and later film, All About Lily Chou-Chou
All About Lily Chou-Chou
is a 2001 Japanese film written and directed by Shunji Iwai. The film portrays the rough lives of high school children in Japan, and centres around the music of a fictional singer Lily Chou-Chou.-Plot:...
. The novel and film centred around a fictional singer, Lily Chou-Chou
Lily Chou-Chou
is a Japanese band that debuted in 2000. Initially a fictional band that produced music for the 2001 Shunji Iwai film All About Lily Chou-Chou, the group later reformed in 2010 for the 10th anniversary of the film...
, who began releasing actual music in 2000. The project was a collaboration between Iwai, Kobayashi and Salyu, as the vocalist for the project. This project allowed Salyu to perform on prominent music shows Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ and Music Station
Music Station
is a Japanese music television program. It began broadcasting on October 24, 1986 and continues to be broadcast weekly in High-definition from 8PM-9PM on tv asahi...
in June 2000.
After the release of the film in 2001, the group ceased to release music. Salyu began to perform concerts as a solo artist, performing on average once every two months due to her lack in self-confidence in her live performance skills. Kobayashi continued to work with her during this period, giving her music, and was the one who allowed he to debut as a singer in 2004. Her debut single was a collaboration with Ilmari
Keisuke Ogihara
is one of the founding members of the hip hop group Rip Slyme. He was born on June 17, 1975 in Helsinki, Finland to a Japanese father and a Finnish mother. He is best known by his stage name Ilmari , which is considered to be his middle name in Finland....
from the hip-hop group Rip Slyme
Rip Slyme
Rip Slyme is a Japanese hip hop group. It is composed of four MCs; Ryo-Z, Ilmari, Pes & Su, and a DJ, Fumiya...
, called "Valon." Salyu later released a solo version of this song, "Valon-1," several months later. Salyu's second solo single "Dialogue" was awarded the Space Shower Best New Artist Video for 2004. After four singles, Salyu released her debut album Landmark in June 2005, which reached #22 on 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...
's weekly albums charts. Two days later, Salyu performed her first one man live, at the Shibuya Club Quattro.
In 2006, Salyu reached a much greater audience through the Bank Band charity single "To U," in which she was a featured vocalist. The single was extremely successful, reaching number 2 on 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...
's single charts and being certified platinum. Her next singles "Name" and "Platform" (the film Metro ni Nottes theme song) were her first solo singles to chart in the top 20. Salyu's second studio album Terminal
Terminal (album)
Terminal is Japanese singer Salyu's second original album, released on January 17, 2007. It is currently her most commercially successful album, peaking at number 2 on Oricon's album charts, and is her only album to receive a gold certification from the RIAJ...
was her first top 10 release, charting at number 2.
Her 2007 singles "Liberty" and "Iris (Shiawase no Hako)" were her first works not to feature Kobayashi, instead were self-produced and co-written with Zentaro Watanabe. In late 2008, Salyu released her first greatest hits album, Merkmal, that marked 10 years since meeting Kobayashi. This was followed by her first performance at Budokan, during her tour for Merkmal. In 2009, Salyu's single "Corteo (Gyōretsu)/Halfway" became her first top 10 single. In 2010, Salyu released her third studio album, Maiden Voyage, which was her first self-produced album.
Salyu's fourth album, S(o)un(d)beams, has been announced for release on March 23, 2011. It is a special collaborative album with Cornelius
Cornelius (musician)
Cornelius is a Japanese recording artist and producer.-Career:Oyamada's first claim to fame was as a member of the pop duo Flipper's Guitar, one of the key groups of the Tokyo Shibuya-kei scene...
, exploring to what extent Salyu's voice can be used as an instrument.
Musicianship
Salyu originally considered herself more of a vocalist as opposed to a musician, and early on in her career held a stance that she would be a singer who did not write her own material. She did not believe her compositions would be the best quality. In her first album, Landmark, all of the songs were written and produced by Takeshi Kobayashi. Her lyric contributions on the album were mostly suggestions for lyrics that could be better phrased. Salyu was encouraged through much of her career by other musicians to try to write her own music, however she mostly ignored the suggestions, until a musician told her it would let her understand her fellow musicians better.She began branching into musicians other than Kobayashi in 2006, when musicians Yo Hitoto
Yo Hitoto
is a Japanese pop singer. Her mother is Japanese and her father is Taiwanese. She can speak three languages: Japanese, English, and Mandarin. Tae Hitoto is her older sister. Her name Hitoto is not her real surname, it is her mother's maiden name. She changed her name when she came to Japan...
and Sarasa Ifu wrote lyrics to the songs on her "Tower" single. Her first song with her billed as the lyricist was "I Believe," from her 2007 album Terminal
Terminal (album)
Terminal is Japanese singer Salyu's second original album, released on January 17, 2007. It is currently her most commercially successful album, peaking at number 2 on Oricon's album charts, and is her only album to receive a gold certification from the RIAJ...
. Her 2007 singles "Liberty" and "Iris (Shiawase no Hako)" were her first works to be self-produced and her first singles to feature her own lyrics, though Salyu wrote the songs in collaboration with musicians Tatsuya Kokufu and Zentaro Watanabe. This was also the first time Salyu has not worked together with Kobayashi on a music release.
2010's Maiden Voyage was the first album of Salyu's to be self-produced. It featured predominately writing by Kobayashi, however six songs featured lyrics by Salyu, two music by Salyu, and one, "L.A.F.S.," was even arranged by Salyu.
Studio albums
- Landmark (2005)
- TerminalTerminal (album)Terminal is Japanese singer Salyu's second original album, released on January 17, 2007. It is currently her most commercially successful album, peaking at number 2 on Oricon's album charts, and is her only album to receive a gold certification from the RIAJ...
(2007) - Maiden Voyage (2010)
- S(o)un(d)beams (2011)