Juka
Encyclopedia
Shaura, formerly known as Juka (ジュカ), is a Japan
ese visual kei
metal singer who first became known in 2002 when he was recruited by Mana
for his project Moi dix Mois
. In late 2006 he joined HIZAKI
's solo project, HIZAKI grace project. He then started a solo career before pausing all musical activities at the end of 2007. He returned in 2009, after changing his stage name to Shaura, as part of the duo XOVER. He is currently in the group VII-Sense, which formed in 2010.
. Like his band colleague Kazuno
he was a newcomer to the Japanese music scene. While Juka was in Moi dix Mois, they produced three singles, two albums and two live DVDs as well as countless live concerts with the band, even in Germany
and France
. Juka left Moi dix Mois right after the Invite to Immorality Tour Final concert on April 30, 2005. The official reason given for his departure was musical differences. As a result of lacking a vocalist, Mana's fellow band members Kazuno and Tohru also decided to leave the band soon after. From there, Moi dix Mois had to be formed completely anew.
recruited Juka as vocalist for solo project, HIZAKI grace project. In early 2007 they released a new album named Dignity of Crest. A live DVD named Monshou was released on May 5, 2007. It contains the complete live footage of HIZAKI grace project's tour final concert on February 17. They released a second album called Ruined Kingdom on September 19 which contained some live tracks and three new songs, which are the last recordings featuring Juka. He officially left the band after the concert at Omotesandou Fab on October 5, 2007. During the "Nihon Tanbi Kakumei" tour in November 2007, Juka performed as support vocalist along with Kamijo and Kaya
.
and doesn't share any kind of style with one of the first two tracks. Furthermore, all tracks are instrumental. Another release called Luxurious in the shape of a mini album was released in June 2007. He released his second single "Saint Croix" on October 31, 2007. Juka announced he would be pausing all musical activities at the end of 2007 due to personal matters; all future plans were on hold/cancelled.
support the three on guitar and bass. According to Kamijo, the show is supposed to be a theatrical show combined with music and illumination effects. While Juka and Jasmine You represent the dark side, Kamijo and HIZAKI form their opposite as the light side. Between them stands Kaya personifying beauty. A certain focus is cast on the tragic love story of Juka and Jasmine You. When the three vocalists performed a new specifically created song at the end of the show, the song found so much approval of the audience, that they decided after a second Node of Scherzo show in May 2007 to record this song on a CD. It was finally released on October 31, 2007. The buyers of all Halloween releases by the labels Reverie and Sherow Artist Society, which were "Carmilla" (by Kaya), "Saint Croix" (by Juka), Lyrical Sympathy
(by Versailles
) and the "Node of Scherzo" single, were given the possibility to obtain a special live clip DVD by sending all the coupons found on the obi slips wrapped around the CD case and five 80 Yen stamps to the label by December 12, 2007. The DVD contained a 5 minutes live clip accompanied with the Node of Scherzo song. Further performances of the song could be seen during the national tour "Nihon Tanbi Kakumei".
), and marked Juka's return to music after changing his stage-name to Shaura. XOVER released one mini-album titled XGATE on July 22, 2009. They then released an album called Aureola on October 21. But after releasing a live DVD in November 2009, XOVER disbanded.
In 2010 Seventh Sense was finally formed, written as VII-Sense their first release was the single "Black Bird" on March 24. The other members are; guitarists Erina (ex:Dio - Distraught Overlord
) and RayX, Kaz on guitar and piano, bassist Masato (ex:support for XOVER) and Mikage on drums (ex:Hizaki Grace Project, Kisaki Project
).
Solo as Juka
XOVER
VII-Sense
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese visual kei
Visual Kei
is a movement among Japanese musicians, that is characterized by the use of make-up, elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics. Some sources state that visual kei refers to a music genre, or to a sub-genre of Japanese rock, with its...
metal singer who first became known in 2002 when he was recruited by Mana
Mana (musician)
Mana is a Japanese musician and fashion designer, best known for his role as leader and guitarist of the visual kei band Malice Mizer. His clothing label, Moi-même-Moitié, helped popularize Japan's Gothic Lolita fashion movement. Mana is currently working on his solo project Moi dix...
for his project Moi dix Mois
Moi dix Mois
Moi dix Mois is a musical project founded by Japanese musician and fashion designer Mana in 2002 after his previous band, Malice Mizer, paused activities.- History :...
. In late 2006 he joined HIZAKI
Hizaki
Hizaki is a Japanese visual kei musician, best known as guitarist for the symphonic metal band Versailles. Before forming Versailles he was in several independent bands and had a solo career.- Biography :...
's solo project, HIZAKI grace project. He then started a solo career before pausing all musical activities at the end of 2007. He returned in 2009, after changing his stage name to Shaura, as part of the duo XOVER. He is currently in the group VII-Sense, which formed in 2010.
Moi dix Mois
In 2002, Juka was recruited to join Mana's project, Moi dix MoisMoi dix Mois
Moi dix Mois is a musical project founded by Japanese musician and fashion designer Mana in 2002 after his previous band, Malice Mizer, paused activities.- History :...
. Like his band colleague Kazuno
Kazuno (musician)
Kazuno was a Japanese visual kei musician born on October 17 in Hiroshima.- Project History:Kazuno became known after being recruited by Mana in 2002 as bassist of his solo project Moi dix Mois. Kazuno was new to the visual kei scene and this was one of his first bands. Kazuno, along with drummer...
he was a newcomer to the Japanese music scene. While Juka was in Moi dix Mois, they produced three singles, two albums and two live DVDs as well as countless live concerts with the band, even in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Juka left Moi dix Mois right after the Invite to Immorality Tour Final concert on April 30, 2005. The official reason given for his departure was musical differences. As a result of lacking a vocalist, Mana's fellow band members Kazuno and Tohru also decided to leave the band soon after. From there, Moi dix Mois had to be formed completely anew.
HIZAKI grace project
At the end of 2006, guitarist HIZAKIHizaki
Hizaki is a Japanese visual kei musician, best known as guitarist for the symphonic metal band Versailles. Before forming Versailles he was in several independent bands and had a solo career.- Biography :...
recruited Juka as vocalist for solo project, HIZAKI grace project. In early 2007 they released a new album named Dignity of Crest. A live DVD named Monshou was released on May 5, 2007. It contains the complete live footage of HIZAKI grace project's tour final concert on February 17. They released a second album called Ruined Kingdom on September 19 which contained some live tracks and three new songs, which are the last recordings featuring Juka. He officially left the band after the concert at Omotesandou Fab on October 5, 2007. During the "Nihon Tanbi Kakumei" tour in November 2007, Juka performed as support vocalist along with Kamijo and Kaya
Kaya (Japanese musician)
is a Japanese visual kei musician, who was vocalist of the now defunct electro/darkwave duo Schwarz Stein , and also Meties and Isola under the alias of Hime. Originally on Mana's record label, Midi:Nette, Kaya recently signed to , and the label's name was changed to Kaya is also known for his...
.
Solo career
In the middle of February 2007 Juka announced the start of his solo career while continuing activities with HIZAKI grace project. He also announced the release of his first maxi single "Aravesque" on March 28, 2007, which is produced by Kamijo, HIZAKI and Juka himself. The three tracks provide a large style selection. While the first song "Aravesque" is reminiscent of Moi dix Mois' gothic sound, the second track "S" leans in the direction of heavy metal music. The third track "Aimless" has much in common with a French chansonChanson
A chanson is in general any lyric-driven French song, usually polyphonic and secular. A singer specialising in chansons is known as a "chanteur" or "chanteuse" ; a collection of chansons, especially from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, is also known as a chansonnier.-Chanson de geste:The...
and doesn't share any kind of style with one of the first two tracks. Furthermore, all tracks are instrumental. Another release called Luxurious in the shape of a mini album was released in June 2007. He released his second single "Saint Croix" on October 31, 2007. Juka announced he would be pausing all musical activities at the end of 2007 due to personal matters; all future plans were on hold/cancelled.
Node of Scherzo
In March 2007, the Node of Scherzo (ノード・オブ・スケルツォ) event took place. Juka takes the role of vocalist alongside Kamijo and Kaya while HIZAKI and Jasmine YouJasmine You
Jasmine You was a Japanese musician, best known as original bassist of the symphonic metal band Versailles. In 1998 Jasmine You entered the visual kei music scene after joining Jakura, who managed to become pretty successful before disbanding in 2003. In 2006 he was invited by his long-time...
support the three on guitar and bass. According to Kamijo, the show is supposed to be a theatrical show combined with music and illumination effects. While Juka and Jasmine You represent the dark side, Kamijo and HIZAKI form their opposite as the light side. Between them stands Kaya personifying beauty. A certain focus is cast on the tragic love story of Juka and Jasmine You. When the three vocalists performed a new specifically created song at the end of the show, the song found so much approval of the audience, that they decided after a second Node of Scherzo show in May 2007 to record this song on a CD. It was finally released on October 31, 2007. The buyers of all Halloween releases by the labels Reverie and Sherow Artist Society, which were "Carmilla" (by Kaya), "Saint Croix" (by Juka), Lyrical Sympathy
Lyrical Sympathy
- Track listing :...
(by Versailles
Versailles (Japanese band)
Versailles is a Japanese visual kei metal band formed in 2007. Their key characteristics are their rococo-esque costumes, dueling guitars and heavy but melodic arrangements....
) and the "Node of Scherzo" single, were given the possibility to obtain a special live clip DVD by sending all the coupons found on the obi slips wrapped around the CD case and five 80 Yen stamps to the label by December 12, 2007. The DVD contained a 5 minutes live clip accompanied with the Node of Scherzo song. Further performances of the song could be seen during the national tour "Nihon Tanbi Kakumei".
XOVER
XOVER was a duo formed in 2009 with Kouichi (Everlasting-K, ex:LaputaLaputa (band)
Laputa was a Nagoya kei rock band from Nagoya, Japan. The band chose its name from the flying island in Gulliver's Travels and tried to portray a similar unrealistic view of the world with their performance. Musically the essence of the band sound was extracted from the three pilliars of "Dark,...
), and marked Juka's return to music after changing his stage-name to Shaura. XOVER released one mini-album titled XGATE on July 22, 2009. They then released an album called Aureola on October 21. But after releasing a live DVD in November 2009, XOVER disbanded.
VII-Sense
Seventh Sense was going to be a new band by Juka and fellow ex:Moi dix Mois member Kazuno. However, due to Juka withdrawing himself from the music scene, this band was canceled and the Omnibus album that Seventh Sense would have been featured on now features Juka's song "Suimenka" instead. Juka would release a "best of" album on February 6, 2008, called Seventh Sense.In 2010 Seventh Sense was finally formed, written as VII-Sense their first release was the single "Black Bird" on March 24. The other members are; guitarists Erina (ex:Dio - Distraught Overlord
Dio - Distraught Overlord
was a visual kei metal band from Japan, formed on May 14, 2006. Rather than following the usual sound of visual kei, Dio – Distraught Overlord is a darker, heavier band, which combines metal with melodious tones...
) and RayX, Kaz on guitar and piano, bassist Masato (ex:support for XOVER) and Mikage on drums (ex:Hizaki Grace Project, Kisaki Project
Kisaki
is a Japanese musician who has worked with several visual kei bands, including La:Sadie's, Syndrome, Kisaki Project and Phantasmagoria. Besides playing bass and composing music, he also works as a producer, previously for the Matina label and currently for Under Code Production...
).
Discography
Earlier activities:- see: Moi dix MoisMoi dix MoisMoi dix Mois is a musical project founded by Japanese musician and fashion designer Mana in 2002 after his previous band, Malice Mizer, paused activities.- History :...
- see: HIZAKI grace project
Solo as Juka
- "Aravesque" (March 28, 2007)
- Luxurious (June 13, 2007)
- "Suimenka" (水面華, October 5, 2007, sold only at concert at Omotesando Fab)
- "Saint Croix" (October 31, 2007)
- Ura Kizoku "Nihon Tanbi Kakumei" Tour Documentary DVD (裏貴族"日本耽美革命"ツアードキュメンタリーDVD, December 2007)
- Seventh Sense (February 6, 2008, compilation album)
XOVER
- XGATE (July 22, 2009)
- Aureola (October 21, 2009)
VII-Sense
- "Black Bird" (March 24, 2010)
- "Sexual Desire" (June 22, 2010, freely distributed at concerts only)
- "Cell Division" (July 28, 2010)
- The Reminiscence of War (April 20, 2011)