Mana (musician)
Encyclopedia
Mana is a Japan
ese 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 Mois
.
founded Malice Mizer
in August. Mana was the band's lead guitarist, chief songwriter, choreographer and overall artistic director. He also founded his own indie music label, Midi:Nette
, on which most of Malice Mizer
's work was released. After Malice Mizer
went on an indefinite hiatus in 2001, Mana founded his solo project, Moi dix Mois
. He composes all of the music, writes the lyrics, produces, directs and designs the members' stage costumes.
In 1999, Mana created his own clothing label, Moi-même-Moitié
, which features two lines of designs named "Elegant Gothic Lolita" and "Elegant Gothic Aristocrat". He regularly appears in the scene's top publication, the Gothic & Lolita Bible, modeling his own designs and giving updates on his various other projects.
In 2002, Mana signed the electronic visual kei
duo Schwarz Stein
to Midi:Nette
and went on to produce for them. Despite their growing success, Schwarz Stein disbanded in March 2004, and Mana has since been looking for new bands to sign and produce.
In 2004, Mana started to branch out internationally by opening his fan club to overseas members (a rarity amongst Japanese musicians) and setting up international distribution channels for his music and fashion. He played his first concerts with Moi dix Mois
outside Japan in March 2005 in Munich, Germany and Paris, France. During which he was interviewed and featured on the cover of European music magazines, such as the German goth magazine Orkus.
At the end of 2007 Moi dix Mois
returned to Europe, performing in France (a DVD of the concert was released on January 30, 2008) and Germany, Finland, Sweden, Spain and Italy.
Besides focusing on Moi dix Mois
and his fashion label, Mana is also currently producing solo vocalist and cellist Kanon Wakeshima
, who debuted in May 2008 on Sony Defstar Records.
He has, however, spoken on a few occasions. At a 1996 Malice Mizer
interview on the TV show Hot Wave, he apparently accidentally replied with his name and his position in the band when introduced on the show. Throughout the rest of the interview, Mana whispered in Gackt
's ear.
In another interview, promoting their single "Gekka no Yasoukyoku", he was sitting on the floor. When the interviewer went to Mana and asked him what he was doing and why he was sitting that way, he replied "It's cute".
He has also offered his vocals to the song, "Kyomu no Naka de no Yuugi", though his voice was heavily distorted.
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 musician and fashion designer, best known for his role as leader and guitarist of the 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...
band Malice Mizer
Malice Mizer
Malice Mizer was a visual kei rock band from Japan. They were active from August 1992 to December 2001. Formed by Mana and Közi, the band's name stands for "malice and misery", extracted from "nothing but a being of malice and misery" — their reply to the question "what is human?"...
. His clothing label, Moi-même-Moitié
Moi-même-Moitié
Moi-même-Moitié is the Gothic Lolita fashion label of Mana, the co-founder and former guitarist of the Visual Kei Malice Mizer. It was founded in 1999 and features the specific styles of Elegant Gothic Lolita, which blends the innocence and cuteness of the Lolita fashion with the darkness and...
, helped popularize Japan's Gothic Lolita fashion movement. Mana is currently working on his solo 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 :...
.
Biography
Mana was born on March 19 in Hiroshima. At an early age, he was introduced to classical music by his parents, who were both music teachers. Mana started making music when he was in high school, inspired by Mötley Crüe. His first known band was the punk group Girl'e, active around 1989-1990, which under the name Serina he played guitar for. He then played bass for Matenrou (摩天楼, "Skyscraper"), active 1990-1992. After leaving Matenrou in April 1992, Mana and guitarist KöziKözi
Közi is a Japanese musician who plays guitar, piano, keyboard and synthesizer. Közi is best known as guitarist for the visual kei rock band Malice Mizer. After the band went on an indefinite hiatus in 2001, he joined the industrial rock act Eve of Destiny and also started a solo career...
founded Malice Mizer
Malice Mizer
Malice Mizer was a visual kei rock band from Japan. They were active from August 1992 to December 2001. Formed by Mana and Közi, the band's name stands for "malice and misery", extracted from "nothing but a being of malice and misery" — their reply to the question "what is human?"...
in August. Mana was the band's lead guitarist, chief songwriter, choreographer and overall artistic director. He also founded his own indie music label, Midi:Nette
Midi:Nette
Midi:Nette is an independent record label founded by the Japanese musician and fashion designer Mana. Initially it released most of the discography of the band Mana was in at the time, Malice Mizer, which went on an indefinite hiatus on 11 December 2001....
, on which most of Malice Mizer
Malice Mizer
Malice Mizer was a visual kei rock band from Japan. They were active from August 1992 to December 2001. Formed by Mana and Közi, the band's name stands for "malice and misery", extracted from "nothing but a being of malice and misery" — their reply to the question "what is human?"...
's work was released. After Malice Mizer
Malice Mizer
Malice Mizer was a visual kei rock band from Japan. They were active from August 1992 to December 2001. Formed by Mana and Közi, the band's name stands for "malice and misery", extracted from "nothing but a being of malice and misery" — their reply to the question "what is human?"...
went on an indefinite hiatus in 2001, Mana founded his solo 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 :...
. He composes all of the music, writes the lyrics, produces, directs and designs the members' stage costumes.
In 1999, Mana created his own clothing label, Moi-même-Moitié
Moi-même-Moitié
Moi-même-Moitié is the Gothic Lolita fashion label of Mana, the co-founder and former guitarist of the Visual Kei Malice Mizer. It was founded in 1999 and features the specific styles of Elegant Gothic Lolita, which blends the innocence and cuteness of the Lolita fashion with the darkness and...
, which features two lines of designs named "Elegant Gothic Lolita" and "Elegant Gothic Aristocrat". He regularly appears in the scene's top publication, the Gothic & Lolita Bible, modeling his own designs and giving updates on his various other projects.
In 2002, Mana signed the electronic 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...
duo Schwarz Stein
Schwarz Stein
Schwarz Stein was a Japanese visual kei electronic music duo formed by Hora and Kaya in 2001 and disbanded in 2004.-History:...
to Midi:Nette
Midi:Nette
Midi:Nette is an independent record label founded by the Japanese musician and fashion designer Mana. Initially it released most of the discography of the band Mana was in at the time, Malice Mizer, which went on an indefinite hiatus on 11 December 2001....
and went on to produce for them. Despite their growing success, Schwarz Stein disbanded in March 2004, and Mana has since been looking for new bands to sign and produce.
In 2004, Mana started to branch out internationally by opening his fan club to overseas members (a rarity amongst Japanese musicians) and setting up international distribution channels for his music and fashion. He played his first concerts with 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 :...
outside Japan in March 2005 in Munich, Germany and Paris, France. During which he was interviewed and featured on the cover of European music magazines, such as the German goth magazine Orkus.
At the end of 2007 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 :...
returned to Europe, performing in France (a DVD of the concert was released on January 30, 2008) and Germany, Finland, Sweden, Spain and Italy.
Besides focusing on 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 :...
and his fashion label, Mana is also currently producing solo vocalist and cellist Kanon Wakeshima
Kanon Wakeshima
is a Japanese singer and cellist. Produced by Mana, Wakeshima debuted under the DefStar Records label on May 28, 2008 with the single "Still Doll", the ending theme for the anime adaptation of the manga series Vampire Knight. She also provided the voice for a maid that appears in the eighth episode...
, who debuted in May 2008 on Sony Defstar Records.
Public behavior
Mana has rarely spoken in public. In his filmed interviews, he whispers into the ear of a band member or confidante, who then relates his words back to the interviewer. He has also been known to simply look at the camera as subtitles appear, as well as using Yes/No cards and expressing himself in mime.He has, however, spoken on a few occasions. At a 1996 Malice Mizer
Malice Mizer
Malice Mizer was a visual kei rock band from Japan. They were active from August 1992 to December 2001. Formed by Mana and Közi, the band's name stands for "malice and misery", extracted from "nothing but a being of malice and misery" — their reply to the question "what is human?"...
interview on the TV show Hot Wave, he apparently accidentally replied with his name and his position in the band when introduced on the show. Throughout the rest of the interview, Mana whispered in Gackt
Gackt
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, voice actor and author. Usually referred to by his mononymous stage name, he is known for his career as a solo artist and as the former vocalist for the defunct visual kei rock band Malice Mizer....
's ear.
In another interview, promoting their single "Gekka no Yasoukyoku", he was sitting on the floor. When the interviewer went to Mana and asked him what he was doing and why he was sitting that way, he replied "It's cute".
He has also offered his vocals to the song, "Kyomu no Naka de no Yuugi", though his voice was heavily distorted.
Band history
- Ves.tearge - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(? high school) - Girl'e - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
as Serina (1989–1990) - Matenrou (摩天楼) - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1991–1992) - Malice MizerMalice MizerMalice Mizer was a visual kei rock band from Japan. They were active from August 1992 to December 2001. Formed by Mana and Közi, the band's name stands for "malice and misery", extracted from "nothing but a being of malice and misery" — their reply to the question "what is human?"...
- guitar, synth guitar, keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, programming (1992–2001) - 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 :...
- guitars, programming (2002–present)
Other appearances
- Art Marju Duchain - guitar (1994 Visual Art Collection Vol.1 ~喜劇的晚餐~ - 1996.11.08 "Visual Art Collection" ~喜劇的晚餐~, Shibuya O-West)
- Mana's Not Dead - drums ("Dis Inferno Vol. V" at Shibuya O-East on 2007.12.26, Visual-Kei DVD Magazine Vol. 2)