UA (singer)
Encyclopedia
simply known by the stage name
UA (ɯːa), is a Japanese singer-songwriter
. She debuted under Speedstar Records
in 1995 with the single "Horizon".
, she worked as a lounge singer in her hometown. There, she was scouted by producer Hiroshi Fujiwara
. She took on the unusual stage name of UA (a Swahili
word that means both "flower" and "kill") and made her debut with the Fujiwara-produced "Horizon". Her fourth single "Jōnetsu
" became a smash hit and Ua was recognized all over Japan.
After releasing her first album, 11, Ua married actor Jun Murakami
and gave birth to a son. The couple divorced in 2006. In 2000, after two more albums, Ametora and Turbo, Ua took a hiatus from her solo work and formed the band Ajico
with Kenichi Asai
. She resumed her solo activities in 2002 and released her fourth album, Dorobō. The same year she made her acting debut as the leading role in the film Mizu no Onna, as well as contributing to the soundtrack. The film went on to win the Golden Alexander prize for Best Feature-Length Film at the International Thessaloniki Film Festival and was screened at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival
.
In 2003, Ua released Illuminate: The Very Best Songs, her first compilation album. In April that year, she expanded her activities by becoming the hostess named Uua (ɯːɯːa) of an educational TV program on NHK
called Do Re Mi no TV, designed to pass along Japanese traditional songs to children. Utauua, a compilation of the songs performed, was released in 2004. The same year she released her fifth album, Sun, which was mastered by grammy-winning mastering engineer Ted Jensen
.
In 2005, she released her sixth album, Breathe, and a compilation album of collaborations titled Nephews to mark her 10th anniversary.
In 2006, Ua collaborated with renowned jazz musician Naruyoshi Kikuchi on the album Cure Jazz.
In 2007, in addition to releasing her seventh album Golden Green, Ua made a second foray into acting by appearing in Hitoshi Matsumoto
's directorial debut Dai Nipponjin
.
In 2008, Ua revealed that she married again and gave birth to a daughter, in August. In December, she released released the single "2008", followed by her eighth album, Atta, in July 2009.
In April 2010, Ua released her fourth live album, entitled Haluto Live.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
UA (ɯːa), is a Japanese 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...
. She debuted under Speedstar Records
Victor Entertainment
is a subsidiary of Japan Victor Company that produces and distributes music, movies and other entertainment products such as anime and television shows in Japan. It was formerly known as...
in 1995 with the single "Horizon".
Biography
Ua was born Kaori Shima and grew up in Suita, Osaka. After graduating from Saga University of Arts in KyotoKyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
, she worked as a lounge singer in her hometown. There, she was scouted by producer Hiroshi Fujiwara
Hiroshi Fujiwara
is a Japanese musician, producer, and designer.He is known as the godfather of Harajuku culture and is a globally influential streetwear designer, including being the pioneer for Nike's "HTM" line, and the "Fenom" line for Levis....
. She took on the unusual stage name of UA (a Swahili
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
word that means both "flower" and "kill") and made her debut with the Fujiwara-produced "Horizon". Her fourth single "Jōnetsu
Jōnetsu
- Vinyl :- Charts, certifications and sales :-External links:*...
" became a smash hit and Ua was recognized all over Japan.
After releasing her first album, 11, Ua married actor Jun Murakami
Jun Murakami
is a Japanese actor. He was given a Best Supporting Actor award at the 2001 Yokohama Film Festival.-Selected filmography: is a Japanese actor. He was given a Best Supporting Actor award at the 2001 Yokohama Film Festival.-Selected filmography:...
and gave birth to a son. The couple divorced in 2006. In 2000, after two more albums, Ametora and Turbo, Ua took a hiatus from her solo work and formed the band Ajico
Ajico
Ajico was a band, formed as a side project by Japanese singer Ua, and Kenichi Asai of Blankey Jet City. In the summer of 1999 after supplying music for two of Ua's songs, Asai and Ua decided to create a music group, and Ajico was born.-Singles:...
with Kenichi Asai
Blankey Jet City
Blankey Jet City was a rock and roll/rockabilly trio from Japan.- Members : Vocals, Guitar* He also plays in Sherbets and Jude and was a part of Ajico...
. She resumed her solo activities in 2002 and released her fourth album, Dorobō. The same year she made her acting debut as the leading role in the film Mizu no Onna, as well as contributing to the soundtrack. The film went on to win the Golden Alexander prize for Best Feature-Length Film at the International Thessaloniki Film Festival and was screened at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival
2003 Cannes Film Festival
The 2003 Cannes Film Festival started on May 14 and ran until May 25. The Palme d'Or went to the American film Elephant by Gus Van Sant.-Jury:* Patrice Chéreau, President * Aishwarya Rai * Meg Ryan * Karin Viard...
.
In 2003, Ua released Illuminate: The Very Best Songs, her first compilation album. In April that year, she expanded her activities by becoming the hostess named Uua (ɯːɯːa) of an educational TV program on NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
called Do Re Mi no TV, designed to pass along Japanese traditional songs to children. Utauua, a compilation of the songs performed, was released in 2004. The same year she released her fifth album, Sun, which was mastered by grammy-winning mastering engineer Ted Jensen
Ted Jensen
Ted Jensen is an American recording engineer. Jensen is the chief mastering engineer at Sterling Sound. He started his career as a mastering engineer in 1976 and is currently the most active Mastering Engineer in the industry...
.
In 2005, she released her sixth album, Breathe, and a compilation album of collaborations titled Nephews to mark her 10th anniversary.
In 2006, Ua collaborated with renowned jazz musician Naruyoshi Kikuchi on the album Cure Jazz.
In 2007, in addition to releasing her seventh album Golden Green, Ua made a second foray into acting by appearing in Hitoshi Matsumoto
Hitoshi Matsumoto
, or Matchan as he is commonly known, is a Japanese comedian best known as the boke half the popular owarai duo Downtown alongside Masatoshi Hamada...
's directorial debut Dai Nipponjin
Big Man Japan
is a 2007 Japanese film written, directed and starring Hitoshi Matsumoto. It was well-received by critics in the U.S., after many months of being shown at various festivals and film events. It has received a "Fresh" score of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes.-Story:...
.
In 2008, Ua revealed that she married again and gave birth to a daughter, in August. In December, she released released the single "2008", followed by her eighth album, Atta, in July 2009.
In April 2010, Ua released her fourth live album, entitled Haluto Live.
Discography
- 1111 (album)11 is the first studio album by Japanese singer-songwriter Ua, released on October 23, 1996. The album was re-issued on September 22, 2005.- Track listing :- Charts, certifications and sales :- External links :...
(1996) - Ametora (1998)
- Turbo (1999)
- DorobōDoroboDorobo is a derogatory umbrella term for several unrelated hunter-gatherer groups of Kenya and Tanzania....
(2002) - Sun (2004)
- Breathe (2005)
- Golden Green (2007)
- Atta (2009)
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2002 | Mizu no Onna | Ryo Shimizu | Lead role |
| 2007 | Dai Nipponjin Big Man Japan is a 2007 Japanese film written, directed and starring Hitoshi Matsumoto. It was well-received by critics in the U.S., after many months of being shown at various festivals and film events. It has received a "Fresh" score of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes.-Story:... |
Manager Kobori | |
| 2009 | Eatrip | Herself | Documentary movie |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2002 | Shiritsu Tantei Hama Mike | Naomi | Episode 2 |
| 2003–2006 | Do Re Mi no TV | Uua | |