Kanon Wakeshima

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Kanon Wakeshima


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Background = solo_singer
Alias =
Born = July 3rd, 1988 (age 20)
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Genre = Neoclassical, Dark ambient
Occupation = Singer / cellist
Years_active = 2008-present
Label = DefSTAR Records/Sony Music Japan
Associated_acts = Mana
URL = [http://www.kanonweb.jp/ Official Website]

nihongo|Kanon Wakeshima|分島 花音|Wakeshima Kanon is a Japanese singer and cellist. She is produced by Mana [ [http://www.hotexpress.co.jp/news/080325_kanon/ 分島花音 news / 音楽情報サイト:hotexpress ] ] and debuted with her first single, "Still Doll", on May 28th, 2008. "still doll" was used as the ending theme for the anime "Vampire Knight". [ [http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arch/DF/kanonwakeshima/m_disco.html Sony Music Online Japan : 分島 花音 : ディスコグラフィ ] ]

Wakeshima has also provided the voice for the maid in episode eight of "Vampire Knight" [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=9009] , and will provide the ending theme for the second season.

Early life

Wakeshima has played the cello since she was three years old [ [http://www.kanonweb.jp/profile/eng.html 分島花音 ｜ Kanon Wakeshima ] ] and began playing in string ensembles in middle school. By the age of fifteen she had participated in a number of joint concerts and classical music performances. She began to write her own music towards the end of middle school and performed as a vocalist for the first time in senior high school.

She attended an audition at Sony Music Entertainment and passed, signing a deal with Sony's DefSTAR Records. [ [http://www.kanonweb.jp/profile/eng.html 分島花音 ｜ Kanon Wakeshima ] ]

Musical style

Wakeshima has cited musical artists such as Jacqueline du Pré, Emilie Simon, Claude Debussy and Erik Satie as musical influences and favourite artists. Her producer Mana described "Still Doll" as "ambient, French and electronica" in his blog.

She originally played the cello in classical ensembles, beginning in the baroque section of a classical concert at fifteen, and began to perform as a singer-cellist at the age of sixteen. [ [http://www.kanonweb.jp/profile/eng.html 分島花音 ｜ Kanon Wakeshima ] ]
Wakeshima has stated that she had not originally planned to use the cello as an accompaniment but decided to when she recorded her demo tape, after experimenting with the piano. She originally recorded vocal and cello parts separately and layered them, but later learned to play and sing simultaneously. [ [http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/jpop/essentials/kanon_wakeshima.html CD Japan interview] ]

Discography

Wakeshima's debut single, "Still Doll", was released by DefSTAR Records May 28, 2008 [ [http://www.sonymusicshop.jp/detail.asp?associate=SMO&goods=DFCL-1467 Sony Music Shop ] ] and features her performance of the closing theme of the anime series "Vampire Knight". The song's lyrics were written by Wakeshima and the music by Malice Mizer and Moi dix Mois guitarist Mana. The song reached #33 on the Oricon Weekly singles. [ [http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/762114/1/ 分島花音-リリース-ORICON STYLE ミュージック ] ] The single also features the song "Kuroi Torikago" along with a music box version of "Still Doll." Her second single, "Suna No Oshiro" is set for release on November 12, 2008 and is currently featured as the ending theme for "Vampire Knight Guilty", the second season of Vampire Knight. The single will also feature the song "Skip Turn Step", as well as another music box version of "Suna No Oshiro" and instrumentals of both songs (instrumentals can only be found on the Limited Edition copies.) [ [http://www.kanonweb.jp/disco/index.html ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.kanonweb.jp Kanon Wakeshima Official Website]