[AFASG16] I LOVE ANISONG: Day 3 – LADIES’ NIGHT

Anime Festival Asia 2016 is a mere month away, and overnight the lineup for the annual I LOVE ANISONG concert was announced. This year, we are about to see a stellar cast of artists who are set to blow the roof off the convention centre once again.

Aimer

Last year, Aimer rocked the Suntec City Convention Center with her impressive debut on the I LOVE ANISONG Stage, and we can more of the same this year. Her strong vocals, combined with her impressive stage presence, and mastery of both English and Japanese makes her a force to be reckoned with.

Exposed to music at a young age, Aimer picked up the piano during her years in elementary school, and the guitar in junior high.

Since her performance in Singapore, Aimer has released four singles, ninelie, a collaboration with EGOIST’s chelly and ending theme to Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, insane dream / us, Choucho Musubi, and Falling Alone, which was released digitally. She is also set to release an album titled, daydream, later this month. The album is set to feature collaborations with popular artists like ONE OK ROCK’s Taka, EGOIST’s chelly, and RADWIMPS’s Yojiro Noda.

She is also set to perform the ending theme for the anime Natsume Yuujin-Chou Go, Akane Sasu.

For those unfamiliar with her work, here’s a taste of what Aimer has to offer.

Alisa Takigawa

Since a young age, Alisa Takigawa has displayed a huge love for music. With the aim of becoming a singer firm in her mind at a tender age, she joined a light music club in junior high, formed a band, playing the guitar and providing the vocals.  While the band focused on covers, they eventually started playing original songs. The band was not meant to last, though; as they disbanded in 2012, undeterred she decided that she would continue to pursue her dream, this time as a solo artist, and she has not looked back since.

Alisa has risen to prominence since her debut in 2015, winning the ’30th Japan Golden Disc award’ for her part in singing the themes to ‘The Seven Deadly Sins’, ‘Sayonara no Yukue’, and ‘Owarimonogatari’. Online, her popularity has also soared, as she accumulated hundreds of thousands of views for her videos on YouTube. With her first one-man live tour under her belt, selling out her pit stop at the famed Ebisu LIQUIDROOM,  Alisa and her immense talent will prove to be a popular figure to if the I Love Anisong concert fans and newcomers alike.

Here’s a sample of what Concert-goers can look forward to:

Ami Wajima

A relative newcomer to the music industry, Ami Wajima was a winner of the Pony Canyon x Horipro next generation anisong singer audition prior to her debut. Since then, she has released two singles, Gensou Drive, the opening theme for the anime, Mayoiga, and Eien Loop, the second ending to the anime,  Kuromukuro. Her raw, emotional voice is bound to strike a chord with members of the audience.

Here’s a little taste of what she can offer during her performance in Singapore.

HoneyWorks / CHiCO with HoneyWorks

HoneyWorks are a unique talent in the music industry, bringing together beautiful illustrations and mostly upbeat rocky songs. The group comprises mainly of Gom (Composer), Shito (Composer), and Yamako (Illustrator). The group is supported by Oji (Guitarist), Mogelatte (Illustrator), Rocoru (Illustrator), ziro (Video Producer), Sana (Vocalist), and cake (Pianist).

Most well known for their songs “Suki Kirai”, “Hatsukoi no Ehon”, and “Kokuhaku Yokou Renshuu”. The group made their major debut in January of 2014, with the album “Zutto Maekara Sukideshita”. Light novels part of the Kokuhaku Jikkō Iinkai ~Renai Series~ based on the songs “Kokuhaku Yokou Renshuu”, Yakimochi no Kotae” and “Hatsukoi no Ehon”.

The group has also released a movie Zutto Mae Kara Suki Deshita: Kokuhaku Jikkou Iinkai which was an adaptation of the aforementioned Light novel series.

In 2014, CHiCO joined the group to form CHiCO with HoneyWorks.

Like Aimer, HoneyWorks/CHiCO with HoneyWork made their debut on I LOVE ANISONG stage to a crowd who actively participated in the performance. For those who missed last year’s performance or are new to HoneyWork/ CHiCO with HoneyWorks here a sample of the group’s unique talents.

May’n

A stalwart of the I LOVE ANISONG concert, May’n will be performing in her 8th I LOVE ANISONG concert here in Singapore. Making her debut as the singing voice of Cheryl Nome in the anime Macross Frontier, May’n quickly captured the hearts of fans with a powerful voice and commanding stage presence.

Success has always been a part of May’n career with her first solo Budokan concert selling out in just a day, since then she has grown from strength to strength, performing the themes to various anime series, going on tours, both within Japan and Internationally, performing to sold out crowds. However, despite her success, she never forgets her roots in Singapore, where she made her International debut on the I LOVE ANISONG stage in 2008.

As always fans can look forward to an energetic performance from the veteran, well versed in Singlish, May’n is not shy to sprout a few Singlish phrases on stage to the delight of local fans.

If you have never heard of May’n where have you been? Here’s a little bit of what she has to offer.