Formerly known as Miyabi, this 22 year old ex. Due’le Quartz guitarist went solo in September 2002, when his beloved band disbanded. Immediately setting off into the world of a solo career, in October of 2002, he released his first solo album, Gagaku.He informally introduced his brand new look and wide range of sound to the world under his new name, “Miyavi”.
He released his first Promotional video “Girls, be ambitious” shortly after his album, flashing new piercings, tattoos and Fotus attire. While older fans of Miyabi were disappointed with the lack of hard visual appearance as he had given during his Due’le Quartz days, a stream of new fans leapt upon the bouncing ball of energy. Since then, he has released Promotional videos for “Pop is dead,” “Shindemo Boogie Woogie,” “Jibun Kimeki 2003,” “Coo Quack Cluck –ku.ku.ru-,“ and “Joushou Kaidou.”
Sporting three facial peircings and shiny new tattoos littered over his torso, Miyavi grinned his studded lips into thousands of hearts with his mass of energy. His eccentric looks changing with each turn, he’s gone through a wide variety of visuals and sounds. From visual appeals of Vampires, Geishas, clowns and futuristic rock stars, to audible appeals of hard rock, acoustic, and melody driven oddities. Changing in and out of styles with hard rock sounds such as “Joushou Kaidou”, to acoustic melodies of “Ashita tenki ni nare” , speedy sounds of “ossan ossan ore nanbo” to bouncing tunes such as “Shindemo boogie woogie” and “Tarirari tarara.” His style changes with each turn of his head, leaving him with something for everyone of the rock-enjoying genre to appreciate.
Vocally, Miyavi has a wide range of verbal abilities, and is able to reach depths thought impossible for his general vocal range. Making an array of strange, undeterminable noises in the mix of his music that set the wacky mood of the artist himself.
On November 30th of 2003, Miyavi released his second album, Galyuu, and quickly expressed a new display of sounds, proving once again, that he has many surprises in store for his fans. Leaving Miyavi as a must see for any rock fan.
Miyavi has also worked with a collection of other artists, alongside and in collective concerts with the likes of Mucc, Merri, Deadman, Gazette, Daigo * Stardust, and many other indes artist at the Beauti-Fools fest during December of 2003. Before hand, in October of 2003, he played along side PATA ( ex. X-Japan), Ru-ku (Canta), Chirolyn (Ex. Hide with Spread Beaver), and Shinya (ex. Luna Sea), all well-known musicians throughout the Japanese rock community.
Miyavi has also had his hand in modeling since before his solo career. He’s been in various issues of the Gothic and Lolita Bible, a popular clothing, and accessory catalogue among rock fans in Japan. Also modeling Fotus within his music videos and photo shoots, gaining the company a considerable amount of popularity with Miyavi’s solo career. Also delving into the Movie business, Miyavi’s first movie, “Oresama”, was released in Japan. Originally intended for only two separate showing dates, one on the 28th of August 2003, and the other on September 7th, but growing in popularity, more showings were later added. The DVD/VHS of the movie was released recently, on the 25th of February. The movie is partially based on the hardships Miyavi himself encountered in the process of becoming a musician, and the movie is about just that.
Upcoming events on Miyavi’s agenda, he’s scheduled to tour throughout Japan, and during the month of May, into early June, he’s scheduled for a US tour. He will be appearing and performing in selected conventions spread over the country, in Illinois, Florida, California, and Texas, which is scheduled to be formally announced in Japan sometime in March. Being his first time to visit America, the conventions are expecting a big turn out to see one of Japan’s brightest faces.
We bid him good luck and safe travels during his tours both in Japan and here in the US.
So far, the young, hyperactive and talented Musician fails to show signs of slowing down in his reach for the stars. One should expect many great things from Miyavi in the not-so-distant future and beyond.
Here are some sample songs from Miyavi.(note: if download will not work by clicking, right click the link and hit "save target as")
Miyavi Samples
Back to the Main Index
Back to the Article Index
