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Kamijo (musician)

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Kamijo
Kamijo performing with Versailles in 2010
Background information
Also known asShoki
BornJuly 19
Hiratsuka, Kanagawa
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
Years active1994–present
Labels
Member ofVersailles
Formerly ofLareine
WebsiteOfficial website

Kamijo is a Japanese singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer.[1] He is best known as lead singer of the visual kei bands Lareine and Versailles. He has also been the head of two independent record labels; the first being Applause Records (formed in 2000), and currently Chateau Agency, which was formerly known as Sherow Artist Society from 2006 to 2016.

Kamijo began his career in 1994 with the rock band Lareine. After 13 years, including a brief period where he was the sole member, Kamijo ended the group in 2006. He then co-founded then symphonic power metal band Versailles in 2007. When they paused activities in 2012, Kamijo began a solo career the following year. Versailles resumed activities in December 2015.

Early life

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Kamijo was raised in a family of musicians; his mother and grandmother were both piano players, and his grandfather a violinist.[citation needed] He has cited Paul Mauriat and X Japan as influences.[2][3] His first steps in rock music were in the mid-1990s, when he worked as a roadie for the visual kei rock band Malice Mizer. He shared this job with Mayu, a guitarist with whom he formed the band Lareine.[1][4]

Career

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1994–2007: Lareine

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Main article: Lareine

In August 1994, Kamijo and Mayu (then using the names Shoki and Kaito respectively) met for the first time while were working as roadies for Malice Mizer. In November of that year, they decided to form a band together, which they named Laliene. Along with guitarist Sakuren and drummer Kyouka, they began to play. Later, bass player Emiru entered the band, completing the first line-up.

In March 1996, Laliene held a live concert for their first anniversary, where they changed the name of the band to Lareine. That same year they released their first recording "Saikai no Hana", distributed freely at the anniversary concert in a limited number of 100 copies. They signed with Sony Music Japan in 1998 and released the songs "Metamorphose", "Fiançailles", "Fuyu Tokyo" and "Lillie Charlotte". After years of releasing albums, EPs and singles, during a short separation of Lareine, Kamijo created the band New Sodmy, and recorded two albums and five singles.[5] New Sodmy disbanded while Lareine was reformed in 2003 and started releasing new material.

Lareine finally came to its end, after having played their last live on October 31, 2006.[5] The last recording of Lareine consists of 10 piano versions of their most popular songs.

2007–2012: Versailles

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Main article: Versailles (band)

In March 2007, Kamijo and Hizaki (ex-Sulfuric Acid), and Jasmine You (ex-Jakura), formed the band Versailles. Later, Teru (ex-Aikaryu) and Yuki (ex-Sugar Trip), who were recommended by the Rock May Kan venue in Tokyo, joined the band. Hizaki, Jasmine You and Teru previously played together as part of Hizaki Grace Project.

Kamijo (center) performing with Versailles in Santiago, Chile in 2010

Kamijo and Hizaki created the concept of Versailles in the autumn of 2006 and spent six months gathering members to express it. Their band concept is "the absolute youshikibi (beauty of form) sound and extremes of aestheticism". On March 30, 2007 the details of the band were announced. They released promotional material through the internet, set up an English language page on MySpace, and had several interviews with foreign press. Versailles made their first appearance with a showcase on June 23, followed by their first performance on June 24. On these dates they also distributed their first single and DVD single, "The Revenant Choir".[6]

The band signed with the German CLJ Records label and released the EP Lyrical Sympathy on October 31, both in Japan and Europe. Their song "The Love From A Dead Orchestra" also appeared on a compilation album released by Sony BMG in Germany on November 9, called Tokyo Rock City.[6] On September 23, 2008, Kamijo modeled clothing for the brand Alice and the Pirates on the runway at Individual Fashion Expo IV.[7]

In January 2011, he and the rest of Versailles started starring in their own TV mini drama called Onegai Kanaete Versailles (おねがいかなえてヴェルサイユ, "Fulfill My Wish Versailles"). The show also starred Rina Koike and aired on Mainichi Broadcasting System and TV Kanagawa until March.[8] On December 20, 2012, Versailles gave their last concert and ceased all activities.[9] The band released four albums, one EP, eight singles, two live albums, ten music videos, one compilation albums and several DVDs.

2013–present: Solo career and Versailles

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In January 2013, Kamijo announced he would start a solo career, with his first release being the single "Louis ~Enketsu no La Vie en Rose~" on August 28.[10] While all the other members of Versailles later formed the band Jupiter with a new singer, and released their first album the same day as Kamijo's single.[11][12] The music video for Kamijo's single features Malice Mizer and Moi dix Mois leader Mana.[13] Kamijo also sang backup on the 2013 debut album Heartstrings by Aisenshi, the new band of Eizo Sakamoto (Anthem) and She-Ja (Volcano).[14]

For his December 28, 2015 concert at Zepp DiverCity, which was the finale of a world tour that celebrated his 20th anniversary as a musician, Kamijo recruited multiple members of his former bands to perform with him. This included a reunited Versailles and New Sodmy, and the classic lineup of Lareine.[15] Versailles then fully resumed activities on August 7, 2016.[16][17] In September 2018, Kamijo was one of three guest vocalists who performed with Malice Mizer for their 25th anniversary reunion concerts.[18]

Discography

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See also: Lareine discography and Versailles discography
Solo

Studio albums

  • Symphony of the Vampire (March 5, 2014; mini-album)
  • Heart (September 24, 2014)
  • Sang (March 21, 2018)
  • Oscar (October 23, 2022)
  • Violet Dawn (July 31, 2024; mini-album)

Other albums

  • 20th Anniversary All Time Best ~Kakumei no Keifu~ (20th Anniversary All Time Best ～革命の系譜～, June 10, 2015; compilation album)
  • Royal Blood -Revival Best- (July 15, 2015; self-cover album)
  • Dream Live "Symphony of The Vampire" Kamijo with Orchestra (July 17, 2019; live album)

Singles

  • "Louis ~Enketsu no La Vie en Rose~" (Louis ～艶血のラヴィアンローズ～, August 28, 2013)
  • "Moulin Rouge" (June 18, 2014)
  • "Yamiyo no Lion" (闇夜のライオン, July 16, 2014)
  • "Castrato" (カストラート, May 10, 2017)
  • "Mademoiselle" (September 27, 2017)
  • "Nosferatu" (January 16, 2018)
  • "Sang -Another Story-" (March 21, 2018)
  • "Sang ~Kimi ni Okuru Namae~" (Sang ～君に贈る名前～, July 18, 2018)
  • "Eye of Providence" (July 24, 2019)
  • "Temple ~Blood Sucking for Praying~" (November 27, 2019)
  • "Symbol of the Dragon" (February 26, 2020)
  • "Persona Grata" (April 29, 2020)
  • "Behind the Mask" (August 31, 2021)
  • "Utsukushi Hibi no Kakera" (美しい日々の欠片, January 31, 2024)
With New Sodmy
  • Confess to a Crime (2002)
  • Confess to a Love (2002)

References

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  1. ^ a b "Blue Illusion - Kamijo". altervista.org. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  2. ^ "KAMIJO×國分功一郎の異色対談　ヴィジュアル系はいかにして海外で支持を広げてきたか" (in Japanese). Real Sound. March 30, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  3. ^ "KAMIJO×國分功一郎が語るX JAPANの功績　ヴィジュアル系の「自由」と「品格」とは？" (in Japanese). Real Sound. March 31, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  4. ^ jpopasia. "KAMIJO - singer - jrock". JpopAsia. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  5. ^ a b "LAREINE". JaME U.S.A. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  6. ^ a b http://archive.metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/700/music_beat.asp[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Individual Fashion EXPO IV - Backstage Interviews". jame-world.com. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  8. ^ "Versailles to act in a drama". shattered-tranquility.net. Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  9. ^ "An Important Announcement From Versailles". versailles.syncl.jp. July 20, 2012. Archived from the original on October 23, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  10. ^ "KAMIJO's First Solo Single". jame-world.com. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  11. ^ "Versailles members create new band, 'Jupiter'". tokyohive.com. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  12. ^ "Jupiter to release first album!". musicjapanplus.jp. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  13. ^ "Versailles and MALICE MIZER's Leaders' Miraculous Joint Appearance". barks.jp. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  14. ^ "Interview with KAMIJO". jame-world.com. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  15. ^ "LAREINE、Versailles、NEW SODMYとKAMIJOの歴代バンド全メンバーが集結したLIVE DVDの発売が7/13に決定". Barks (in Japanese). May 1, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  16. ^ "Versailles to Hold 9th Anniversary Live". jame-world.com. February 10, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  17. ^ "耽美派最強バンド・ヴェルサイユが舞浜アンフィシアターにて完全復活". Barks (in Japanese). March 24, 2016. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  18. ^ "【ライヴレポート】MALICE MIZER＜25th Anniversary Special＞、「Kamiも降臨しています」". Barks (in Japanese). Retrieved December 31, 2020.
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