Miyavi (album)

Miyavi is the eighth studio album by Japanese musician Miyavi. It was released on June 19, 2013 in Japan, and on March and April 2014 in Europe and United States. It charted as number eight on Oricon and Billboard Japan.

Background

The album is Miyavi's eighth studio album, and second since founded his own company J-Glam. The album was released on June 19, 2013 in Japan by EMI Records Japan, and later in March and April 2014 in Europe and United States by Wrasse Records. It is also available worldwide as a digital release on iTunes Store. It includes some were previously released singles as well new ones, "Day 1", "Ahead Of The Light", "Horizon" and "Secret". The music video of "Guard You" was also filmed. The song was written after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, as remembrance of precious people you need to leave behind to guard them. Its video features photos from "Under The Same Sky" project, with scenes of sky and hands by Miyavi's fans.

The limited edition in CD/DVD format, features a bonus DVD with exclusive live footage of "Ahead Of The Light" tour in 2013, and documentary about making the album.

Miyavi

Takamasa Ishihara (石原 貴雅, Ishihara Takamasa, born September 14, 1981), better known by his stage name Miyavi, is a Japanese singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actor. He has been active since 1999, first as guitarist for the now defunct visual kei rock band Dué le Quartz and then as a solo artist starting in 2002. In 2007, he became a member of the rock supergroup S.K.I.N., and in 2009 founded his own company, J-Glam. He toured worldwide several times, with over two hundred shows. After becoming a father Miyavi toned down his on-stage attire. He is known for his finger-slapping style of playing a guitar.

Early life

Miyavi was born in the Nishikujō district in Konohana-ku ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, to a Zainichi Korean father and a Japanese mother. After the first grade, he moved to Kawanishi. Miyavi says that as a child he was a good student and enjoyed playing football. In the second year of junior high school, a sports injury prevented him from pursuing a professional career in sports. Instead, at the age of 15, he learned to play the guitar. He bought a guitar and began covering songs by Ray Charles.