Japanese singer-songwriter Aimer, who is known for her iconic husky voice, released two albums simultaneously back in April―Sun Dance and Penny Rain―which served as the first albums she had released in two and a half years. Without time to even catch her breath, she immediately dropped a brand new track the following month entitled STAND-ALONE, which was used for the Japanese drama Anata no Ban Desu, and reached No. 1 across Japanese music charts.

Her 17th single Torches was released last month, and served as the ending theme for the ongoing TV anime series Vinland Saga which began airing in July.

Marie Antoinette in Court Dress by Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, 1778 (Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien)

“The Habsburg Dynasty 600 Years of Imperial Collections” is an upcoming exhibition set to take place at the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo from October 19, 2019 to January 26, 2020 in commemoration of Japan and Austria’s 150 years of friendship. The exhibition was taking requests for musicians to create a theme song based on someone from the House of Habsburg for the event. Aimer wrote her new song marie based on Marie Antoinette, and it has been selected for the exhibition.

It has yet to be announced when marie will be released, but a TV ad for the exhibition has been posted on TBS’s official YouTube channel and contains a snippet of the track.

Speaking on the occasion, Aimer commented: “The stories of the live of those in the House of Habsburg are filled with conflicting emotions of joy and sadness, privilege and downfall. I received a request to write a song based on any one of theme, and I was immediately reminded of Marie Antoinette.”

She continues: “I drew on her life in my own way in the song marie, from her getting married in France at the age of 14 to the grand final moments of her life. I hope people like the fusion of my voice with the sublime sound of the strings, and I hope it adds something to the Habsburg exhibition for those who are going.”

Having just released her 17th single Torches today (August 14)―which serves as the ending theme for the ongoing anime series Vinland Saga―Japanese singer Aimer has just announced an all new tour. Titled Aimer LIVE TOUR 19/20 “rouge de bleu”, the tour will begin this fall from October 31 and take her to 17 cities across Japan for 24 shows.

The theme of the tour is red and blue as evident in the tour title’s use of French for the colours. This contrasts with her first-ever performance at Nippon Budokan back on August 29, 2017 which was themed on black and white (“blanc et noir”). We look forward to seeing how she uses these new colours on the new tour.

Those who pick up a copy of Aimer’s new single Torches can access pre-sale tickets for the tour.

Speaking about the tour, Aimer commented: “24 shows in total. The theme this time is red and blue. I will sing at you with everything I have on each of those days the songs I find myself able to sing because of the time we’re in right now. I intend to make this my most amazing tour ever. I’m looking forward to seeing you all from the bottom of my heart. See you out there.”

Aimer will release her 17th single Torches on August 14. While we wait for the CD to hit shelves, us fans have been treated to shortened version of the music video in a track-by-track preview.

The title track is used as the ending theme to the ongoing 24-episode anime series Vinland Saga which began airing on July 7. The music video paints grand imagery with fire and water along to the tribal-like sound of Torches.

The video also teases us with a sneak peek at the other songs on the single including Blind to you and Daisy.

Blind to you is reminiscent of Aimer’s earlier ballads while Daisy is a jaunty, foot-tapping love song.

The title track Torches will receive an independent digital release on August 5 prior to the CD’s release.

Aimer began her “soleil et pluie” Asia Tour on June 8 which has taken her to five cities around Asia, concluding at Tokyo Dome City Hall today in Japan.

Every venue on the tour was sold out. Her performance in Shanghai at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in front of 6,000 fans in particular was a spectacular success.

In her hometown of Tokyo, her set list included a performance of several new songs including STAND-ALONE which is the main theme for the Japanese drama Anata no Ban Desu.

At the end of the show, Aimer announced that she will head on a 24-date hall tour across Japan which will run from October this year into February 2020. Official fan club pre-sale tickets went on sale today. Full details can be found on her official website.

Aimer will release her new song Torches on August 14. The song will be used as the ending theme for the TV anime series Vinland Saga.

Aimer will release her new single Torches on August 14. The song will be used as the ending theme for the forthcoming TV anime series Vinland Saga which is set to premiere on July 7.

A new trailer was just released in which you can hear the track.

Aimer’s emotional voice and the tribal sound of the chorus perfectly match the grand world of of Vinland Saga which is set in the seas of Iceland and Northern Europe.

The cover artwork for Torches was also posted on Aimer’s official website. The artwork matches the title of the song with Aimer wielding a torch while shrouded in darkness, suggesting a glimmer of hope.

Aimer will release her new single Torches on August 14. The song will be used as the ending theme for the forthcoming TV anime series Vinland Saga which is set to premiere on July 7.

The song pictures a torch-lit ocean in the evening and reminds one of setting off on a new trip at night as with Aimer’s digital single STAND-ALONE.

Speaking about the collaboration, Aimer commented: “While reading the manga, I pictured the evening sea lit by torchlight. When writing the song I thought about life and death, and [series characters] Thorfinn and Thors’s feelings towards them. I put into the song the inspiration I got from these things. This has also been an opportunity to challenge myself to something new on the sound side of things. I would be overjoyed if people look forward to hearing it alongside the anime.”

Aimer just released her two new albums Sun Dance and Penny Rain simultaneously on April 10. Both records have reached at No. 1 and No. 2 on popular music streaming services including iTunes, mora and Recochoku. Penny Rain also made it to No. 1 on Oricon’s Daily Album Chart while Sun Dance peaked at No. 2.

With two new albums out of the bag almost two and a half years since her last, Aimer has already released a brand new track.

Titled STAND-ALONE, the single was released yesterday (April 11), and it has been revealed that it will be used as the main theme for the upcoming Japanese drama Anata no Ban Desu.

The murder mystery stars Tomoyo Harada and  Kei Tanaka as the leads. STAND-ALONE will be released digitally on May 5, 2019.

Aimer released the following statement regarding her involvement: “I am so happy to be in charge of the main theme song for another drama series. I’ve only just released my 5th studio albums Sun Dance and Penny Rain, but I decided to set off on another new adventure and so I made STAND-ALONE which I poured my recollections and yearnings into. The song is about a premonition that something is about to happen. I hope that it goes well with the world of Anata no Ban Desu every week.”

Aimer finally dropped her highly-anticipated two new albums Sun Dance and Penny Rain simultaneously on April 10.

On April 8 it was announced that the singer would release three music videos from the new records on her official YouTube channel three days in a row. The final video to be released is for Stand By You from the album Penny Rain.

The song was written and produced by TK from Ling Tosite Sigure. This is TK’s third collaboration with Aimer following us and Kowairo in 2016. The video was directed by Japanese film director Kyotaro Hayashi. The powerful visuals perfectly match the emotional music written by TK.

Be sure to check out the new video alongside the already-released We Two and Monochrome Syndrome.

Japanese singer Aimer―known for her iconic husky voice―will release two new albums simultaneously on April 10: Sun Dance and Penny Rain.

Several songs from the albums have already gained much attention before the official release including April Showers which was used in an earth music&ecology commercial starring Suzu Hirose and Koiwazurai which is used as the main theme song for the romantic reality show Shirayuki to Ookami-kun ni wa Damasarenai❤.

Now, it has been announced that Aimer will release three new music videos three days in a row for songs off the new records starting today.

Aimer – “We Two” Music Video

The first music video to be released is for We Two from the album Sun Dance. The song is a dance tune just like her already-released tracks ONE and 3min. The cute video features a dancing high school girl.

The next two videos will be released tomorrow and the day after respectively both at 6:00pm (JST).

Japanese singer Aimer―known for her iconic husky voice―will release two new albums simultaneously on April 10: Sun Dance and Penny Rain.

The music video for her new song 3min taken from Sun Dance has been posted onto her official YouTube channel.

The music video takes on the theme of travelling around the world in three minutes. As the title suggest, Aimer journeys to Tokyo, Taipei, Shanghai, Singapore, London, Liverpool, New York and Los Angeles in just three minutes.

The video was shot across Aimer’s various live shows including during her Asia tour and trip to NYC and LA. You could called it a documentary tracing her steps through 2018. The video also features the locations where the album covers for both new records were shot.

Speaking about the new song and video, Aimer comments: “The idea for this song, which is about going around the world in three minutes, came about around February last year when we were planning the album. It’s been a year since then during which me and the team have accumulate footage to make into a music video. I want everybody to join me on this three-minute journey and the world I have walked across, from countries where it rains to others where the sun shines.”

Aimer will release two new albums simultaneously on April 10: Sun Dance and Penny Rain. These will be the newest albums from the artist since daydream which dropped back in September 2019. The full-track list had already been unveiled except for one song, but details on that song have now been released.

It is titled Stand By You and was written and produced by TK from Ling Tosite Sigure. This is his third song written for Aimer following us and Kowairo from 2016.

A video was posted on Aimer’s official YouTube channel which plays a track-by-track preview of each song on both albums including Stand By You.

With March almost at an end, the number of Japanese artists announcing performances overseas continues to rise. This is a list of 7 Japanese artists performing outside Japan in the first half of 2019.

・TK from Ling Tosite Sigure

TK from Ling Tosite Sigure has received huge international attention for his collaborations with Tokyo Ghoul which have been enjoyed by countless non-Japanese fans on music streaming services. This includes unravel which was used as Tokyo Ghoul’s first opening theme, and katharsis, the second opening theme for season two of Tokyo Ghoul:re. The singer is set to take his ‘katharsis Tour’ to Asia this April.

More Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/183546

・Kana Hanazawa

Kana Hanazawa is lauded for her immense work in voice acting. She is also hugely successful as an artist and singer.

Hanazawa is set to become the first Japanese female solo artist to perform at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai on April 14, 2019. She boasts overwhelming popularity in China for her work in anime as well as her hit songs. Her Chinese fans’ dreams are about to be realised as she performs for them a long-awaited show.

・Radwimps

RADWIMPS dropped their recent album ANTI ANTI GENERATION in December last year and recently announced a live tour which includes their first ever solo stadium show. The band are also set to perform two dates at the 2019 Strawberry Music Festival in China.

・ONE OK ROCK

ONE OK ROCK has become one of the most popular Japanese rock bands overseas. They recently released their first album in nearly two years Eye of the Storm on February 13, 2019 and have announced a 10-date UK & European tour set to take place throughout May.

More Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/171983

・Aimer

Aimer recently announced that she will head to Asia in June on a 5-date tour entitled Aimer “soleil et pluie” Asia Tour. She previously performed in Asia last year alongside amazarashi, but this marks her first ever solo tour thhere. The theme of the tour is “sun and rain” which ties in with the concepts behind her forthcoming albums Sun Dance and Penny Rain.

More Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/185602

・suchmos

Suchmos will release their 3^rd studio album THE ANYMAL on March 27, 2019. The rock group are currently knee deep in their 2019 arena tour and are set to perform alongside HYUKOH in Seoul, South Korea in June. Tickets go on sale on April 2 at 12:00 (South Korea time).

・Wednesday Campanella

It has been announced that Wednesday Campanella will perform at the Second Sky Music Festival at Middle Harbor Shoreline Park in Oakland, California on June 15. This marks Wednesday Campanella’s second time performing at a festival in the US following her appearance at Camp Flog Gnaw in October 2017.

More Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/184064