Azu

This article is about the Japanese singer. For other uses, see AZU (disambiguation).
Azu
Born (1981-12-08) December 8, 1981 (age 43)
Tsu, Mie, Japan
GenresPop, R&B
OccupationSinger
Years active1997–present
LabelsBMG Japan (2006-2009) Ariola Japan (2009-present)
Websitewww.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/azu/

Azu (born December 8, 1981[1]) is a Japanese R&B singer. She is well known for her collaborations with rapper Seamo, such as her first major release, the leading track from Seamo's second album Live Goes On, "Kokoro no Koe".

Biography

Azu first began working in the Tokyo club scene at the age of 16.[2] She explains the meaning behind her stage name as "Putting memories to all the words from A to Z and conveying them to you (U)."[2] She began work with rapper Seamo in 2005, and worked as a background vocalist for a few of his tracks. In 2006, she featured as a fully fledged billed artist in the lead radio single from his second album, Live Goes On. The song, "Kokoro no Koe", was certified by the RIAJ for 100,000 cellphone downloads.[3]

She debuted as an artist in her own right in 2007, with the single "Cherish". "Cherish" is used as the ending theme in the xxxHolic Shunmuki original video animation series. She continued to work with Seamo (for example, her first top 30 hit, "Jikan yo Tomare", featured him). To date, the pair have worked together on six songs together. "Jikan yo Tomare" is used as the second ending in the Itazura na Kiss anime series.

Her songs generally do better in the digital market (her biggest single in physical sales only sold 11,000 copies[4]). Since November 2009, five of her songs have been certified gold by the RIAJ for cellphone downloads.[5]

Azu released her second album in March 2010, Two of Us.[6] Azu's single "For You" is used as the 12th ending theme for Naruto Shippuden. Azu's single "In My Life" is used as the third ending theme for Yorinuki Gintama-san. Azu composed the song "Akatsuki no Hana" for Akatsuki no Yona.

Azu announced her marriage to a man outside the music industry in May 2017, and she gave birth to a daughter on August 6, 2018.[7]

Discography

Albums

Year Album Information Chart positions Total sales
2008 As One 35 18,036
2010 Two of Us
  • Released: March 17, 2010
  • Label: Ariola Japan (BVCL 85)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 13 22,427
2011 AZyoU
  • Released: February 23, 2011
  • Label: Ariola Japan (BVCL 197–198)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 15 9,743
2012 Love Letter
  • Released: January 18, 2012
  • Label: Ariola Japan (BVCL 303–304)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 22 8,137
2012 Best
  • Released: October 31, 2012
  • Label: Ariola Japan (BVCL 435–436)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 14 8,201
2014 4seasons
  • Released: January 29, 2014
  • Label: Ariola Japan (BVCL-565–566)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 43

Singles

Release Title Chart positions Oricon
sales
total 		Album
Oricon Singles Charts Billboard Japan Hot 100* RIAJ Digital Track Chart*
2007 "Cherish" 49 – – 5,135 As One
"Jewel Sky" 84 – – 1,525
2008 "Koi Iro" (コイイロ, Color of Love) 118 18 – 1,055
"Jikan yo Tomare feat. Seamo" (時間よ止まれ, Stop Time) 27 – – 11,157
2009 "Imasugu ni..." (いますぐに..., Right Now) 23 – – 11,270 Two of Us
"I Will" 23 – 11 6,284
"Onaji Sora Mitsumeteru Anata ni" (同じ空みつめてるあなたに, To You, Staring at the Same Sky)
(Spontania feat. Azu) 		31 — 4 5,326 Collaborations Best!!
2010 "You & I" feat. Love Love Love 55 38 3 3,247 Two of Us
"For You" 38 53 9 2,933
"Tashika na Koto" (たしかなこと, Important Things) 67 — — 2,061 AZyoU
"In My Life / To You..." 62 — — 3,324
2011 "Broken Heart" 79 — — —
"Tomodachi☆★" (トモダチ☆★, Friend☆★) 100 — — 796 Love Letter
"Woman" 130 — — 620
2013 "Promise" 99 — — — 4seasons
"Circles of Life / Summer Time!!!" 143 — — —

* Japan Hot 100 established February 2008, RIAJ Digital Track Chart established April 2009.

Other appearances

Release Artist Title Notes Album
2005 Seamo Honey Honey Background vocals. Drive (single)
"Intro: Here Comes the Seamo" Get Back on Stage
2006 Seamo feat. Azu "Kokoro no Koe" (心の声, Voice of the Heart) Lead track from album. PV filmed. Live Goes On
2008 Karutetto feat. Azu "Itsumademo" (いつまでも, Forever) Haikei, Boku no Mirai e. (single)
Makai feat. Azu & L-Vokal "Baby Star" Stars
Seamo feat. Azu & Yukako "Kiss Kiss Kiss" Scrap & Build
2010 Makai feat. Azu "Mata Aitakute" (また会いたくて, I Still Miss You) Lead track from album. #40 RIAJ. Love Lite
2010 S'capade feat. Azu "Every 4 U"

References

  1. ^ "Azu". Tower Records Online (in Japanese). Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "AZUプロフィール" (in Japanese). Sony Music. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
  3. ^ レコード協会調べ 10月度有料音楽配信認定 (in Japanese). RIAJ. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
  4. ^ "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Archived from the original on 4 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-22. (subscription only)
  5. ^ 有料音楽配信認定 (in Japanese). RIAJ. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
  6. ^ "Two of Us / AZU - 音楽 - livedoor ニュース". Livedoor. Archived from the original on 23 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
  7. ^ "AZU、第1子女児出産を報告「言葉に出来ない程の感動」" (in Japanese). Oricon. August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2019.


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