Yama (singer)

Yama
GenresJ-pop
OccupationSinger
Years active2018–present
LabelsSony Music Entertainment Japan
Member ofBIN

Yama (stylized in lowercase) is a Japanese singer affiliated with Sony Music Entertainment Japan.[1] After starting a singing career with Vocaloid covers, they became the vocalist of the rock trio BIN, and they also have performed music for the anime 2.43: Seiin High School Boys Volleyball Team, Ranking of Kings, Spy × Family, and Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury.

Biography

While in junior high school, Yama started making Vocaloid covers at home.[2] In March 2018, under the name "Yama" (stylized in lowercase), Yama made their singing debut with a YouTube cover of Picon's "Atatakai Ikimono".[3] In 2019, Yama formed the rock trio BIN, as the group's vocalist under the stage name Yamagami.[4][5]

In November 2019, Yama participated as a guest vocalist in a special version of Kujira [ja]'s song "Nemurumachi".[6] In April 2020, Yama's first original song, "Haru wo Tsugeru", was released;[7] it peaked at #7 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and #8 at the Oricon Combined Singles Chart.[8][9]

In 2021, Yama sang "Mahi", the opening theme of 2.43: Seiin High School Boys Volleyball Team, and in February 2021, it was released as a single from Sony Music Records.[10] In September 2021, Yama's first album, The Meaning of Life, was released.[11] Yama later sang "Oz", the ending theme of Ranking of Kings;[12] in November 2021, it was released as part of another single, "Oz/Sekai wa Utsukushī Hazunanda/Smokey Heroine",[13] with all three songs in their 2022 album "Versus the Night".[14]

In 2022, Yama's song "Shikisai", was featured as the ending theme for the second half of Spy × Family's first season;[15] it was released as a single in November 2022.[16] In 2023, Yama performed "Slash", the opening theme of the second season of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury;[17] it was later released as a single that year, alongside another album the next year.[18][19] From 28 November to 5 December 2023, Yama held a solo concert tour throughout Southeast Asia and Taiwan, performing in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Manila, Bangkok, and Taipei.[20]

Yama uses a genderfluid public image, and their voice has been described by Azrin Tan of Vogue Singapore as "soulful, feminine".[21] Most of Yama's personal life is kept anonymous, including their true identity and gender.[3][22] When asked about this, Yama cited a lack of self-confidence and a desire to keep a real-life identity separate from their career.[3]

Discography

Albums

Title Year Album details Peak chart positions Sales Ref.
JPN
[23] 		JPN
Comb.
[24]
The Meaning of Life 2021
  • Released: 1 September 2021
  • Label: Sony Music Records
 7 6 — [11]
Versus the Night 2022
  • Released: 31 August 2022
  • Label: Sony Music Records
 18 13 — [14]
Awake & Build 2024
  • Released: 24 January 2024
  • Label: Sony Music Records
 20 27 — [19]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Singles

Title Year Album details Peak chart positions Sales Ref.
JPN
[25] 		JPN
Comb.
[9]
"Haru o Tsugeru" (春を告げる) 2020
  • Released: 17 April 2020
 — 8 —
"Mahi" (麻痺) 2021
  • Released: 10 February 2021
  • Label: Sony Music Records
 15 49 — [10]
"Oz/Sekai wa Utsukushī Hazunanda/Smokey Heroine" (Oz./世界は美しいはずなんだ/スモーキーヒロイン) 2021
  • Released: 24 November 2021
  • Label: Sony Music Records
 44 — — [13]
"Shikisai" (色彩) 2022
  • Released: 9 November 2022
  • Label: Sony Music Records
 29 21 — [16]
"Slash" 2023
  • Released: 10 May 2023
  • Label: Sony Music Records
 20 35 — [18]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

References

  1. ^ "yama". Sony Music Official Site (in Japanese). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  2. ^ Yama (2 September 2021). "yamaの素顔に迫るスペシャル・インタビュー。新作アルバムへの思いから、自分のことを語り始めると決めた理由まで。". Vogue Japan (Interview) (in Japanese). Interviewed by Kaori Komatsu. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Kuroda, Takanori (7 January 2021). "yama、これまで"明かしてこなかったこと"を語るーーシンガーとしての挫折から、クリエイターらとの制作エピソードまで". Real Sound (in Japanese). p. 1-2. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  4. ^ Kurimoto, Hitoshi (23 May 2020). "アフター・コロナのヒットパターン?! yamaの「春を告げる」が急上昇". Daily News. Billboard Japan. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  5. ^ "山上、トマト、Tの3人組・BINが1stアルバム「COLONY」発表（動画あり）". Ongaku Natalie (in Japanese). 26 January 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  6. ^ "くじら「ねむるまち」Spotifyバイラルチャート急上昇 新世代ボカロPの詞曲に共通する"諦念"のムード". Real Sound. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  7. ^ "yamaのプロフィール". Oricon News. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 | Charts". Billboard JAPAN. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  9. ^ a b "yamaの合算シングル売上TOP4作品". Oricon News. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  10. ^ a b "麻痺(初回生産限定盤) | yama". Oricon News. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  11. ^ a b "the meaning of life(初回生産限定盤) | yama". Oricon News. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  12. ^ Mateo, Alex (1 October 2021). "Ranking of Kings Anime's Promo Video Previews 1st Episode". Anime News Network. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Oz./世界は美しいはずなんだ/スモーキーヒロイン(期間生産限定盤) | yama". Oricon News. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Versus the night(完全生産限定盤) | yama". Oricon News. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  15. ^ Loo, Egan (1 October 2022). "Spy×Family Anime's 2nd Half Streams Clean Ending Sequence with yama's Ending Song". Anime News Network. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  16. ^ a b "色彩 | yama". Oricon News. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  17. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (9 March 2023). "Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Anime Season 2's Trailer Reveals yama's Opening Song". Anime News Network.
  18. ^ a b "slash(完全生産限定盤) | yama". Oricon News. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  19. ^ a b "awake&build(完全生産限定盤) | yama". Oricon News. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  20. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (3 October 2023). "Singer yama Goes on Solo Asian Tour in November-December". Anime News Network. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  21. ^ Tan, Azrin (23 May 2023). "Japanese artists are going faceless—and they're setting a new standard for the industry". Vogue Singapore. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  22. ^ Komatsu, Mikikazu (3 October 2022). "Singer yama Shows Off Their First Dance Performance in SPY x FAMILY Cour 2 Ending Theme MV". Crunchyroll News. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  23. ^ "yamaのアルバム売上TOP3作品". Oricon News. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  24. ^ "yamaの合算アルバム売上TOP3作品". Oricon News. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  25. ^ "yamaのシングル売上TOP4作品". Oricon News. Retrieved 16 June 2024.