Aika (pronounced "ah-ee-kah" and stylized "AIKA"), is a Japanese singer/songwriter, currently residing in Los Angeles, California. She is known for her 2006 debut album Ai-Wo, with its songs "Orange Moon" and "Ai-wo", which reached the top 10 in Japanese charts on its first week of its release. Her second studio album is released in February 2017. In 2018, she released "Heard An Angel". She co-wrote the gold-certified song "Path of Independence" for her sister, Ayaka Hirahara.
Background
Aika was born in Tokyo, Japan. She began playing the piano and the saxophone while growing up. Her love for music led her to pursue a music degree at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Shortly after completing her degree, she released her debut album “Ai-Wo” from EMI records, which reached the top 10 on the Japanese radio charts. Her father is a professional saxophonist, Makoto Hirahara, and her grandfather is a professional trumpet player, Tsutomu Hirahara. Her sister, Ayaka Hirahara is also a performer, signed to Universal Music Japan.
Performances/Music career
Her performances include the Osaka "Act Against Aids" concert, JZ Brat and the Living Room in New York City. Her 2009 song "All He Has To Say" was produced to support Autism Speaks and was based on a poem by a teacher at the May Center for Child Development.
Aika has written and performed the original song “Dancing Arrows” which was selected as the theme song for the Warner Brothers movie, “Ironclad" It is included on the EURORADIO's 2014 "Tune in" CD collection.
Aika also contributed a song for the award-winning movie Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|
| AI-WO - International Edition | - Released: October 2006
- Label: True Blue (Blue Note)
|
|---|
| AI-WO - Japan Edition | - Released: November 2006
- Label: EMI Music Japan
|
|---|
| No Mo Games | |
|---|
Compilation albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|
| 'Tune in' | - Song:'"Dancing Arrows"
- Released: 2014
|
|---|
Singles
| Title | Single details |
|---|
| All He Has To Say | - Released: 2008
- Label: Neilaproductions
|
|---|
| aika (Sinking & You Told Me You Loved Me | - Released: 2010
- Label:Neilaproductions
|
|---|
| Dancing Arrows | - Released: 2011
- Label:Neilaproductions
|
|---|
| I Can't Make You Love Me | - Released: 2014
- Label: Neilaproductions
|
|---|
| NO MO GAMES | - Released: 2015
- Label: Neilaproductions
|
|---|
| Heard An Angel | - Released: 2018
- Label: Neilaproductions
|
|---|
Music videos
| Title | Music Video details |
|---|
| Ai-wo | - Released: 2006
- Label: EMI Music Japan
|
|---|
| Orange Moon | - Released: 2006
- Label: EMI Music Japan
|
|---|
| Dancing Arrows | - Released: 2011
- Label: Neilaproductions
|
|---|
| I Can't Make You Love Me' | - Released: 2014
- Label: Neilaproductions
|
|---|
| We Are Here | - Released: 2014
- Label: Neilaproductions
|
|---|
| NO MO GAMES | - Released: 2015
- Label: Neilaproductions
|
|---|
Movies
| Movie Title | Song details |
|---|
| Iron Clad | - Released: 2011
- Song: Dancing Arrows
|
|---|
| Whiskey Tango Foxtrot | |
|---|
Career as a songwriter
Singles
| Title | Song details |
|---|
| Not A Love Song | - Released: 2012
- Label: Dreamusic
|
|---|
| Boy I Wish You Are Here | - Released: 2012
- Label: Dreamusic
|
|---|
| Made Of Stars | - Released: 2013
- Label: Universal Music
|
|---|
| Prayer | - Released: 2015
- Label: Universal Music
|
|---|
Albums
| Title | Song details |
|---|
| Path Of Independence | - Album: Path Of Independence
- Released: 2008
- Label: Dreamusic
|
|---|
| Hush Hush | - Album: Doki
- Released: 2012
- Label: Dreamusic
|
|---|
| Not A Love Song | - Album:Doki
- Released: 2012
- Label: Dreamusic
|
|---|
| Made of Stars | - Album:What I Am
- Released: 2013
- Label: Universal Music
|
|---|
| Tweet Your Love | - Album:What I Am
- Released: 2013
- Label: Universal Music
|
|---|
| Prayer | - Album: Prayer
- Releasing: 2015
- Label: Universal Music
|
|---|
Tour&Live Shows
| Title | Notes |
|---|
| The Voice -2005- | - w/Ayaka Hirahara
- Year: 2005
- Vocal/Background Vocal/Saxophone
|
|---|
| Premium Live Sponsored by Itoen -2005- | - w/Ayaka Hirahara
- Year: 2005
- Vocal/Background Vocal/Saxophone
|
|---|
| From The New World -2010- | - w/Ayaka Hirahara
- Year: 2010
- Vocal/Background Vocal/Saxophone/Guitar
|
|---|
| Love Story -2011- | - w/Ayaka Hirahara
- Year: 2011
- Vocal/Background Vocal/Saxophone/Guitar
|
|---|
| Doki -2012- | - w/Ayaka Hirahara
- Year: 2012
- Vocal/Background Vocal/Saxophone/Guitar
|
|---|
| Dear Jupiter 10th Anniversary Tour -2013- | - w/Ayaka Hirahara
- Year: 2013
- Vocal/Background Vocal/Saxophone/Guitar
|
|---|
| 10th Year Special Live -2013- | - w/Ayaka Hirahara
- Year: 2013
- Vocal/Background Vocal/Saxophone
|
|---|
| What I Am -2014- | - w/Ayaka Hirahara
- Year: 2014
- Vocal/Background Vocal/Saxophone/Guitar
|
|---|
AIKA Tour & Live Shows
| Title | Notes |
|---|
| Act Against AIDS in TOKYO -2005- | |
|---|
| AI-Wo -2006- | |
|---|
| Act Against AIDS at Osaka Jo Hall -2006- | |
|---|
| MIZU NO OTO -2007- | |
|---|
| UTA WO TSUMUIDE -2008- | |
|---|
| LAWSON JAZZ WEEK | - Year: 2011
- Vocal/Saxophone/Guitar
|
|---|
| MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL in KAWASAKI | - Year: 2012
- Vocal/Saxophone/Guitar
|
|---|
| AIKA LIVE IN TOKYO | - Year: 2014
- Vocal/Saxophone/Guitar
|
|---|
| A I K A Live at The Mint LA | - Year: Feb.2015
- Vocal/Guitar/Saxophone
|
|---|
| A I K A Live at The Mint LA | - Year: Mar.2015
- Vocal/Guitar/Saxophone
|
|---|
| A I K A Live at Room5 LA | - Year: May.2015
- Vocal/Guitar/Saxophone
|
|---|
| A I K A Live at Haretara Sorani Mamemaite Tokyo | - Year: July.2015
- Vocal/Guitar/Saxophone
|
|---|
| Jupiter Foundation at Kokusai Forum | - Year: Jan.2018
- Vocal/Guitar/Saxophone
|
|---|
| Jupiter Foundation at Kokusai Forum | - Year: Mar.2019
- Vocal/Guitar/Saxophone
| See More on www.aikaofficial.com |
|---|
Pisces