YUI is another of my favourite Japanese musicians. She’s very talented; playing the guitar and piano as well as having a great voice. She’s also cute!

This is what Wikipedia has to say about her:

Yui began writing poems in ninth grade. At the age of sixteen, she started to become interested in music more and more and she expressed her desire to pursue a musical career to the band bianco nero at the end of a concert they held. The band recommended her to join a private music school and soon, she dropped out of high school and began studying songwriting and guitar at a juku in her hometown of Fukuoka.

Aspiring to become a professional, she carried her guitar around and sang at local places at the entrance of Tenjin station in Fukuoka. Even though she was shy, she still enjoyed doing street performances. She released her debut single “It’s Happy Line” under the indie label Leaflet Records, coupled with the track “I Know”. The pressing was limited to only 2000 copies.

Her professional career began in March 2004 when she sang three songs at an audition hosted by Sony Music Japan from the recommendation of the juku she attended. Despite the audition rule that a participant could only sing two songs, all of the judges gave her the highest score possible which caused a fierce scramble among record labels to sign her. She first sang “Why Me” (a song later included in her major label debut single), followed by “It’s Happy Line” and “I Know”.

Upon leaving her hometown in Fukuoka for Tokyo, Yui wrote the song “Feel My Soul”. She was planning its release on an indie label as a tribute to her hometown. However, when the song caught the ears of Fuji TV producer Mr. Yamaguchi, who just happened to see the demo video clip, he claimed that Yui’s voice haunted him so much that he went out of his way to visit the recording studio all by himself. He even made his channel’s prime time drama Fukigen na Gene use Yui’s debut track.

YUI’s music isn’t my normal taste, but I enjoy almost all of her songs. My favourite songs at the moment are “Swing of Lie”, “Laugh Away” and “Love & Truth”. I recently watched the film タイヨウのうた (Midnight Sun) which stars YUI and several of her songs. I enjoyed it and would recommend at least renting it.

One thing I’ve noticed about her is that she never smiles in her promotional photos. Infact investigating this further I can’t find any photos of her smiling.  Maybe she’s unhappy or just wants to appear intense? Either way, I think she should smile on her next album cover.

Latest Single

Summer Song

Release Date: 02/07/2008

Buy Summer Song at Play-Asia.com

Albums

I Loved Yesterday

Release Date: 09/04/2008

Buy I Loved Yesterday at Play-Asia.com

Can’t Buy My Love

Release Date: 04/04/2007

Buy Can’t Buy My Love at Play-Asia.com

From Me To You

Release Date: 22/02/2006

Buy From Me To You at Play-Asia.com

Films

タイヨウのうた

“Taiyō no Uta” / “Midnight Sun”

Release Date: 17/07/2006

Buy Midnight Sun at Play-Asia.com

Links

• YUI-net (Official Site in Japanese)
• YUI (Wikipedia)
• YUI Lover (Fan Site)