Reona
Reona | |
---|---|
Also known as |
|
Born | Kagoshima, Japan | October 20, 1998
Origin | Tokyo, Japan |
Genres | |
Occupations |
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Years active | 2018–present |
Labels | Sacra Music (2017–present) |
Website | www |
Reona (Japanese: レオナ [ɾe.o̞.na̠]; stylized as ReoNa, born October 20, 1998)[1] is a Japanese singer who is signed to Sacra Music. Having been active as a cosplayer and independent musician, she made her major debut in 2018 as the singing voice of the character Elza Kanzaki in the anime series Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online. Her first single under her own name was released in August 2018.
Early life
[edit]Reona was born in Kagoshima on October 20, 1998. She became interested in becoming a cosplayer during her elementary school years, as she had been recommended to become one by a classmate.[2] Her interest in cosplay was boosted after ordering a costume of the Vocaloid Hatsune Miku.[3] She became active as a cosplayer while in junior high school, and went under the names Reopeko (れおぺこ) and ReoNa* while attending events such as Comiket 91 in 2016.[4] She had also dreamed of becoming a singer for anime, and had released covers of songs on YouTube.[3][5]
Career
[edit]Reona had her break as a singer in 2017 when she became a finalist in an audition held by the music label Sacra Music.[6] She made her major debut as a singer the following year as the singing voice of the character Elza Kanzaki in the anime series Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online. She released the song "Pilgrim" (ピルグリム) on April 15, 2018; the song topped iTunes Japan's anime singles chart as well as Amazon Japan's digital music rankings.[7] This was followed by the release of the digital singles "Step, Step" and "Independence".[7] She released the mini-album Elza on July 4, 2018; the mini-album peaked at No. 8 on Oricon's weekly charts.[8] Her first single under her own name, "Sweet Hurt", was released on August 29, 2018;[9] the title track was used as the ending theme to the anime series Happy Sugar Life.[10] Her second single "forget-me-not" was released digitally on January 13, 2019,[11] and received a physical release on February 6, 2019; the title track was used as the second ending theme to the anime series Sword Art Online: Alicization, and the single also includes the song "Niji no Kanata ni" (虹の彼方に, Beyond the Rainbow), which was used as the ending theme for episode 19 of anime series Sword Art Online: Alicization.[12]
Reona's feature single "Prologue" was released on June 26, 2019 under the Elza Kanzaki stage name.[13] Her third single "Null" was released on August 28, 2019.[14] She released her fourth single "Anima" digitally on July 13, 2020, and received a physical release on July 22, 2020; the title song was used as the opening theme of television series anime Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld: Part 2.[15][16][A] Reona sang "Scar/let" as the opening for the video game Sword Art Online Alicization Lycoris, as well as appearing in the game as a playable character. On July 1, 2020 single "Untitled World" was released as part of promotion for "Episode 6: Partial Necrosis" update of the game Arknights.[17] She released her first album, Unknown, on October 7, 2020.[18]
Reona collaborated with Hiroyuki Sawano on the song "Time"; the song was used as the ending theme to the anime series The Seven Deadly Sins: Dragon's Judgement.[19] She released her fifth single "Nai Nai" on May 12, 2021; the title song was used as the ending theme to the first season of the anime series Shadows House.[20] Her sixth single "Shall We Dance?" was released on July 27, 2022; it was used as the opening theme of the second season of Shadows House.[21] Reona's single "Alive" was used as the opening theme for the anime Arknights: Prelude To Dawn.[22] Her song "VITA" was featured as the theme song in the video game Sword Art Online: Last Recollection.[23] She released her second studio album, Human, on March 8, 2023.[24] Her single "R.I.P" was used as the ending theme song for the anime Arknights: Perish in Frost.[25] On September 30, 2024, Reona released her 10-minute single "Our Song" (私たちの讃歌, Watashitachi no Uta), the theme song for the Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydream video game, featuring all the artists who were involved in Reona's Sword Art Online works;[26][27] the song contains elements from Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 9's fourth movement "Ode to Joy", as well as his Piano Sonata No. 8 "Pathetique", second movement.[28]
Influences
[edit]Artistic inspirations
[edit]Reona in a 2019 interview, talked about how her motivation comes from her dream at a young age to become a singer as she enjoyed singing and watching animated series.[29] She continued by highlighting that she cares about her fans and all her admirers who welcome and love her music and thanks her fans for making her dream come true.[30] In the same interview, Reona said she has multiple artists she admires making it difficult to choose only one as a role model.[31] She highlights ever since she was the voice singer for Elza Kanzaki, a character from the anime Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online, she began to play the guitar.[32] Her Azalea guitar was inspired by Ed Sheeran's guitar since she had admired his guitar.[33] Reona also talks about the anime series Higurashi When They Cry which she had seen a lot of during her youth and was considered an anime with a dark tone.[34] She said the second season's opening song had the most impact on her music.[35]
Lyric style and themes
[edit]Reona said her use of dark emotions and strong lyrics comes from her encounters and reflects her emotions in a 2019 interview.[36] In scenarios with collaborations, she would do her best to find a balance between herself and the song.[37] She would then go on to talk about her emotions with her lyricists and ask them to add those emotions to her lyrics.[38] During a separate interview in 2022 with JRock News, Reona talked about her song "Numb" (written in entirely English).[39] She describes the theme of the song to revolve around self-dissatisfaction escalating to self-disgust reflecting how she feels both mentally and emotionally.[40]
Sword Art Online importance
[edit]Reona brought up in a 2021 interview that she was so thrilled to be the singing voice actor for the character Elza Kanzaki as it was the first time that she would sing in an anime and it was a moment that completely transformed her life.[41] She describes about how heartfelt it was to hear her voice among the characters in a fight scene.[42] In her 2019 interview, Reona credits her singing role for Elza Kanzaki as it allowed her to share her music with a wider audience.[43] Reona continued in her 2021 interview and described how she began to place herself in the world of Sword Art Online, making the ending theme song "forget-me-not" for Sword Art Online: Alicization and making the opening theme song "Anima" for Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld.[44] Reona continues about how for the 10th anniversary of the release of the SAO novel, she made the opening theme "Till the End" and when she watched the song in the music video, she was so close to having tears of joy.[45] She highlighted she did not think she would be who she is today if she had never come across the Sword Art Online anime.[46]
Discography
[edit]As Elza Kanzaki
[edit]Singles
[edit]Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"Pilgrim"[47][note 1] | 2018 | Elza |
"Step, Step"[48][note 1] | ||
"Independence"[49][note 1] | ||
"Re(a)soN"[50][note 1] |
Mini-albums
[edit]Title | Album details | Peak positions | |
---|---|---|---|
JPN [51] |
JPN Hot 100 | ||
Elza |
|
8 | 3[52] |
As Reona
[edit]Albums
[edit]Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
---|---|---|---|
JPN Oricon [51] |
JPN Hot 100 | ||
Unknown |
|
4 | 3[54] |
Human |
|
7 | 6[55] |
Mini-albums
[edit]Title | Album details | Peak positions | |
---|---|---|---|
JPN [51] |
JPN Hot 100 | ||
月姫 -A piece of blue glass moon- THEME SONG E.P. |
|
5 | 21[56] |
Naked |
|
6 | — |
Singles
[edit]As lead artist
[edit]Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Notes | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
JPN Oricon [51] |
JPN Hot 100 [57] | ||||
"Sweet Hurt" | 2018 | 26 | 82[58] | Ending for anime Happy Sugar Life. | Unknown[B] |
"Forget-me-not" | 2019 | 15 | 35[59] | 2nd Ending for anime Sword Art Online: Alicization. | |
"Null"[a] | 19 | — | |||
"Anima" | 2020 | 4 | 16[60] | 2nd Opening for anime Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld. | |
"Nai Nai" (ないない, lit. 'No No') | 2021 | 9 | 46[61] | Ending for anime Shadows House. | Human |
"Shall We Dance?" (シャル・ウィ・ダンス?) | 2022 | 11 | — | 2nd Opening for anime Shadows House. | |
"Alive" | 5 | — | Opening for anime Arknights: Prelude To Dawn. | ||
"R.I.P." | 2023 | 7 | — | Ending for anime Arknights: Perish in Frost. | Non-album singles |
"Gajumaru: Heaven in the Rain" (ガジュマル ~Heaven in the Rain~) | 2024 | 11 | — | Ending for anime Shangri-La Frontier. | |
"GG" | 5 | — | |||
"—" denotes items which did not chart. |
Digital singles
[edit]Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"Ougon no Kagayaki" | 2020 | Non-album single |
"Till the End"[62] | Unknown | |
"Untitled World" | ||
"Scar/let (English version)" | Non-album singles | |
"Anima (Josh Pan Remix) – Sacra Beats Singles" | 2022 |
As featured artist
[edit]Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Notes | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
JPN Oricon | JPN Hot 100 | ||||
"Time" (SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:ReoNa) |
2021 | — | — | Ending for anime The Seven Deadly Sins: Dragon's Judgement.[63] | IV |
"Sо̄kyū no Fanfare (蒼穹のファンファーレ, Fanfare of the Blue Sky)" (with FictionJunction, ASCA, Eir Aoi) |
2022 | — | — | Theme song for the 10th anniversary of the anime Sword Art Online.[64] | Non-album single |
"—" denotes items which did not chart. |
Awards and nominations
[edit]Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee(s)/work(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6th Crunchyroll Anime Awards | 2022 | Best Ending | "Nai Nai" (from Shadows House anime) |
Nominated | [65] |
7th Crunchyroll Anime Awards | 2023 | Best Anime Song | "Shall We Dance?"
(from Shadows House anime) |
Nominated | [66] |
Notes
[edit]- ^
- It includes:
- "Kaibutsu no Uta" (怪物の詩, lit. 'Monster Poem')
- "Lotus"
- "Ketsui no Asani" (決意の朝に, lit. 'On the Morning of Determination') (Aqua Timez cover)
- ^ The singles were released as digital downloads.
- ^ This single was originally scheduled to be released on May 20, 2020, but was delayed due to the postponement of the anime. The anime is getting delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic.
- ^ For the single "Null", only "Kaibutsu no Uta" was added to the album.
References
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- ^ ReoNaはコスプレ界のれおぺこ!?画像や楽曲もwiki調査! (in Japanese). May 5, 2018. Archived from the original on July 11, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- ^ a b 1.48m級巨人の6年目コスプレイヤーReoNa*の超高校級コスプレ道と人生 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 11, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- ^ 【写真】金髪JKコスプレイヤーReoNa* コミケで会った可愛い子 Vol.1 (in Japanese). Kai-You Inc. December 29, 2016. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- ^ "ReoNa's YouTube channel". YouTube. Archived from the original on August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- ^ "Sacra Music Hosts Anisong Newcomer Showcase!". Tokyo Otaku Mode. July 27, 2018. Archived from the original on April 16, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- ^ a b SAO GGOの神崎エルザ歌唱担当「ReoNa」が8月デビュー 『ハッピーシュガーライフ』ED曲に抜擢 (in Japanese). Kai-You Inc. May 20, 2018. Archived from the original on April 16, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- ^ "ELZA" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- ^ "SWEET HURT" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- ^ "ReoNa Performs Ending Theme for Happy Sugar Life Anime". Anime News Network. May 20, 2018. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- ^ "forget-me-not – EP" (in Japanese). iTunes. December 21, 2016. Archived from the original on January 13, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "ASCA, ReoNa Perform New Theme Songs for Sword Art Online: Alicization Anime". Anime News Network. December 8, 2018. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- ^ "Prologue" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on June 24, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
- ^ "Null" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
- ^ "ReoNA Sings Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld Anime's New Opening". February 10, 2020. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
- ^ "ANIMA" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on September 9, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ "Arknights Animation Music Video – Untitled World". YouTube. July 1, 2020. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
- ^ "unknown by ReoNa" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 14, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
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- ^ "Shadows House Anime Unveils More Cast & Staff, Ending Song Artist, April 10 Debut, New Visual". Anime News Network. March 8, 2021. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ ReoNa、TVアニメ『シャドーハウス 2nd Season』のOPに新曲「シャル・ウィ・ダンス?」が決定 7/27にシングル発売 (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. June 2, 2022. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (September 24, 2022). "Arknights: Prelude to Dawn Anime's Promo Video Reveals ReoNa's Theme, October 28 Premiere". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
- ^ Luster, Joseph (March 8, 2023). "Sword Art Online: Last Recollection Game Reveals Launch Date, ReoNa Theme Song Video". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ^ Komatsu, Mikikazu (February 21, 2023). "Sword Art Online Theme Song Singer ReoNa Shares New Music Video "HUMAN"". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- ^ Cayanan, Joanna (September 20, 2023). "Arknights: Perish in Frost Anime's Songs, October 6 Debut Revealed in Full Promo Video". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ Cayanan, Joanna (September 30, 2024). "Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydream Game's Opening Movie Previews Theme Song". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 1, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ ReoNa「SAO」新作ゲームの主題歌「私たちの讃歌」配信リリース、10分を超える壮大な楽曲に. Music Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. September 30, 2024. Archived from the original on September 30, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ 新作ゲーム『ソードアート・オンライン フラクチュアード デイドリーム』主題歌「私たちの讃歌」は10分超えの超大作!制作過程をReoNa×荒幡亮平×堀江晶太×毛蟹×ハヤシケイが語り合う. Lis Ani! (in Japanese). September 30, 2024. Archived from the original on September 30, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024. [ja]&rft.atitle=新作ゲーム『ソードアート・オンライン フラクチュアード デイドリーム』主題歌「私たちの讃歌」は10分超えの超大作!制作過程をReoNa×荒幡亮平×堀江晶太×毛蟹×ハヤシケイが語り合う&rft.date=2024-09-30&rft_id=https://www.lisani.jp/0000267076/?show_more=1&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Reona" class="Z3988">
- ^ "[C3AFASingapore2019][Interview] ReoNa – My Origins – JExperience". Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
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- ^ "[C3AFASingapore2019][Interview] ReoNa – My Origins – JExperience". Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ "[C3AFASingapore2019][Interview] ReoNa – My Origins – JExperience". Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ "[C3AFASingapore2019][Interview] ReoNa – My Origins – JExperience". Archived from the original on October 2, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ "[C3AFASingapore2019][Interview] ReoNa – My Origins – JExperience". Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ "[C3AFASingapore2019][Interview] ReoNa – My Origins – JExperience". Archived from the original on October 2, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ "[C3AFASingapore2019][Interview] ReoNa – My Origins – JExperience". Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ "[C3AFASingapore2019][Interview] ReoNa – My Origins – JExperience". Archived from the original on October 2, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ "[C3AFASingapore2019][Interview] ReoNa – My Origins – JExperience". Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ Dorian, NoMusicNoReason (December 12, 2022). "Exclusive: ReoNa outlines "Numb", a song fully sung in English". JROCK NEWS. Archived from the original on October 2, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ Dorian, NoMusicNoReason (December 12, 2022). "Exclusive: ReoNa outlines "Numb", a song fully sung in English". JROCK NEWS. Archived from the original on October 2, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ 絶望系アニソンシンガー ReoNa インタビュー 「《SAO》との出会いがなければ今のReoNaはいない!」 – MeMeOn 迷迷音 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). March 4, 2021. Archived from the original on October 2, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ 絶望系アニソンシンガー ReoNa インタビュー 「《SAO》との出会いがなければ今のReoNaはいない!」 – MeMeOn 迷迷音 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). March 4, 2021. Archived from the original on October 3, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
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- ^ 神崎エルザ「Independence」配信スタート! (in Japanese). Aniplex. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
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- ^ Pineda, Rafael (November 24, 2020). "New Seven Deadly Sins TV Anime's Ad Reveals Theme Song Artists". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (July 29, 2022). "Sword Art Online Anime Reveals 10th Anniversary Visual, Adds Luna Haruna to November Event". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
- ^ Schneider, Michael (January 18, 2022). "Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2022 Nominations Include '86 Eighty-Six,' 'Jujutsu Kaisen,' 'Oddtaxi'". Variety. Archived from the original on March 25, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
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External links
[edit]- Official website (in Japanese)
- Reona at Anime News Network's encyclopedia