Emiko Suzuki

[CloisteredFlame]

Yeah, the sister is a great singer too, but Emiko sounds more distinct. Kinda going Christina Aguileraish at times.

Bonus track: Emiko and another singer covering Whitney's version of I will always love you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXkau4BFAlE

Oooh!

You could argue she is a nepo baby in a way, but she also has clearly shown she has worked for it.

I have no issues with so-called "nepo babies" if they are talented and able to deliver high-quality performances.

she reminds me of Laco at times voicewise

Interesting. In terms of the power and "aggression"?

Eliana

I am a fan of this lady, ever since I watched her on the AoT soundtrack video on Sawano's channel.

Maybe one day we get Emiko with Sawano too.

That would be something indeed. Sawano has a way he writes English-speaking songs, so I can already have an idea of it. Emiko has another level of energy on stage, so it would be something indeed if she gets the opportunity.

I am curious if he has ever thought of having her.

 

[Lúa]

I have no issues with so-called "nepo babies" if they are talented and able to deliver high-quality performances.

I envy her tbh. I always liked singing but my family always made fun of me and discouraged it, so home in a way didn't feel safe. Imagine being able to sing at your heart's content with your family. That must be a bonding exercise.
Interesting. In terms of the power and "aggression"?

I am a fan of this lady, ever since I watched her on the AoT soundtrack video on Sawano's channel.

I had seen her, but i had not connected the dots till that post (I'm not good at retaining names)

That would be something indeed. Sawano has a way he writes English-speaking songs, so I can already have an idea of it. Emiko has another level of energy on stage, so it would be something indeed if she gets the opportunity.

I am curious if he has ever thought of having her.

Maybe the issue is that maybe Sawano doesn't want very similar voices in his project and he already has Laco, but he seems to be a fan of powerful voices. I think it would be a great match.

 

[Lorde-Kowz]

I was thinking she reminds me of Laco at times voicewise, then started looking and Eliana who has worked with Emiko in musicals, also has worked with Sawano. Maybe one day we get Emiko with Sawano too.

They already collaborated. The song is called kIng.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxH4aMnlGSk

 

[CloisteredFlame]

Yeah, the sister is a great singer too, but Emiko sounds more distinct. Kinda going Christina Aguileraish at times.

Bonus track: Emiko and another singer covering Whitney's version of I will always love you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXkau4BFAlE

Aya Shimazu x Emiko Suzuki (Whitney Houston cover) "I will always love you"

So, Ms Shimazu is a well respected singer and artist. I just have to give some context to her abilities.


>>>>>

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Aya Shimazu is a Japanese enka singer, often nicknamed “Uta-Kaijū” (歌怪獣) – the Song Monster, because of her remarkable vocal abilities and her capacity to perform extremely difficult songs across genres. [japannews….iuri.co.jp]

She is widely recognized as one of the strongest voices in contemporary enka music.

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​

Birth & Early Life​

• Born: March 28, 1971, in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan [japannews….iuri.co.jp], [teichiku.co.jp]
• Began singing very young, winning 100+ singing competitions by age six. [japannews….iuri.co.jp]

Debut​

• Debut Year: 1986
• First Single: Hakama wo Haita Wataridori [teichiku.co.jp], [jpop.fandom.com]

Career Highlights​

• Known for interpreting both traditional enka ballads and challenging pop/rock covers, including songs by King Gnu and Official Hige Dandism. [japannews….iuri.co.jp]
• Her 2010 cover album “Singer” gained major acclaim and led to several successful follow-up cover albums. [japannews….iuri.co.jp]
• Made her international debut with Atlantic Records in 2024, releasing a cover of Aretha Franklin’s “Think.” [jpop.fandom.com]

Reputation​

• Often called “Enka’s godsend” due to her exceptional skill and early prodigy status. [teichiku.co.jp]
• Known for her ability to memorize songs quickly and handle technically complex melodies. [japannews….iuri.co.jp]

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Aya Shimazu has an extensive discography that spans:

• Enka singles and albums
• Multiple acclaimed “SINGER” cover albums
• Live performances and collaborations [music.youtube.com]

Her music is available widely on YouTube Music and streaming platforms.

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• Official Website: Shimazu Aya Official Web Site [shimazu-ay…oenkai.com]
• Instagram: @aya.shimazu_official [instagram.com]

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[CloisteredFlame]

Yeah, the sister is a great singer too, but Emiko sounds more distinct. Kinda going Christina Aguileraish at times.

Bonus track: Emiko and another singer covering Whitney's version of I will always love you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXkau4BFAlE

The thing that surprised me about Aya in the video with Emiko was her distance from the mic when singing!

She sings with powerful resonance and projection, so she was matching Emiko's volume/projection while being twice as far away from the mic!

So it wasn't just a case of having two singers have a duet on a major American classic such as "I Will Always Love You", it was a case of having two powerful and recognized vocalists from different streams of Japan (traditional and modern) singing together. I wonder if they sang other songs on that particular show.

 

[Lúa]

They already collaborated. The song is called kIng.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxH4aMnlGSk

Thank you!

 

[grunty]

Noticed Nishikawa again while randomly flipping through Emiko's music videos. I am still only familiar with the SOUNDS GOOD album on digital.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In1GS83kp9U

「After All」
作詞：Aileen De La Cruz / TomoLow / Ryo Ito　
作曲：Aileen De La Cruz / TomoLow / Ryo Ito
日本語作詞：Yukurino

Sound produce：亀田誠治

Guitar : 西川 進
Bass : 亀田誠治
Programming : 豊田泰孝
Chorus：Olivia Burrell / KAZCO / 富永 TOMMY 弘明

 

[CloisteredFlame]

They already collaborated. The song is called kIng.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxH4aMnlGSk

Thank you for reminding me of this song. I saw it when I was watching a lot of her videos.

This is a performances of the song in a live setting, to show her actual voice.

https://youtu.be/K7XmDAcDkX8?si=cTzttpkh4_IWUdEo

 

[CloisteredFlame]

Nice

Noticed Nishikawa again while randomly flipping through Emiko's music videos. I am still only familiar with the SOUNDS GOOD album on digital.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In1GS83kp9U

「After All」
作詞：Aileen De La Cruz / TomoLow / Ryo Ito　
作曲：Aileen De La Cruz / TomoLow / Ryo Ito
日本語作詞：Yukurino

Sound produce：亀田誠治

Guitar : 西川 進
Bass : 亀田誠治
Programming : 豊田泰孝
Chorus：Olivia Burrell / KAZCO / 富永 TOMMY 弘明!

I liked the language mix with entire lines being in English, and she sang them very well. Easy to understand.

Emiko tends to get a lot of upward-moving songs (methodically) requiring her belting. I'd like to hear her sing a moody or creepy track in her low to middle range.

That's why I really rate her "Destination" so highly. The full and languid way she took those starting verse lines.

 

[CloisteredFlame]

I would like Emiko to be invited to sing with Revo either in Sound or Linked Horizon.

I was just watching "Hiiro no Fuusha" by Kaori and wondered about her singing it now, then about Emiko singing it, or another song.

 

[Lúa]

Emiko + Lino Leia + Masahiro Gotoh - I want you back (now we know that this song is from Emiko’s classics xD)

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUyDK74gV5B/?igsh=MTk0emdmMzdibThhNw==

 

[Lúa]

Same trio with an excerpt of Toto’s Africa https://www.instagram.com/reel/DU0NAPGgeBG/?igsh=bnVlNmZpNGtraDZ5

Lino Leia is having fun with her high range

 

[CloisteredFlame]

Emiko + Lino Leia + Masahiro Gotoh - I want you back (now we know that this song is from Emiko’s classics xD)

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUyDK74gV5B/?igsh=MTk0emdmMzdibThhNw==

The middle singer's name is "Zena" it seems, and she came in from Italy.

She seems more reserved than Emiko and LL, or maybe just getting used to her new acquaintances.

All very different vocally.

 

[CloisteredFlame]

Same trio with an excerpt of Toto’s Africa https://www.instagram.com/reel/DU0NAPGgeBG/?igsh=bnVlNmZpNGtraDZ5

Lino Leia is having fun with her high range

You know, I can respect her displayed high notes in this video especially in the head voice range and I wonder how high she can go. I suspect that she can also sing those notes in her full voice (though maybe not in belt?)

LINO LEIA's high notes are not breathy or too wilted because of her mask/nasal timbre so it still cuts through without her needing to use much force.

She already showed us her low range in YKL#21 which is surprisingly quite solid.

 

[CloisteredFlame]

https://x.com/imoji3/status/2024505461291221268?s=20
いも
@imoji3
Translated from Japanese
Timelapse

 

[CloisteredFlame]

https://youtu.be/SazrHM128lo?si=UqJ3KAehlCBha8P7
[Treasured video] "Shirt and shorts" Emiko Suzuki (16 years old at the time) cheering even though it is a rehearsal| National Gospel Contest Gospel Koshien 2015

This is cute. Just before the half-way point, there was behind the scenes videos of Emiko's sister and parents (mum holding the camera) with family and friends celebrating.

 

[CloisteredFlame]

https://youtu.be/I32cgrg2dw4?si=TeJ9E2CeX00gYpzg
Emiko Suzuki - LIVE Digest movie(209.10,18)

This is a digest of different songs from a live show.

This first is a more jazzy-style song showcasing her genre versatility.

The video also includes her self-accompanying on the keyboard on another song. So she plays at least one instrument.

 

[CloisteredFlame]

Isn't this the cutest thing ever?! Seeing Emiko perform on stage at such a young age.

https://youtu.be/zQLHBQM0fKE?si=h4sqQZrtFgIWMVlu

I'm Seven Years old ! (鈴木瑛美子)​

Lyricist/Composer: Emiko Suzuki
Song: Emiko Suzuki
Song Festival 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Japan Youth Hall
English that I remembered for the first time... My name is Emiko.I'm seven years old! I made a ♪ song with Yamaha Nakayoshi

 

[CloisteredFlame]

https://youtu.be/G7E2rF4XRnc?si=GouIKiJ7Izjr8dBA
[4K]高校生シンガー・鈴木瑛美子編・日本元気プロジェクト2017「スーパーエネルギー!!」
[4K] High School Singer Emiko Suzuki, edited by Nippon Genki Project 2017 "Super Energy!!"

Japan Genki Project 2017 "Super Energy!!" Produced by KANSAI YAMAMOTO,
High school singer Emiko Suzuki's solo song "Men Become a Big River" and the 21st Century 337 Time (choreographed by EXILE USA) performance.
Emiko Suzuki & Hachioji Gakuen Hachioji High School Dance Club
Tsugaru shamisen: Hanawachie
Taiko: Yan Taiko (flame drum, Hono-O-Daiko)

Date: Saturday, June 10, 2017
Location: Roppongi Hills Arena
What is the Nippon Genki Project?Kansai Yamamoto, who has a track record of holding international exchange events around the world, aims to gather human energy to support the Japanese people with an eye on the "future of Japan", create energy, and share excitement.

 

[CloisteredFlame]

Also, her family recorded an album together (parents and both sisters)

Whole album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6qzoHkyQyY&list=OLAK5uy_lvw3oZiwmH_W67WuqULcw-tFOWPUU85IE

Video of the "Oh Happy Day" from the album.

https://youtu.be/tAczM890oes?si=VsYqltwiVOeTaZ2T
OH HAPPY DAY (STUDIO LIVE) & The Best Friends

[Sugimoto ☆ Family]
Tomotaka Sugimoto (real name: Tomotaka Suzuki), who is active as a stage director, lyricist, and composer, and his family are a four-member group. The hot stage unique to the real family is attractive.
A super family choir that lets you listen to the chorus while dancing jazz and tap dance. The repertoire is large, mainly gospel songs, each with unique solo vocals. The whole family performs at the Sugimoto Family Choir charity concert held since 2003 every year.
During Golden Week in 2010, he appeared on the Lucky Nugget Stage at Tokyo Disneyland as part of the Tokyo Disney Resort Music Festival program.

In 2015, Emiko Suzuki won the national gospel contest "Gospel Koshien" in the vocal category. In September 2016, she scored high scores in TV Asahi's "Kanjani ∞'s The Mozart Music King No. 1 Match" and attracted a lot of attention as the "strongest amateur high school girl". Appeared in a TV commercial for Koikeya in February 2017.
In September, Risako also appeared in the same commercial, and all the sisters appeared in the commercial. In December, he released his first full-fledged gospel album, "Full of Joy".

produced by Masayoshi Okawa & Tasanobu Suezaki