Kalafina 18th single "One Light" for Arslan Senki [confirmed]

Oh man, going back to the topic, the promo pic was nice though i was expecting a cover thats similar to hikari furu. One spotlight eh? And they always look so great XDD
Lets just hope for something new for their 5th album :)
 
Actually I really want Keiko to have a solo career but it isn't likely as afaik she's the most loyal to Kajiura and thinks really highly of her even though Kajiura made her stuck doing harmony for most time dammit and rarely let her shine. plus she's the most dedicated to Kalafina. She said that she'd dedicate her 20s to Kalafina but she'll be 30 this year so maybe she'd change her mind. As you all might already know, one of the reasons I'm still following Kajiura's works (Kalafina in particular) is because of Keiko. If she ever decides to go on a solo career without Kajiura, I may leave Kajiura altogether.

As for FJ, Kajiura herself said that she is FictionJunction. the girls are the vocalists she really liked the voice and that's why she used/asked/hired them to sing in her live performances and to sing in some songs she'd asked to make. I'd like to think FJ as Kajiura's "for fun" and "for pastime" project. So as long as Kajiura lives, FJ will never get disbanded. She might change the vocalists lineup although it isn't likely.

Another option: let other composers compose songs for Kalafina. who knows, maybe it'll bring some kind of freshness in Kalafina music.
 
Actually I really want Keiko to have a solo career but it isn't likely as afaik she's the most loyal to Kajiura and thinks really highly of her even though Kajiura made her stuck doing harmony for most time dammit and rarely let her shine.
I actually enjoyed having KEIKO doing the harmonies for a bulk of the songs up until a certain point... I think that opinion changed with Ring your bell, because she is so entirely passive in this song! With only "kimi e to" as a line... that's nothing... And HIKARU completely took over a bulk of the harmonies, with KEIKO having gaps where she would not sing the harmony lines, whereas back then, it was the opposite (with other songs, KEIKO always did the harmonies and HIKARU would probably do some parts)
 
Tbh, I agree with grunty. I think working with the same singers for so many years has led to a certain complacency in Kajiura's work.
 
Tbh, I agree with grunty. I think working with the same singers for so many years has led to a certain complacency in Kajiura's work.
Interesting perspective. I had a discussion with a friend once about how it seemed as if the singers were tightly and rigidly bound to their roles with KEIKO being deepest voice, HIKARU in the middle, and WAKANA on top. Kajiura (the composer) must be thinking of them in this rigid format... leading to reduction in quality, as some might put it.
 
I think the 'apocalyptic' stuff is just speculation on our part - we won't know for sure if our fears are unfounded until we hear the next album. That's when we'll know whether we really should be worried or not. My cynicism towards SMEJ can be summed up by the simple statement: "they're a BAND, not a BRAND." if that makes sense.

I think the 'roles' problem is an important factor though. According to interviews, they appreciate the opportunities that it's given them and have grown as artists since the group was founded. Now though, I think they've actually outgrown those roles and should be given the chance to see what else each of them is capable of. There'll come a time when "being a member of Kalafina" becomes constrictive, and doing something different will be the logical course to take. Whether that means bringing in additional songwriters, changing musicians or vocalists, merging into the FJ project or disbanding altogether, I'm not sure.

Personally I'd like to see the "additional songwriter(s)" or "merging into FJ" options, because I think they work well together and I want to hear them continue to make music. But only if the music is fun and rewarding for them to make, and enjoyable for us to listen to. So it's not that I want to see Kalafina cease to exist; rather, I want to see them be able to fulfil their potential and make good songs. If that means taking a different direction or reforming, I'll just accept it as a necessary step.
 
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^ The merger would only require Hikaru actually becoming a member of FJ since the other two already are long ago, and hikaru is half-in already since she does chorus for FJYuuka and is present in FJC events. This is only a matter of contracts and the only way we can see vol 10's Kalafina front act released i think
 
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I agree with Atlas about the one little part in RYB, but then in Koibito she even had a full line. She's had lead songs before: fantasia, ongaku, love come down, some in obbligato, mistrioso, Alleluisa, lapis, destination unknown, so she's not completely left out, it just seems that way with the recent singles. And about that, I enjoyed Believe, and ring your bell, and ttb. I don't think they are the same song, ring your bell sounds a bit like believe, but it sounds more like the Historia songs, or it gives off that feel. Anyways, back to the single again.

I love this promo pic! I think it might be a sadder song than ring your bell, like having to fight the darkness to get that one light. I imagine the lyrics to be something like that. I hope they will continue to make music, with Kajiura, because she still can write interesting things (Hanako ost, Koibito, Tsuioku, lapis, Kimi no Gin, Gaika and changing the singers for songs in the FJ Lives, as we heard on this last live album.) I still love Kaiura and all of her works. I wasn't expecting them to have a Best of album, but it's because they are so popular now. i think she writes these types of songs to get people in the crowd going at lives. They were during HB live, and that was pretty good even though I don't like the song. Believe is better though in my opinion. Anyways, let's be hopeful please? I think Kajiura herself said she had no intention on stopping making music for a long time.
 
It makes sense, despite some opinions all three of them are incredibly talented women. I'd be interested to see where they'd go as solo acts. Of course being part of FJ doesn't stop that, look at Kaori, that might be the best choice for everyone involved, at least at some point.

I'm still gonna hold out for a new album before coming to conclusions though, regardless of whether One Light is the best or worst song they ever do. It's not like we haven't had 4 albums and 14 singles of (mostly) amazing material nonetheless and that's really what's important.
 
I still love Kaiura and all of her works. I wasn't expecting them to have a Best of album, but it's because they are so popular now. i think she writes these types of songs to get people in the crowd going at lives. They were during HB live, and that was pretty good even though I don't like the song. Believe is better though in my opinion. Anyways, let's be hopeful please? I think Kajiura herself said she had no intention on stopping making music for a long time.
Good said Liana-chan!! I totally agree!
 
As you all might already know, one of the reasons I'm still following Kajiura's works (Kalafina in particular) is because of Keiko. If she ever decides to go on a solo career without Kajiura, I may leave Kajiura altogether.

Well... as for me, we all know I love Yuriko but her KAiiDA project was a flippin snorefest (I liked maybe two tracks and that's also only for the first 2 or 3 minutes). So undeniably I'm attracted (or was) to "the Kajiura sound" and not just the singers.
 
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The girls' singing is fine, but a year break would be a good idea or hell, even longer. I've followed numerous artists that have a good 4-5 years or so between albums and have been consistently amazing throughout. I'm still a little surprised at the quality of the four albums so far considering the amount of time between each one, most artists couldn't pull that off with such finesse.
 
She's had lead songs before: fantasia, ongaku, love come down, some in obbligato, mistrioso, Alleluisa, lapis, destination unknown, so she's not completely left out, it just seems that way with the recent singles.
nah, she's left out. 4 albums, going on 5. a handful of songs where she has solos. only one completely to herself. its a disaster and its ridiculous. no reason for her to be stuck as only the harmony in 85% of the songs. kajiura needs to step her game up. that "i write songs in higher melodies" shtick is old and not an excuse.

edit: i say one song to herself because we hear hikaru in alleluia despite how minor it is
 
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The pic also reminds me of stone cold.
If it's anything like stone cold...
Shut-up-and-take-my-money.jpg


My favorite Kajiura rock song next to Signal. Honestly, I'd rate stone cold as one of her magnum opus songs because it was that good. Anything remotely similar would be a blessing.
 
Well... as for me, we all know I love Yuriko but her KAiiDA project was a flippin snorefest (I liked maybe two tracks and that's also only for the first 2 or 3 minutes). So undeniably I'm attracted (or was) to "the Kajiura sound" and not just the singers.

I'll change my mind when Kajiura makes a song that fully utilises her vocal ability. So far there is none. Not to say I don't like songs with her as main vocal because I clearly do, but none of the songs make me go "omg Keiko". Some of their live performances showed how lovely Keiko's voice it but the songs aren't specifically written for her. That and Keiko's improvisation in some songs. Yuriko is still lucky because she has some lovely songs to herself that fully show how great her vocal is.
 
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