Misia

Combining a massive vocal range with a distinctive look, pop singer Misia took it upon herself to stay somewhat outside of the usual idol apparatus in play in Japanese pop music. After discovering a five-octave range early on, Misia (originally Misaki Ito) began training in earnest, auditioning (and failing) for the major labels in Japan, eventually joining BMG Japan in 1997. Taking on a dreadlocked appearance, she quickly released a pair of singles, followed by a debut album, Mother Father Brother Sister, which worked its way to the number one slot on the Oricon charts soon after release. Holding a surprising level of seclusion (relative to other pop singers, who often blanket the media with appearances of various forms), Misia remained off of television, instead branching only slightly into other mediums such as theme music and video game music. Despite this, her next three albums -- featuring a pop style reminiscent of some more dance-driven Mariah Carey works and mid-'90s American urban music -- all peaked at number one on the Oricon charts. Two new albums, released in 2004 and supported by massive touring, performed relatively less well for the singer (both Singer for Singer and Mars & Roses peaked at "only" number three on the Oricon charts). Still building steam, however, Misia branched into international markets at this point, gaining large followings in Taiwan, Korea, and Singapore. Still keeping herself near the top, Misia continued to release albums after a switch away from BMG, then back to BMG, releasing Eighth World in 2008, which peaked at number three on the Oricon charts. Though her fairly pedestrian songs have always somewhat underutilized an otherwise powerful voice, Misia's popularity has continued to grow. ~ Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide