Azu (born December 8, 1981) is a Japanese R&B singer. She is well known for her collaborations with rapper Seamo, such as her first major release, the leading track from Seamo's second album Live Goes On, "Kokoro no Koe".
Biography Azu first began working in the Tokyo club scene at the age of 16. She explains the meaning behind her stage name as "Putting memories to all the words from A to Z and conveying them to you (U)." She began work with rapper Seamo in 2005, and worked as a background vocalist for a few of his tracks. In 2006, she featured as a fully fledged billed artist in the lead radio single from his second album, Live Goes On. The song, "Kokoro no Koe", was certified by the RIAJ for 100,000 cellphone downloads.
She debuted as an artist in her own right in 2007, with the single "Cherish". "Cherish" is used as the ending theme in the xxxHolic Shunmuki original video animation series. She continued to work with Seamo (for example, her first top 30 hit, "Jikan yo Tomare", featured him). To date, the pair have worked together on six songs together. "Jikan yo Tomare" is used as the second ending in the Itazura na Kiss anime series.
Her songs generally do better in the digital market (her biggest single in physical sales only sold 11,000 copies (subscription only)). Since November 2009, five of her songs have been certified gold by the RIAJ for cellphone downloads.
Azu released her second album in March 2010, Two of Us. Azu's single "For You" is used as the 12th ending theme for Naruto Shippuden. Azu's single "In My Life" is used as the third ending theme for Yorinuki Gintama-san. Azu composed the song "Akatsuki no Hana" for Akatsuki no Yona.
Azu announced her marriage to a man outside the music industry in May 2017, and she gave birth to a daughter on August 6, 2018.
Discography Albums Year Album Information Chart positions Total sales2008As One Released: July 23, 2008 Label: BMG Japan (BVCR 14041) Formats: CD, digital download3518,0362010Two of Us Released: March 17, 2010 Label: Ariola Japan (BVCL 85) Formats: CD, digital download1322,4272011AZyoU Released: February 23, 2011 Label: Ariola Japan (BVCL 197–198) Formats: CD, digital download159,7432012Love Letter Released: January 18, 2012 Label: Ariola Japan (BVCL 303–304) Formats: CD, digital download228,1372012Best Released: October 31, 2012 Label: Ariola Japan (BVCL 435–436) Formats: CD, digital download148,201 2014 4seasons Released: January 29, 2014 Label: Ariola Japan (BVCL-565–566) Formats: CD, digital download43
Singles Release Title Chart positions Oriconsalestotal AlbumOricon Singles ChartsBillboard Japan Hot 100*RIAJ Digital Track Chart*2007"Cherish" 49 – – 5,135As One"Jewel Sky" 84 – – 1,5252008 118 18 – 1,055 27 – – 11,1572009 23 – – 11,270Two of Us"I Will" 23 – 11 6,284(Spontania feat. Azu) 31 — 4 5,326Collaborations Best!!2010"You & I" feat. Love Love Love 55 38 3 3,247Two of Us"For You" 38 53 9 2,933 67 — — 2,061AZyoU"In My Life / To You..." 62 — — 3,3242011"Broken Heart" 79 — — — 100 — — 796Love Letter"Woman" 130 — — 620 2013"Promise" 99 — — — 4seasons"Circles of Life / Summer Time!!!" 143 — — —
* Japan Hot 100 established February 2008, RIAJ Digital Track Chart established April 2009.
Other appearances Release Artist Title Notes Album2005SeamoHoney HoneyBackground vocals.Drive (single)"Intro: Here Comes the Seamo"Get Back on Stage2006Seamo feat. AzuLead track from album. PV filmed.Live Goes On2008Karutetto feat. AzuHaikei, Boku no Mirai e. (single)Makai feat. Azu & L-Vokal"Baby Star"StarsSeamo feat. Azu & Yukako"Kiss Kiss Kiss"Scrap & Build2010Makai feat. AzuLead track from album. #40 RIAJ.Love Lite2010S'capade feat. Azu"Every 4 U"
References
External links Azu's official website Azu's Ameblo blog