Stephanie (singer)

Stephanie promoting "FUTURE" (2009)

Stephanie (ステファニー) is a Japanese/American singer who debuted in 2007 under Sony Music Japan with the single "Kimi ga Iru Kagiri" (anime KISS DUM -ENGAGE planet-s ending theme song). Her fourth single, "Friends", was used as the anime Mobile Suit Gundam 00s second ending theme song. She released her debut album in March 2008. She typically dresses in short shorts, her songs typically include a whistle note (her debut song started with such a note) and reputedly she can sing in five octaves.

Profile

• Stage Name: Stephanie (ステファニー)
• Real Name: Stephanie Nonoshita Topalian
• Birthday: August 5, 1987
• Height: 165cm
• Blood Type: AB
• Favourite Artists: Christina Aguilera, Hamasaki Ayumi, Michael Jackson, Utada Hikaru
• Bands:
  • The Death March (2012)
  • Runningman Tokyo (2015-2016)
  • Genealogy (2015)
  • Loris Band (2016-)
  • Jam in the base (2016-)

Information

Stephanie has an Armenian-American father and a Japanese mother who came from Yamaguchi Prefecture, and grew up in California. When she 13, she sent a demo of her singing shela's sepia to music producer Joe Rinoie, who was extremely impressed with her.

A year later, in 2002, she moved from California to Tokyo. After graduating high school, she enrolled at Aoyama Gakuin University and is continuing to study law.

On April the fourth 2007, in the second episode of the anime KISS DUM -ENGAGE planet-, her song "Kimi ga Iru Kagiri" was used for the first time as the ending theme song for the anime. On the same day her official site opened, however her face was not revealed. Her face was finally revealed officially at her website on the 29th of May, a day before the release of her debut single. "Kimi ga Iru Kagiri" did not fare well on the charts, only debuting at #91; however after an appearance at Music Station the single shot up to #22 on the daily charts and eventually settled at a weekly position of #36.

Stephanie's second single, "because of you", replaced "Kimi ga Iru Kagiri" as the ending theme song of KISS DUM -ENGAGE planet- and was her second successive ballad single. It followed a similar charting life to "Kimi ga Iru Kagiri"; charting at its highest only after appearing on Music Station.

Stephanie won an award at the 49th Japan Record Awards for best new artist along with the likes of JYONGRI and °C-ute. Her third single was released in November, and instead of it being a ballad single like her previous two, was an upbeat pop song. Her fourth single, "Friends", was an upbeat pop-rock song used as the second ending theme song for Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (her first major tie-up).

She is friends with fellow Aoyama Gakuin-student and singer-songwriter Yazumi Kana, who she has written the lyrics to many of her songs together with, and did a duel live together on the February 14, 2008.

Discography

Stephanie promoting "Kimi ga Iru Kagiri" (2007)

Stephanie promoting Colors of my Voice (2009)

Albums

• [2008.03.05] Stephanie (ステファニー)
• [2009.06.17] Colors of my Voice

Singles

• [2007.05.30] Kimi ga Iru Kagiri (君がいる限り; As Long as You are Here)
• [2007.08.29] because of you
• [2007.12.12] Winter Gold
• [2008.01.30] Friends (フレンズ)
• [2008.07.23] Changin' feat.Tanaka Roma
• [2009.01.14] Pride ~A Part of Me~ feat.SRM
• [2009.04.29] FUTURE

Digital Singles

• [2012.02.08] Towa ni (永遠に; Forever) (The Gospellers's cover)
• [2012.03.14] Sakurazaka (桜坂; Cherry-blossom Hill) (Masaharu Fukuyama's cover)
• [2012.04.11] Precious Love

Compilation / Other

• [2012.04.18] Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance Original Soundtrack (CD1 #3 TWISTER -KINGDOM MIX-, CD1 #9 SOMEDAY -KINGDOM MIX-)

External Links

• Official Facebook
• Official Twitter
• Official Youtube
• Former Blog
• Former Twitter
• Former Facebook
• Former Youtube