generasia:Featured article for 2018 week 31
HYDE
Hideto Takarai, known exclusively by his stage name HYDE, is a Japanese musician, singer, songwriter, producer, and actor. He is best known as the lead vocalist for the rock band L'Arc~en~Ciel.
In 2003, HYDE starred alongside fellow artist Gackt in the film Moon Child. hyde and Gackt sang the ballad "Orange no Taiyou" which was used as the first ending song of the movie. The song was later released on Gackt's album, Crescent. In 2004, he took on the role of the guitarist Adam in the movie Kagen no Tsuki, based on the manga by Yazawa Ai. During the summer of 2005, he composed the song "GLAMOROUS SKY" for the movie NANA, yet another movie based on a manga by Yazawa Ai. The song was sung by pop artist Nakashima Mika with lyrics written by Yazawa Ai herself. In August, HYDE (and his solo band) performed the song on Music Station with Nakashima Mika.
In 2008, HYDE started working with KAZ again under the name VAMPS, and together in 2012 they started the Halloween project HALLOWEEN JUNKY ORCHESTRA. Afterward, L'Arc~en~Ciel launched a ten-date tour in the United States. They were awarded in the category "Billboard Japan Ranking International 2009" in recognition of their success overseas.
On June 5, 2018, it was announced he would be releasing the single "WHO'S GONNA SAVE US" on the 27th, his first single in twelve years.
His follow-up single, "AFTER LIGHT", is released this week on August 1st.
