generasia:Featured article for 2019 week 7
Wakeshima Kanon
Wakeshima Kanon (分島花音) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and cellist. Her early works were produced by famed Malice Mizer/Moi dix Mois guitarist and musician, Mana. In 2012, Kanon signed with Warner Home Video.
Wakeshima started playing the cello when she was three. In junior high school she was part of musical ensemble groups as well as a cello duo group. Her first time performing on-stage as a vocalist came during her senior year at high school at the school cultural festival. Later on, she entered a Sony audition and managed to become one of the finalists. She was signed to DefSTAR Records, and she debuted in 2008 with the Mana-produced single "still doll", the ending theme for the anime adaptation of the manga series Vampire Knight. Wakeshima's second single "Suna no Oshiro", released in November, was used as the ending theme for the series' second season. She was nominated for a Best Newcomer award for 2008 in the fourth annual Shojo Beat Music Awards, nominees of which are determined by surveying "record companies, music journalists, music experts, and music fans".
In 2010, Wakeshima formed a duo with An Cafe's bassist Kanon, called "Kanon x Kanon". The duo sang the second theme song for the anime adaptation of Shiki, called "Calendula Requiem", which was released November 23, 2010.
Wakeshima released her first non-Mana produced solo single on November 7, 2012 called "Foul Play ni Kurari / Sakura Meikyuu", with both songs having anime tie-ins.
Her first best album, DECADE, is released this week on February 13th.
