| Yama | |
|---|---|
| Genres | J-pop |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Labels | Sony Music Entertainment Japan |
| Member of | BIN |
Yama (stylized in lowercase) is a Japanese singer affiliated with Sony Music Entertainment Japan. After starting a singing career with Vocaloid covers, they became the vocalist of the rock trio BIN, and they also have performed music for the anime 2.43: Seiin High School Boys Volleyball Team, Ranking of Kings, Spy × Family, and Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury.
Biography
While in junior high school, Yama started making Vocaloid covers at home. In March 2018, under the name "Yama" (stylized in lowercase), Yama made their singing debut with a YouTube cover of Picon's "Atatakai Ikimono". In 2019, Yama formed the rock trio BIN, as the group's vocalist under the stage name Yamagami.
In November 2019, Yama participated as a guest vocalist in a special version of Kujira [ja]'s song "Nemurumachi". In April 2020, Yama's first original song, "Haru wo Tsugeru", was released; it peaked at #7 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and #8 at the Oricon Combined Singles Chart.
In 2021, Yama sang "Mahi", the opening theme of 2.43: Seiin High School Boys Volleyball Team, and in February 2021, it was released as a single from Sony Music Records. In September 2021, Yama's first album, The Meaning of Life, was released. Yama later sang "Oz", the ending theme of Ranking of Kings; in November 2021, it was released as part of another single, "Oz/Sekai wa Utsukushī Hazunanda/Smokey Heroine", with all three songs in their 2022 album "Versus the Night".
In 2022, Yama's song "Shikisai", was featured as the ending theme for the second half of Spy × Family's first season; it was released as a single in November 2022. In 2023, Yama performed "Slash", the opening theme of the second season of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury; it was later released as a single that year, alongside another album the next year. From 28 November to 5 December 2023, Yama held a solo concert tour throughout Southeast Asia and Taiwan, performing in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Manila, Bangkok, and Taipei.
Yama uses a genderfluid public image, and their voice has been described by Azrin Tan of Vogue Singapore as "soulful, feminine". Most of Yama's personal life is kept anonymous, including their true identity and gender. When asked about this, Yama cited a lack of self-confidence and a desire to keep a real-life identity separate from their career.
Discography
Albums
| Title | Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN |
JPN Comb. | |||||
| The Meaning of Life | 2021 |
|
7 | 6 | — | |
| Versus the Night | 2022 |
|
18 | 13 | — | |
| Awake & Build | 2024 |
|
20 | 27 | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||||
Singles
| Title | Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN |
JPN Comb. | |||||
| "Haru o Tsugeru" (春を告げる) | 2020 |
|
— | 8 | — | |
| "Mahi" (麻痺) | 2021 |
|
15 | 49 | — | |
| "Oz/Sekai wa Utsukushī Hazunanda/Smokey Heroine" (Oz./世界は美しいはずなんだ/スモーキーヒロイン) | 2021 |
|
44 | — | — | |
| "Shikisai" (色彩) | 2022 |
|
29 | 21 | — | |
| "Slash" | 2023 |
|
20 | 35 | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||||
References
- "yama". Sony Music Official Site (in Japanese). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- Yama (2 September 2021). "yamaの素顔に迫るスペシャル・インタビュー。新作アルバムへの思いから、自分のことを語り始めると決めた理由まで。". Vogue Japan (Interview) (in Japanese). Interviewed by Kaori Komatsu. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ Kuroda, Takanori (7 January 2021). "yama、これまで"明かしてこなかったこと"を語るーーシンガーとしての挫折から、クリエイターらとの制作エピソードまで". Real Sound (in Japanese). p. 1-2. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- Kurimoto, Hitoshi (23 May 2020). "アフター・コロナのヒットパターン?! yamaの「春を告げる」が急上昇". Daily News. Billboard Japan. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- "山上、トマト、Tの3人組・BINが1stアルバム「COLONY」発表（動画あり）". Ongaku Natalie (in Japanese). 26 January 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- "くじら「ねむるまち」Spotifyバイラルチャート急上昇 新世代ボカロPの詞曲に共通する"諦念"のムード". Real Sound. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- "yamaのプロフィール". Oricon News. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- "Billboard Japan Hot 100 | Charts". Billboard JAPAN. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ^ "yamaの合算シングル売上TOP4作品". Oricon News. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ "麻痺(初回生産限定盤) | yama". Oricon News. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ "the meaning of life(初回生産限定盤) | yama". Oricon News. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- Mateo, Alex (1 October 2021). "Ranking of Kings Anime's Promo Video Previews 1st Episode". Anime News Network. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ "Oz./世界は美しいはずなんだ/スモーキーヒロイン(期間生産限定盤) | yama". Oricon News. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ "Versus the night(完全生産限定盤) | yama". Oricon News. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- Loo, Egan (1 October 2022). "Spy×Family Anime's 2nd Half Streams Clean Ending Sequence with yama's Ending Song". Anime News Network. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ "色彩 | yama". Oricon News. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- Pineda, Rafael Antonio (9 March 2023). "Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Anime Season 2's Trailer Reveals yama's Opening Song". Anime News Network.
- ^ "slash(完全生産限定盤) | yama". Oricon News. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ "awake&build(完全生産限定盤) | yama". Oricon News. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- Pineda, Rafael Antonio (3 October 2023). "Singer yama Goes on Solo Asian Tour in November-December". Anime News Network. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- Tan, Azrin (23 May 2023). "Japanese artists are going faceless—and they're setting a new standard for the industry". Vogue Singapore. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- Komatsu, Mikikazu (3 October 2022). "Singer yama Shows Off Their First Dance Performance in SPY x FAMILY Cour 2 Ending Theme MV". Crunchyroll News. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- "yamaのアルバム売上TOP3作品". Oricon News. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- "yamaの合算アルバム売上TOP3作品". Oricon News. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- "yamaのシングル売上TOP4作品". Oricon News. Retrieved 16 June 2024.