Miyavi (born September 14, 1981, in Konohana-ku, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese rock guitarist, currently known for his solo work and his role as guitarist in supergroup Skin. He is also the former guitarist for Dué le quartz, which disbanded in 2002, and was credited under the name Miyabi (雅). Upon Dué le Quartz's dissolution, Miyabi announced that he was going to initiate a solo career and changed his name to Miyavi, releasing his debut album Gagaku soon after. He later signed a contract with PS Company, and eventually with Universal Japan, becoming a major label artist.
In October 2004, Miyavi released his first major single Rock no gyakushū -Superstar no jōken- (ロックの逆襲-スーパースターの条件-) (under Universal Records Japan) and began to credit himself in the songwriting credits in his liner notes as "Myv". His first major album, Miyavizm, was released in June 2005.
Biography
Miyavi was born in Nishikujo, Konohana-ku, Osaka, Japan. His mother is Japanese and his father is a second-generation Zainichi Korean Miyavi's parents divorced when he was young. Soon after, he moved with his mother to Kawanishi in Hyōgo Prefecture to live near his maternal grandparents. Miyavi claims that, as a child, he was a good student and enjoyed playing soccer. Later in life, Miyavi started playing the guitar and writing music when he was 15, after a soccer injury left him unable to play.
Dué le quartz and Indies Era
In 1999, at the age of 18, Miyavi joined the visual kei band Dué le quartz. The band broke up in September 2002, and soon after Miyavi released his first solo album Gagaku under the indie label PS Company. Miyavi's significant change in music and visual styles after leaving Dué le quartz caused much of his original audience to disperse, but attracted a new audience.
Miyavi also starred as himself in the 2004 film Oresama (おれさま) and is regularly featured in various Japanese rock magazines such as Fools Mate, Arena 37c, and Shoxx magazine. In the past he has modeled in the Gothic & Lolita Bible and for various brands such as the clothing line Fotus.
In 2004 Miyavi was scheduled to perform at various conventions in the United States, but was forced to cancel at the last minute due to staff issues. One of the planned events had been a show at Pacific Media Expo, where the Japanese band Psycho le Cému acted as a substitute, while another was at Anime Central, where then-indies band Sid was booked as a replacement. He was also scheduled for Megacon, but no replacement was provided.
In 2004 the maxi-single Ashita, Genki ni Naare hit the number 1 spot on the Oricon indies chart.
Majors and Pop/Acoustic Era
Following his signing with Universal Records Japan in late 2004, he changed his name to "Myv" (an apparent shortening of "Miyavi"), although magazines and his website still refer to him as Miyavi.
He released his first major single, Rock no Gyakushū -Super Star no Jōken- in November 2004. His first major album, Miyavizm, was released in June 2005.
In late 2005 and for most of 2006, Miyavi shifted to an acoustic/pop sound reflected in his second and third albums, Myv Pops and Miyaviuta ~Dokusou~, released in August and September 2006, respectively. He has said of Myv Pops, "It's like putting all the songs that I created, presenting my own attitude towards "popularity", into one album." About Miyaviuta ~Dokusou~ Miyavi says "[...] for the album I wanted to fit in with the quality of the songs themselves and absorb myself into my performance, playing acoustic guitar alone."
Miyavi showcased his new acoustic stylings for the first time in his "25 Shūnen Kinen Koen Tokyo Geijutsu Gekijo 5 Days -Dokuso-" concert series held at Tokyo Geijutsu Gekijo for five days around his 25th birthday in September 2006.
Recent Events: US Debut, Neo Visualizm & Skin
On December 30, 2006 Miyavi put out a message that he would be joining a band. On May 25, 2007 at the J-rock Revolution concert organized by Yoshiki in Los Angeles, it was officially announced that Miyavi would indeed be a part of the "superband", named Skin, so far consisting of Yoshiki, Gackt, Sugizo, Miyavi himself, and Ju-Ken (Gackt's touring bassist). They performed their debut live at the 2007 Anime Expo convention in Long Beach, California on June 29, 2007.
On February 8, 2007, Miyavi announced via his online diary that he would be performing live in Las Vegas. The performance took place on February 17, 2007 at the Tabu Ultra Lounge in the MGM Grand.
In May 2007, Miyavi announced his fourth major album - as well as his first remix album - to be released in July. The album, titled 7 Samurai Sessions -We're Kavki Boiz-, will feature re-arrangements of his past songs and will feature a variety of instruments such as a turntable, various drums and tap dancing. The limited edition of the album will include a DVD with bonus studio recording footage. Miyavi's 7th major single (and 14th overall), a double A-side entitled Sakihokoru Hana no you ni -Neo Visualizm- / Kabuki Danshi, was released on June 20, 2007, and debuted at #4 on the Oricon Charts. The supporting tour, entitled "The Beginning of Neo Visualizm Tour", started on July 16th, and was planned for twenty venues in Japan and a stop in Korea in six weeks.
On September 3, a new single "Subarashikikana, kono sekai - What A Wonderful World" was announced, and it was released on November 14, 2007.
Shortly after this release, Miyavi announced a new single, entitled "Hi no hikari sae todokanai kono basho de", which was released on January 16th, 2008. It was a collaboration with fellow Skin guitarist, Sugizo. A new album was released in March 2008, titled This Iz the Japanese Kabuki Rock.
Miyavi announced "This Iz The Japanese Kabuki Rock Tour 2008", his first world tour, at a performance on December 25, 2007. Miyavi announced he would be performing in North and South America, Europe, continental Asia, Taiwan and Japan. His tour ended with a performance in Tokyo on August 17, 2008.
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