{{Short description|Japanese visual kei rock band}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Shazna | image = | alt = | caption = | image_size = | landscape = | background = group_or_band | alias = | origin = Japan | genre = {{hlist|New wave|pop rock|{{nowrap|post-punk}}|gothic rock}} | years_active = 1993–2000, 2006–2009, 2017–2019, 2023–present | label = BMG Japan, Toshiba EMI, [http://www.rockchipper.co.jp/ Rock Chipper] | website = | current_members = Izam<br>A・O・I<br>Niy | past_members = Katsura<br>Raychell<br>Natsume<br>Asuka }}
'''Shazna''' (stylized as '''SHAZNA''') is a Japanese visual kei rock band originally active from 1993 to 2000. Originally having a strong gothic/post-punk influence, the band's sound greatly shifted to a more new wave direction by 1996. At their peak in the mid-to-late 1990s, they were considered one of the "Four Heavenly Kings of visual kei" alongside La'cryma Christi, Malice Mizer and Fanatic Crisis.<ref name="jbpress">{{cite web|url=https://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/84406|title=SHAZNA、ラクリマ、マリス、F◇C…番組から生まれた「ヴィジュアル系四天王」偏見の矢面に立たされた彼らの真の実力|work=JB Press|language=Japanese|date=2024-11-20|accessdate=2025-05-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Oshima |first=Akemi |title=Visual Rock Perfect Disc Guide 500 |publisher=Shinko Music |date=2013-08-07 |isbn=978-4-401-63825-3 |page=60}}</ref> Their 1998 major label debut album ''Gold Sun and Silver Moon'' reached the number two position on the Oricon chart, sold over a million copies and was named "Rock Album of the Year" at the Japan Gold Disc Awards. Shazna has reunited several times; first in 2006, which saw the release of a new album, then in 2017 with the addition of three new female members. The core trio resumed activities for a third time in 2023.
==History== Formed in 1993 with Izam on vocals, A・O・I on guitar, Niy on bass and Katsura on drums. Katsura left in 1996 and joined Baiser, leaving the trio.<ref name="JaME"> {{cite web | title = SHAZNA JaME Profile | work = jame-world.com | url = http://www.jame-world.com/us/artists-biography-256-shazna.html | accessdate = 2011-11-23}} </ref> Perhaps the band's most notable feature was vocalist Izam and his choice of fashion; taking the cross-dressing feminine look to an extreme. Izam was largely influenced by Boy George and Culture Club, whom he later did a cover album of in 1998.<ref name="JaME"/><ref name="George"> {{cite web | title = Izam Presents the Best of Boy George & Culture Club | work = amazon.com | url = https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GLF9R6 | accessdate = 2011-11-23}} </ref>
With the release of their major debut single "Melty Love" on August 27, 1997, Shazna gained immense popularity and many awards.<ref name="JaME"/> It reached number two on the Oricon chart, earned them the "Best Newcomer" award from the Japan Cable Awards (Nihon Yusen Taisho) and helped their album ''Gold Sun and Silver Moon'', which was named "Rock Album of the Year" by Japan Gold Disc Awards, be certified Million by the RIAJ.<ref name="OriconMelty"> {{cite web | title = Melty Love | work = oricon.co.jp | url = http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/21857/products/music/59024/1/ | accessdate = 2011-11-23}} </ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.golddisc.jp/award/13/index.html| title=The Japan Gold Disc Award 1999| work=golddisc.jp| accessdate=2012-12-05| language=Japanese}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/e/data/gdisc/1999.html| title=THE 13th JAPAN GOLD DISC AWARD 1999| work=riaj.or.jp| accessdate=2012-12-05| archive-date=2003-12-20| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031220190720/http://www.riaj.or.jp/e/data/gdisc/1999.html| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="RIAJ"> {{cite web |title = Riaj certified million seller albums |work = ocn.ne.jp |url = http://www18.ocn.ne.jp/~hbr/jp1mal_e.htm |accessdate = 2011-11-23 |url-status = dead |archiveurl = https://archive.today/20120805230217/http://www18.ocn.ne.jp/~hbr/jp1mal_e.htm |archivedate = 2012-08-05 }} </ref> The album was named one of the top albums from 1989–1998 in a 2004 issue of the music magazine ''Band Yarouze''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 44 Albums from 1989 - 1998|url=http://www.jame-world.com/us/articles-5-top-44-albums-from-1989-1998.html|work=jame-world.com|date=2004-05-09|accessdate=2013-03-08}}</ref>
In 1999, Izam married famous idol Hinano Yoshikawa, only to file for separation two months later and divorce two months after that.<ref name="JaME"/> Both the marriage and divorce caused a scandal.
In October they released a cover of Ippu-Do's "Violet September Love" as a single.<ref name="JaME"/> In 1999 Shazna signed to Toshiba EMI and released the album ''Pure Hearts'' in June. Their last single (and their second Christmas single) "Winter's Review" was released in December. In January 2000, a singles collection was released, however in October Shazna went on an activity pause.
The members all went in different musical directions. Izam, with a much less feminine look, became a solo singer and turned to acting, appearing in several films such as ''Chinese Dinner'', ''G@me'' and ''Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: Act Zero'', a special episode of the live-action series based on the popular ''Sailor Moon'' manga. Back in 1998 Izam also had a cameo appearance in the ''Crayon Shin-chan'' movie ''Crayon Shin-chan: Blitzkrieg! Pig's Hoof's Secret Mission'', which used Shazna's song "Pureness" as its theme song. A・O・I performs as an acoustic guitarist and singer, and became a filmmaker. Niy performs with the band Fanble.
In June 2006, after 6 years Shazna announced that they were reuniting. They held their first concert on September 5, 2006 and released the single "Heart" on April 25. They released the album ''10th Melty Life'' on August 8, 2007, 10 years after the release of their major single debut "Melty Love".<ref name="JaME"/> On November 3, 2008, Shazna announced that they would disband and played their last concert on March 22, 2009 at Shibuya O-East.<ref name="JaME"/><ref> {{cite web | url = http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/entertainment/59662/ | title = SHAZNA、結成15年目の解散発表 来年3月に解散ライブ | language = Japanese | publisher = oricon.co.jp. | date = 2008-11-03 | accessdate = 2008-11-03}} </ref>
Shazna's song "Melty Love" was covered by BugLug on the compilation ''Crush! -90's V-Rock Best Hit Cover Songs-''. The album was released on January 26, 2011 and features current visual kei bands covering songs from bands that were important to the '90s visual kei movement.<ref name="Crush! -90's V-Rock Best Hit Cover Songs-"> {{cite web | title = '90s Visual Kei Cover Album | work = jame-world.com | url = http://www.jame-world.com/us/news-69786--90s-visual-kei-cover-album.html | accessdate = 2011-03-06}} </ref>
In August 2017, Shazna officially reunited for the 20th anniversary of their major label debut. In addition to Izam, A・O・I and Niy, their lineup includes three new female members; second vocalist Raychell, drummer Natsume and saxophonist Asuka.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shazna20.com/?fref=gc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828061645/http://www.shazna20.com/?fref=gc |archive-date=2017-08-28 |title=SHAZNA 20th ANNIVERSARY}}</ref>
==Members== * Izam – vocals (1993–2000, 2006–2009, 2017–2019, 2023–present) * A・O・I – guitar (1993–2000, 2017–2019, 2023–present) * Niy – bass guitar (1993–2000, 2006–2009, 2017–2019, 2023–present)
===Former members=== * {{nihongo|Katsura|桂‐KATSURA‐}} – drums (1993–1996) * Raychell – vocals (2017–2019) * Natsume – drums (2017–2019) * Asuka – saxophone (2017–2019)
==Discography==
===Studio albums=== * ''Sophia'' (November 30, 1994) * ''Melty Case'' (March 14, 1996) * ''Raspberry Time'' (August 1, 1996), Oricon Albums Chart Peak Position: No. 43<ref name="Albums">[http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/21857/ranking/cd_album/ SHAZNAのアルバム売り上げランキング]. oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 2011-11-23.</ref> * ''Promise Eve'' (January 22, 1997) No. 16<ref name="Albums"/> * ''Gold Sun and Silver Moon'' (January 22, 1998) No. 2<ref name="Albums"/> * ''Pure Hearts'' (June 30, 1999) No. 15<ref name="Albums"/> * ''10th Melty Life'' (August 8, 2007)
===Compilation albums=== * ''Best Album 1993–2000: Oldies'' (January 1, 2000) No. 24<ref name="Albums"/> * ''Single Best Shazna & Izam'' (September 5, 2007, singles collection & Izam's solo) * ''Shazna Love Selection - EP'' (December 12, 2014, ballads collection)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/jp/album/shazna-love-selection-ep/945662001|title = SHAZNAの「SHAZNA LOVE SELECTION - EP」をiTunesで|website = iTunes|date = 10 December 2014}}</ref>
===Singles=== * "Stillness for Dear" (April 17, 1994, limited to 330 copies) * "Dizziness" (December 8, 1995, limited to 500 copies) * "Dizziness" (January 5, 1996, re-release with a B-side track, limited to 1000 copies) * "Melty Love" (August 27, 1997), Oricon Singles Chart Peak Position: No. 2<ref name="Oricon Singles">[http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/21857/ranking/cd_single/ SHAZNAのシングル売り上げラ��キング]. oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 2011-11-23.</ref> :Ending theme of {{nihongo2|所さんのこれアリなんじゃないの!?}} * {{nihongo4|"Violet September Love"|すみれ September Love||October 8, 1997}} No. 2<ref name="Oricon Singles"/> :Ending theme of {{nihongo4|''Beat Takeshi's TV Tackle''|ビートたけしのTVタックル}} * "White Silent Night" (December 3, 1997) No. 1<ref name="Oricon Singles"/> :Ending theme of {{nihongo4|''King's Brunch''|王様のブランチ}} * "Sweet Heart Memory" (January 7, 1998) No. 2<ref name="Oricon Singles"/> :Ending theme of {{nihongo4|''Tonight 2''|トゥナイト2}} * "Pureness" (April 22, 1998) No. 4<ref name="Oricon Singles"/> :Theme song of ''Crayon Shin-chan: Blitzkrieg! Pig's Hoof's Secret Mission'' * "Love is Alive/Dear Love" (April 29, 1998) No. 6<ref name="Oricon Singles"/> * {{nihongo4|"Lover/Virgin"|恋人/Virgin||October 14, 1998}} No. 6<ref name="Oricon Singles"/> :"Lover" - Ending theme of {{nihongo2|ZZZ 所的蛇足講座}} :"Virgin" - Ending theme of {{nihongo4|''Sunday Jungle''|サンデージャングル}} * "Pink" (January 27, 1999) No. 15<ref name="Oricon Singles"/> :Ending theme of {{nihongo2|ZZZ 所的蛇足講座}} * "Piece of Love" (March 31, 1999) No. 17<ref name="Oricon Singles"/> :Theme song of ''Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne'' * {{nihongo4|"Tokyo Ballet Reprise/Kiss on Shelley"|Tokyo Ballet Reprise/シェリーに口づけ||June 9, 1999}} No. 20<ref name="Oricon Singles"/> * "Aqua" (September 22, 1999) No. 45<ref name="Oricon Singles"/> :Ending theme of {{nihongo4|''Tonight 2''|トゥナイト2}} * "Winter's Review" (December 8, 1999) No. 44<ref name="Oricon Singles"/> :Ending theme of the Japanese version of ''The Rugrats Movie'' * {{nihongo4|"Heart"|心||April 25, 2007}} * {{nihongo4|"Koinotenpo"|コイノテンポ||December 28, 2018}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/jp/album/%E3%82%B3%E3%82%A4%E3%83%8E%E3%83%86%E3%83%B3%E3%83%9D/1447479463?i=1447479464|title = Shaznaの"コイノテンポ"|website = iTunes|date = 29 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media| url-status = live| archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/QM041EUTApo| archive-date = 2021-12-11| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM041EUTApo| title = SHAZNA / コイノテンポ | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
===Demos=== * "Enmity" (1993) * "Shazna" (1993) * "Voice of..." (January 9, 1994)
===Videos=== * {{nihongo4|''Lavender Color Shazna Feeling''|Lavender Color シャズナノキモチ||June 4, 1997}} * ''Melty Love'' (October 8, 1997) * ''Silent Beauty'' (January 1, 1998) * ''Pure Hearts'' (April 28, 1999) * ''Dear September Lovers Shazna Live at Budokan '98'' (December 26, 1998) * {{nihongo4|''Complete. -Last Live-''|完結。-LAST LIVE-||July 15, 2009}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Twitter|SHAZNA_1993}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Visual kei musical groups Category:Japanese new wave musical groups Category:Japanese pop rock music groups Category:Japanese musical trios Category:Musical groups established in 1993 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2000 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2006 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2009 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2017 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2019 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2023