Melody (Japanese singer)

{{redirect|Melody.|other uses|Melody (disambiguation)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}} {{BLP sources|date=March 2009}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Melody | image = Melody, doing a peace sign.jpg | image_size = | caption = Melody in March 2008 | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Melody Ishikawa | alias = Melody Ishihara | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|2|24|mf=yes}}<ref name="toysprofile">{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080827131147/http://www.toysfactory.co.jp/melody/profile.html | archive-date = August 27, 2008 | url-status = dead | url = http://www.toysfactory.co.jp/melody/profile.html | access-date = October 11, 2013 | work = Toy's Factory | language = ja | title = melody. – プロフィール | trans-title = melody. profile}}</ref>

| birth_place = Honolulu, Hawaii, US | death_date = | death_place = | genre = J-pop | occupation = Singer, television host, fashion designer | instrument = Vocals | years_active = {{hlist|2003–2008|2023–present}} | label = Toy's Factory | spouse = {{marriage|Miyavi|2009}} }}

'''Melody Ishikawa''' (born February 24, 1982),<ref name="toysprofile"/> known mononymously as '''Melody''', stylized as '''melody.''', is a Japanese-American J-pop singer. She debuted in February 2003 with the song "Dreamin' Away", under Toy's Factory. In October 2008, Melody announced on her blog ending her career as a music artist to focus on pursuing a career as a fashion designer.<ref name="retirement"/>

==Biography== Melody was born to Japanese parents in Honolulu, Hawaii. When she was young, she would occasionally watch shows that involved J-pop, and she has also listed Celine Dion, TLC, and Destiny's Child as inspirations. She took ballet and piano, as well as vocal training. When she was 16, she worked as a Hawaiian model for Japanese commercials.<ref name="bioenglish">{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090821140437/http://www.toysfactory.co.jp/english/artist/melody.html | archive-date = August 21, 2009 | url-status = dead | url = http://www.toysfactory.co.jp/english/artist/melody.html | title = Melody profile | date = February 2007 | work = Toy's Factory}}</ref> While she was a high school student at Punahou, she had a secret audition with record producer Tetsuya Komuro, who was forming an international unit, but when they wanted her to join the next day, she negotiated to wait until she graduated.<ref name="metropolis"/> At the age of 19, she moved to Japan to pursue a singing career.<ref name="goldbelle"/> After some time with Komuro's company, where she was allocated to various groups in development, she eventually left and signed with Toy's Factory.<ref name="metropolis"/>

Her debut song, "Dreamin' Away", was released in February 2003 where it peaked at number 33 on the Oricon weekly charts and stayed charted for eight weeks.{{better source needed|date=October 2013|reason=info from dreamin' away article}} In June, she released the single "Simple as That" along with a cover of "Over The Rainbow" from ''The Wizard of Oz''; the latter was used in a commercial for Mitsubishi Motors.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}} The single reached number 19 on Oricon. In October, she was a featured artist along with Ryohei in m-flo's song "Miss You",<ref name="bioenglish"/><ref>{{cite web|title=m-flo loves melody. & 山本領平インタビュー|url=http://ent2.excite.co.jp/music/interview/2003/mflo/int_v.html|language=ja|access-date=June 23, 2011|archive-date=October 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019110934/http://ent2.excite.co.jp/music/interview/2003/mflo/int_v.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> which reached number eight on Oricon.<ref>{{cite web|title=Miss you m-flo|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/27559/products/music/521210/1/|publisher=Oricon style|access-date=June 23, 2011}}</ref>

She is also known for singing the single "Realize" which was the theme song for a TV drama series called ''Dragon Zakura'', which debuted sixth on the Oricon charts. Her single "Lovin' U" was used in a Raycious commercial in 2006. The single included "Our Journey", which was the theme song for the 2006 movie ''Gen Yu Den'' starring Rena Tanaka, who also co-wrote the lyrics to the song. Melody made an appearance in a Japanese Subaru Forester commercial in 2007, in which her single "Finding My Road", was used as promotion. In April 2007, she started hosting the English-language Japanese music show ''J-Melo'' on NHK World TV. Her single, "Love Story", written by her sister Christine (KURIS), was used in the drama series ''Kodoku no Kake – Itoshikihito Yo'' in the summer of 2007.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}}

She was cast as Yumi in the Electronic Arts video game ''Need for Speed Carbon''.<ref name="tok-nfs">{{cite web |title=melody. sings for racing game – Tokyograph |url=http://www.tokyograph.com/news/id-165 |access-date=April 20, 2010}}</ref> The song "Feel the Rush", which was remixed by Junkie XL, was also used in the game.<ref>{{cite web |title=Need for Speed Carbon Soundtrack Burns Rubber|date=September 20, 2006 |url=http://ign.com/articles/2006/09/20/need-for-speed-carbon-soundtrack-burns-rubber |access-date=March 8, 2016}}</ref>

Her fourth album ''Lei Aloha'' was released on April 9, 2008 and had one preceding single, "Haruka: Haruka". In September 2008 was announced that Melody would no longer be the host of ''J-Melo''. Japanese singers May J. and Shanti would take her place. On October 8, 2008, Melody released her first compilation album ''The Best of melody. ~Timeline~''. On October 22, she announced on her blog that she would be retiring as a J-pop singer in January 2009 and would be pursuing a career in fashion design.<ref name="retirement">{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090209024024/http://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/flash/KFullFlash20081022035.html | archive-date = February 9, 2009 | url-status = dead | url = http://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/flash/KFullFlash20081022035.html | script-title=ja:ｍｅｌｏｄｙ．引退！デザイナーに転身 | language = ja | date = October 22, 2008 | work = Sponichi}} *{{cite web |author= |date=21 October 2008 |title=melody. announces retirement |website=Tokyograph |url=http://www.tokyograph.com/news/melody-announces-retirement/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014222506/http://www.tokyograph.com/news/melody-announces-retirement/ |archive-date=2013-10-14 |url-status=unfit}}</ref>

In 2012, she announced a children's music project Gold Belle, with sister Christine Saimo.<ref name="goldbelle">{{cite web |url= https://goldbelle.bandpage.com/ |title=Gold Belle | Official Music, Photos, Videos & Show Dates |work=GoldBelle.BandPage.com |access-date=October 12, 2013 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20131012190537/https://goldbelle.bandpage.com/ |archive-date=October 12, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> She found it difficult to teach her kids English while living in Japan so they put together the project to give children a fun way to learn. Saimo produced the music and they released the album ''Kid's Melodies'' in December 19, under their own record label, EverDream.<ref name="metropolis">{{cite podcast |url= http://metropolis.co.jp/podcast/2012/12/08/nice-story/ |title=The Tokyo Metpod | Great Story! She Gave Up a J-pop Career to Pursue Children's Songs |host=Kamasami Kong |work=The Tokyo Metpod |publisher=Metropolis |date=December 8, 2012 |access-date=October 12, 2013}}</ref>

==Personal life== [[File:Angelina Jolie Pitt, Miyavi, Brad Pitt (15624875127).jpg|thumb|Melody (third from left) with husband Miyavi, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt at the premiere of ''Unbroken'']] Melody has three sisters: Christine Saimo, who goes by KURIS in the Japanese music industry and who also resides in Tokyo; and Harmony and Rhythmy, who live in the United States.<ref name="threesisters">{{cite tweet |author= Christine |user= xKURISx|number= 334335166115872768 |date= May 14, 2013 |title= Yeah, Melody & I are in Tokyo, Harmony & Rhythmy are back in the states |access-date= October 16, 2013 }}</ref> On March 14, 2009, Melody married Japanese musician and actor Miyavi (Takamasa Ishihara). The couple has three children, Lovelie "Aily" (born July 29, 2009, in Japan), Jewelie Aoi (born October 21, 2010, in Japan), and Skyler Kakeru (born February 24, 2021, in the United States).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantoday.com/category/entertainment/view/miyavi-and-melody-wed-in-shotgun-marriage |title=Miyavi and Melody: Wed in shotgun marriage |work=Japan Today |date=March 28, 2009 |access-date=October 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.tokyohive.com/2010/10/miyavis-second-daughter-is-born |title=Miyavi's second daughter is born! |work=Tokyohive |date=October 21, 2010 |access-date=October 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.tokyohive.com/article/2010/10/miyavi-announces-the-name-of-his-second-daughter/ |title=Miyavi announces the name of his second daughter |work=Tokyohive |date=October 30, 2010 |access-date=October 11, 2013}}</ref> From 2014 to 2021, Melody and her family were living in Los Angeles, California, having moved to the area during the release of Miyavi's film ''Unbroken''.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/21/movies/miyavi-on-his-unbroken-experience.html?_r=0| title=Miyavi, on His ''Unbroken'' Experience| date=December 20, 2014| work=The New York Times}}</ref> After the birth of their son Skyler, the family returned to Japan and currently live in Tokyo.

==Discography== {{Main|Melody discography}}

===Studio albums=== * 2004: ''Sincerely'' * 2006: ''Be as One'' * 2007: ''Ready to Go!'' * 2008: ''Lei Aloha''

===Compilation albums=== *2008: ''The Best of melody.: Timeline''

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == {{commons category|Melody (Japanese vocalist)}} * {{Twitter|melxxxmusic}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Melody}} Category:1982 births Category:American women musicians of Japanese descent Category:American emigrants to Japan Category:Japanese-language American singers Category:Japanese women pop singers Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Honolulu Category:Toy's Factory artists Category:Punahou School alumni Category:21st-century Japanese singers Category:21st-century Japanese women singers Category:English-language Japanese singers Category:People from Hawaii of Japanese descent