Category Archives: Other

Origa, the Electric Diva

To us Yoko Kanno fans, Origa was an amazing singer who performed the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex openings with her stunning electro-lyrical voice. One year after her passing, I think she deserves a special post because she was way more than just a gifted singer, and of course we'll talk about her collaborations with Yoko.

Life and carreer

Origa, from her true name Olga Yakovleva,  was born on October 12, 1970, near Novosibirsk in Russia. She started studying music when she was 5 and she wrote a song she performed on TV when she was 11. Music seems to have always been a important part of her life.

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Hana wa Saku Compilation Album

A compilation of 16 different versions of Hana wa Saku [Flowers Will Bloom] will be released on April 3rd, 2015.

More information about the Flowers Will Bloom project here in English.

If there’s one album to buy, I’d say this one because royalties are managed by the NHK Public Welfare Organization and donated to the affected areas of the 2011 earthquake.

NHK “TOMORROW”
Recovery Support Song “Hana wa Saku”
Compilation Album

HanaHaSakuCover
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Clammbon new single “Yet”

Clammbon released their new single today on iTunes, and actually announced last week that Yoko Kanno did the strings arrangements!

COCA-16978
Yet
Release date: 2015-02-11
Price: 750 ¥
Total length: 13:58
Vocals & Lyrics: Harada Ikuko
Music: mito
Arrangement: Yoko Kanno

1. yet
2. サラウンド-出戻Re-mix- (Surround -shutsurei Re-mix-) [Surround -coming back Re-mix-]
3. yet-instrumental-

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Origa passes away

On January 17, 2015, Origa died at age 44 due to breast cancer.

2015-01-19 Update: Origa’s Facebook page confirmed the news and announced a new album was recorded and will be released in 2015:

This was reported by the voice actress Jenya on her blog and Twitter account.

She was a long-time friend with Yoko Kanno, had a beautiful voice, incredible vocal skills and will be terribly missed.

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Steve Conte reminiscing his work with Kanno

Steve Conte shared 3 posts yesterday about his works with Yoko Kanno.

He speaks about his favorite song Call Me Call Me, and also about THE GARDEN OF EVERYTHING ~電気ロケットに君をつれて~ (Denki Rocket ni Kimi o Tsurete) he recorded with Maaya Sakamoto for her single Tune the Rainbow.

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