Eir Aoi is a Japanese singer-songwriter known for her unique style and influence in the anime music industry. Her passion for anime and rock music has led to a successful career, despite facing health challenges that forced her to take hiatuses. Her resilience and determination have earned her a dedicated following, and her music continues to resonate with fans worldwide. As she takes another break to focus on her health, we reflect on her journey and eagerly await her return to the music scene.
Who’s Eir Aoi?
Eir Aoi, or 藍井 エイル (Aoi Eiru) in Japanese, was born on November 30, 1988. She is a singer from Sapporo, Hokkaido and is currently signed to Sacra Music. Aoi was first discovered through the Japanese video sharing site Niconico. In 2011, she made her major debut with the release of her first single “Memoria”. The title track of this single was used as the first ending theme for the 2011 anime television series Fate/Zero.
Aoi’s music has been featured in several anime television series including Sword Art Online, Kill la Kill, and The Heroic Legend of Arslan, as well as other television programs like Rank Okoku. She has performed at various anime conventions across Asia, Europe, North and South America.
Aoi has cited her interest in anime, as well as her admiration for artists such as Evanescence, Slipknot, and Do As Infinity, as influences in her career. In October 2016, due to prolonged poor health, she announced an indefinite hiatus from her musical career after a two-day concert at the Nippon Budokan in November 2016. However, in February 2018, it was announced that she would resume her activities later that year.
Fast facts about singer Eir Aoi
- Birthday: November 30, 1988
- Birth Place: Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
- Blood Type: AB
- Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius Sagittarius
- Genre: J-Pop, Pop-rockOccupation: Singer, Lyricist
- Years Active: 2018-2023 (Hiatus) – 2011-2016
- Label: SACRA MUSIC (2018-Present), SME Records (2011-2016)
- Website: https://www.aoieir.com/
- Twitter: Eir Aoi
- Facebook: Eir Aoi
- Instagram: 藍井エイル Eir Aoi (staff)
- Youtube: 藍井エイル Official YouTube Channel
Aoi’s Musical Journey: Fostering Dreams and Defying Odds
Born in Sapporo on November 30, Aoi’s passion for music ignited in her early years, leading her to become proficient in playing the guitar during junior high school. To pursue her music career, she formed a band while in high school, but faced moments of doubt when her dream of becoming a musician seemed to fade. Tempted to pursue nursing as an alternate path, Aoi refused to abandon her aspirations and chose to share her singing talent online through video uploads.
Her pivotal breakthrough came when she was discovered on the Japanese video sharing site, Niconico. In 2011, she made her debut with the song “Frozen Eyez,” which garnered recognition and was featured in LisAni! magazine. This marked the beginning of Aoi’s remarkable journey toward success, capturing the hearts of a wider audience and establishing her as a rising star in the music industry.
Aoi’s Journey to Fame
Aoi’s music career took off when she signed under SME Records. She made her major debut with the release of the single “Memoria” on October 19, 2011, which was used as the first ending theme song for the anime series Fate/Zero. Her subsequent singles, “Aurora” and “Innocence,” were used as opening theme songs for anime series Mobile Suit Gundam AGE and Sword Art Online respectively.
In 2013, Aoi released her first full album, Blau, which peaked at No. 4 on Oricon’s weekly chart and charted for seven weeks. She also performed at Seattle’s Sakura-Con anime convention that year. Her fifth single, “Sirius,” was used as the first opening theme song for the anime series Kill la Kill, while her seventh single, “Ignite,” was used as the first opening theme song for Sword Art Online II.
Aoi continued to produce music, releasing her third album D’Azur in 2015 and her first and second greatest hits albums, Best -E- and Best -A-, in 2016 to commemorate the 5th anniversary of her career. She has also contributed to various anime series such as The Heroic Legend of Arslan and Aldnoah Zero:2nd Season.
Aoi’s Hiatus and Comeback
Aoi’s health struggles forced her to take a hiatus from her music career in August 2016. Her remaining appearances for the year were cancelled, and her management announced that she would put her musical career on indefinite hiatus following two final concerts at Nippon Budokan in November of that year.
However, in February 2018, Aoi made a comeback with the release of the music video “Yakusoku” (Promise) on YouTube. She had transferred to the music label Sacra Music and later released the opening theme song “Ryūsei” (Meteor) for anime Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online. Aoi held a concert at the Nippon Budokan to commemorate the resumption of her activities and continued to release new music, including her fourth album Fragment in April 2019.
Unfortunately, Aoi’s health issues resurfaced, and she announced another temporary hiatus in January 2023. Despite this setback, Aoi has proven her resilience and determination to return to the music scene, as evidenced by her previous comeback. Fans eagerly await her return and wish her a speedy recovery.
Aoi’s Musical Style and Creative Process
Aoi’s music style is heavily influenced by her love of anime and rock bands like Evanescence, Slipknot, and Tomiko Van of Do As Infinity. She initially concealed her mouth on physical release images to create a “mysterious aura” and emphasize her powerful eyes. Aoi believes that the internet is a tool to connect the world and make dreams come true, as it played a significant role in her discovery.
When producing a song for anime or games, Aoi reads the original source material or script to ensure the lyrics capture the characters’ emotions. For example, she wrote “Innocence” to express the growth and experiences of Sword Art Online’s main characters. Aoi wanted her first album Blau to express a wide range of emotions, including “real sadness” and “fun expressions.”
Aoi’s creative process is detailed in her interview with Animate Times. She always wanted to perform “light-conscious songs” and express emotions through singing, especially when she concealed part of her face. For her single “Accentier,” she wanted to create a song that would cheer people on and give them an “accent” of happiness. Aoi’s passion for the Digimon franchise led her to perform a song for it, which made her very happy.
Overall, Aoi’s music style is unique, reflecting her love of anime and rock music. Her creative process involves reading the source material or script to capture the characters’ emotions and express them through singing.
In conclusion, Eir Aoi’s music career is a testament to her resilience and determination. Despite facing health challenges and taking hiatuses, she has always come back stronger and continued to produce music that resonates with her fans. Her unique style, influenced by anime and rock music, has earned her a dedicated following and cemented her place in the Japanese music industry. As she takes another break to focus on her health, fans eagerly await her return and wish her all the best.
