Salyu

Salyu learnt piano from a young age, however abruptly stopped these lessons in junior high school.{{cite web | url=http://www.tfm.co.jp/flag/flag.php?itemid=15868&catid=353 | title=Onair Digest Salyu |work=Tokyo FM Music Flag |language=Japanese | date=23 November 2008 | accessdate=6 December 2010 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240525030132/https://www.webcitation.org/5ulxr0hzr?url=http://www.tfm.co.jp/flag/flag.php%3Fitemid=15868&catid=353 | url-status=dead | archivedate=25 May 2024}}{{cite web | url=http://www.salyu.jp/fromsalyu/051110.html | title=From Salyu 2005.11.10 |work=Salyu |publisher=Oorong-Sha | language=Japanese |date=10 November 2005 |accessdate=6 December 2010}} Salyu began singing in elementary school after contracting pneumonia. On advice by her doctor to regain her lung strength, she was enrolled into a choir.{{cite web | url=http://www.salyu.jp/fromsalyu/051224.html | title=From Salyu 2005.12.24 |work=Salyu |publisher=Oorong-Sha | language=Japanese |date=10 November 2005 |accessdate=6 December 2010}}

In 1998, while attending high school in outer Tokyo, Salyu was inspired to become a singer after watching a friend performing at a live house.{{cite web | url=http://www.fmp.or.jp/inthecity/2003/artist/salyu.html | title=Special Program Live (at Shibuya-AX) あいのうた Produced by 小林武史 – Salyu |work=Federation of Music Producers Japan |language=Japanese | accessdate=7 December 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714085032/http://www.fmp.or.jp/inthecity/2003/artist/salyu.html | url-status=live | archivedate=14 July 2011}} Salyu auditioned in high school for a Sony musician audition and was accepted, later attending a Sony music training facility.{{cite web | url=http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/sd/sd/artist2000.html | title=SD出身アーティスト |work=Sony |language=Japanese | accessdate=6 December 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070322210230/http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/sd/sd/artist2000.html | archivedate=22 March 2007}}{{cite web | url=http://www.barks.jp/feature/?id=1000008810 | title=Salyu、1stアルバム・リリース記念インタビュー |work=Barks |language=Japanese | date=15 June 2005 | accessdate=6 December 2010}} Music producer Takeshi Kobayashi happened by chance to see a talking/singing audition video of Salyu, and 30 seconds into the tape, he was so impressed that he decided to meet her the next day.{{cite web | url=http://ent2.excite.co.jp/music/interview/2004/salyu/int01.html | title=Interview with Salyu |work=Excite | year=2004 |language=Japanese | accessdate=6 December 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041014082153/http://ent2.excite.co.jp/music/interview/2004/salyu/int01.html |archivedate=14 October 2004}} Kobayashi decided to work with her, and the pair soon began making demo tapes together. He gave her the stage name Salyu, which he chose as it was similar to the French greeting salut.{{cite web | url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/interview/060830_03.html | title=Salyu『情熱と生命力あふれる美しい声が響く新曲「name」！コメント映像＆PV到着！！』 |work=Oricon |language=Japanese | date=30 August 2006 | accessdate=6 December 2010}} Kobayashi was at the time preparing a soundtrack to Shunji Iwai's online novel and later film, All About Lily Chou-Chou. The novel and film centred around a fictional singer, Lily Chou-Chou, who began releasing actual music in 2000.{{cite web | url=http://www.salyu.jp/profile/ | title=Salyu.jp Profile |work=Oorong-Sha | language=Japanese |accessdate=6 December 2010}}{{cite web | url=http://www.lily-chou-chou.jp/world/htm/dictionary1.html | title=Lily Dictionary – People |work=Lilyholic | accessdate=2 December 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717131715/http://www.lily-chou-chou.jp/world/htm/dictionary1.html | url-status=live |archivedate=17 July 2011}}{{cite web | url=http://artist.cdjournal.com/d/-/3201090754 | script-title=ja:リリイ・シュシュ ／ 呼吸 [廃盤] |work=CDJournal | accessdate=2 December 2010 |language=Japanese}} The project was a collaboration between Iwai, Kobayashi and Salyu, as the vocalist for the project. This project allowed Salyu to perform on prominent music shows Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ and Music Station in June 2000.{{cite web | url=http://www.fujitv.co.jp/HEY/onairlist251-300.html | title=HEY!HEY!HEY!過去の出演者一覧表 |publisher=Fuji TV | accessdate=2 December 2010 |language=Japanese}}{{cite web | url=http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/music/contents/m_lineup/0600/index.html | script-title=ja:出演者ライナップ2000/06/23 |work=TV Asahi | accessdate=2 December 2010 |language=Japanese}}

After the release of the film in 2001, the group ceased to release music.{{cite web | url=http://www.cinematoday.jp/page/N0028758 | script-title=ja:岩井俊二監督『リリイ・シュシュのすべて』から生まれた音楽ユニット、約10年ぶりに再始動！ |work=Cinema Today |language=Japanese | date=2 December 2010 | accessdate=2 December 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206203925/http://www.cinematoday.jp/page/N0028758 | url-status=live |archivedate=6 December 2010}} Salyu began to perform concerts as a solo artist, performing on average once every two months due to her lack of self-confidence in her live performance skills. Kobayashi continued to work with her during this period, giving her music, and was the one who allowed her to debut as a singer in 2004. Her debut single was a collaboration with Ilmari from the hip-hop group Rip Slyme, called "Valon." Salyu later released a solo version of this song, "Valon-1," several months later. Salyu's second solo single "Dialogue" was awarded the Space Shower Best New Artist Video for 2004.{{cite web | url=http://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000006473 | title=スペシャのビデオ･アワードBEST VIDEO OF THE YEARはRIP SLYME！ |work=Barks |language=Japanese | date=28 March 2005 | accessdate=6 December 2010}} After four singles, Salyu released her debut album Landmark in June 2005, which reached No. 22 on Oricon's weekly albums charts.{{cite web | title=ｌａｎｄｍａｒｋ – Ｓａｌｙｕ ／ オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 | url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_contents/search/detail.asp?itemcd=598050&samecd=1 | work=Oricon |language=Japanese | accessdate=7 October 2010}} Two days later, Salyu performed her first one-man live, at the Shibuya Club Quattro.{{cite web | url=http://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000008791 | title=Salyu、体温を感じさせる1stアルバム |work=Barks |language=Japanese | date=13 June 2005 | accessdate=6 December 2010}}

In 2006, Salyu reached a much greater audience through the Bank Band charity single "To U," in which she was a featured vocalist.{{cite web | url=http://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000006488 | title=News 23のテーマ曲に小林武史＋櫻井和寿＋Salyuの楽曲が！ |work=Barks |language=Japanese | date=29 March 2005 | accessdate=6 December 2010}} The single was extremely successful, reaching number 2 on Oricon's single charts and being certified platinum.{{cite web | title=to U – Bank Band ／ オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 | url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_contents/search/detail.asp?itemcd=659418&samecd=1 | work=Oricon |language=Japanese | accessdate=7 October 2010}}{{cite web | url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200607.html | script-title=ja:ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2006年7月 |work=Barks |language=Japanese | date=29 March 2005 | accessdate=6 December 2010}} Her next singles "Name" and "Platform" (the film Metro ni Notte's theme song) were her first solo singles to chart in the top 20.{{cite web | title=アーティスト： Salyu | url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_contents/search/search.asp?artcd=339614&artist=%82r%82%81%82%8C%82%99%82%95&ordt=sle&bs=all&bs2=1 | work=Oricon |language=Japanese | accessdate=7 October 2010}} Salyu's second studio album Terminal was her first top 10 release, charting at number 2.{{cite web | url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/rankmusic/41446/ | title=Salyu、初登場2位の大躍進！ |work=Barks |language=Japanese | date=23 January 2007 | accessdate=7 December 2010}}

Her 2007 singles "Liberty" and "Iris (Shiawase no Hako)" were her first works not to feature Kobayashi, instead were self-produced and co-written with Zentaro Watanabe.{{cite web | url=http://www.excite.co.jp/music/close_up/interview/0711_salyu/ | title=Salyu(サリュ) – 2ヵ月連続リリースでSalyuの新章が始まった – インタビュー |work=Excite |language=Japanese | date=1 November 2007 | accessdate=6 December 2010}} In late 2008, Salyu released her first greatest hits album, Merkmal, that marked 10 years since meeting Kobayashi.{{cite web | url=http://ent2.excite.co.jp/music/interview/2009/salyu/interview01.html | title=Interview with Salyu |work=Excite |language=Japanese | year=2009 | accessdate=6 December 2010}} This was followed by her first performance at Budokan, during her tour for Merkmal. In 2009, Salyu's single "Corteo (Gyōretsu)/Halfway" became her first top 10 single.{{cite web | url=http://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/salyu/22668 | title=Salyu、「コルテオ ～行列～/HALFWAY」が初のオリコンシングルチャート10位を獲得！ |work=CDJournal |language=Japanese | date=17 February 2009 | accessdate=7 December 2010}} In 2010, Salyu released her third studio album, Maiden Voyage, which was her first self-produced album.

Salyu's fourth album, although the first as salyu × salyu, S(o)un(d)beams, was released in 2011. It is a special collaborative concept album with Cornelius, exploring to what extent Salyu's voice can be used as an instrument.{{cite web | url=http://natalie.mu/music/news/43637 | title=Salyu新作はCORNELIUSプロデュース、作詞に坂本慎太郎ら |work=Natalie |language=Japanese | date=19 January 2011 | accessdate=7 December 2010}}{{cite web | url=http://tower.jp/article/news/74334 | title=Salyu新作はCORNELIUSプロデュース、作詞に坂本慎太郎ら |work=Natalie |language=Japanese | date=19 January 2011 | accessdate=7 December 2010}}

A fifth studio album, Photogenic, was released in 2012, followed by Android & Human Being in 2015.

Salyu originally considered herself more of a vocalist as opposed to a musician, and early on in her career held a stance that she would be a singer who did not write her own material.{{cite web | url=http://www.salyu.jp/fromsalyu/080714.html | title=From Salyu 2008.07.14 |work=Salyu |publisher=Oorong-Sha | language=Japanese |date=14 July 2008 |accessdate=7 December 2010}} She did not believe her compositions would be the best quality. In her first album, Landmark, all of the songs were written and produced by Takeshi Kobayashi.{{cite web | url=http://www.tsutaya.co.jp/works/20160719.html | title=ｌａｎｄｍａｒｋ/Ｓａｌｙｕ 音楽/CD |work=Tsutaya | language=Japanese |accessdate=7 December 2010}} Her lyric contributions on the album were mostly suggestions for lyrics that could be better phrased. Salyu was encouraged through much of her career by other musicians to try to write her own music, however she mostly ignored the suggestions, until a musician told her it would let her understand her fellow musicians better.

She began branching into musicians other than Kobayashi in 2006, when musicians Yo Hitoto and Sarasa Ifu wrote lyrics to the songs on her "Tower" single.{{cite web | url=http://www.jbook.co.jp/p/p.aspx/3087690/s/ | title=JBOOK：Ｔｏｗｅｒ：Ｓａｌｙｕ：CD |work=JBook | language=Japanese |accessdate=7 December 2010}} Her first song with her billed as the lyricist was "I Believe," from her 2007 album Terminal.{{cite web | url=http://www.jbook.co.jp/p/p.aspx/3248448/s/ | title=JBOOK：TERMINAL：Ｓａｌｙｕ：CD |work=JBook | language=Japanese |accessdate=7 December 2010}} Her 2007 singles "Liberty" and "Iris (Shiawase no Hako)" were her first works to be self-produced and her first singles to feature her own lyrics,{{cite web | url=http://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/salyu/24811 | title=Salyu、6ヵ月ぶりのニュー・シングルがリリース決定！ |work=CDJournal |language=Japanese | date=29 June 2009 | accessdate=6 December 2010}} though Salyu wrote the songs in collaboration with musicians Tatsuya Kokufu and Zentaro Watanabe.{{cite web | url=http://www.jbook.co.jp/p/p.aspx/3426350/s/ | title=JBOOK：ＬＩＢＥＲＴＹ：Ｓａｌｙｕ：CD |work=JBook | language=Japanese |accessdate=7 December 2010}}{{cite web | url=http://www.jbook.co.jp/p/p.aspx/3426352/s/ | title=JBOOK：ｉｒｉｓ ～しあわせの箱～：Ｓａｌｙｕ：CD |work=JBook | language=Japanese |accessdate=7 December 2010}} This was also the first time Salyu has not worked together with Kobayashi on a music release.

2010's Maiden Voyage was the first album of Salyu's to be self-produced. It featured predominately writing by Kobayashi, however six songs featured lyrics by her, two music by Salyu, and one, "L.A.F.S.," was arranged by Salyu.{{cite web | url=http://www.tsutaya.co.jp/works/20243763.html | title=MAIDEN VOYAGE/Ｓａｌｙｕ 音楽/CD |work=Tsutaya | language=Japanese |accessdate=7 December 2010}}

Much of Salyu's personal information and history has not been revealed publicly. Her official website's profile, for example, only lists her musical releases and commercial tie-ups, as opposed to her background. However, she has revealed two personal facts about herself in her blog: her first name is {{nihongo|Ayako|綾子}} and that she has four siblings.{{cite web | url=http://www.salyu.jp/fromsalyu/080214.html | title=From Salyu 2008.02.14 |work=Salyu |publisher=Oorong-Sha | language=Japanese |accessdate=6 December 2010}} Her older brother, {{nihongo|Daisuke Mori|森大輔}} was a former professional rugby union player, for the Toshiba Brave Lupus team.{{cite web | url=http://www.salyu.jp/fromsalyu/080214.html | title=From Salyu 2008.02.14 |work=Salyu |publisher=Oorong-Sha | language=Japanese |date=14 February 2008 |accessdate=7 December 2010}}{{cite web | url=http://www.rugby-japan.jp/national/profile/352/profile6647.html | script-title=ja:選手情報 森大輔 |publisher=JRFU | language=Japanese |accessdate=7 December 2010}}

Salyu announced that she had given birth to her first child, a daughter, on May 6, 2024. The identity of the father has not been disclosed to the public.{{Cite web |last=Mu |first=Natasha |title=Salyuが第1子出産を報告「歌にどんな力を与えてくれるのか、楽しみでなりません」 |trans-title=Salyu announces the birth of her first child: "I can't wait to see what kind of power she will bring to my songs" |url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/572261 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511132927/https://natalie.mu/music/news/572261 |archive-date=2024-05-11 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=音楽ナタリー |language=ja}}

{{main|Salyu discography}}

• Landmark (2005)
• Terminal (2007)
• Maiden Voyage (2010)
• S(o)un(d)beams (2011)
• Photogenic (2012)
• Android & Human Being (2015)

• Merkmal (2008)

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.salyu.jp/en Salyu.jp　] 　[http://www.salyu.jp/ {{in lang|ja}}] – Official Website
• [http://www.toysfactory.co.jp/salyu/ Official Toy's Factory Profile] {{in lang|ja}}
• {{Twitter}} {{in lang|ja}}

{{Authority control}}

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Category:1980 births

Category:Japanese women pop singers

Category:Alternative rock singers

Category:Japanese-language singers

Category:Living people

Category:Musicians from Yokohama

Category:Toy's Factory artists

Category:21st-century Japanese singers

Category:21st-century Japanese women singers