Zaq

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Zaq
Born (1988-03-16) March 16, 1988 (age 36)
Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan[1]
GenresJ-pop
Occupation(s)Singer, lyricist, composer, arranger
Instrument(s)Vocals, keyboards, piano
Years active2012–present
LabelsLantis
Websiteameblo.jp/zaq-mikaduki-lab/

Zaq (stylized in all caps, born March 16, 1988[2]) is a Japanese singer, lyricist, composer and arranger signed to Lantis.

Biography[edit]

Zaq began to learn the piano at age three.[3] During her college years, her idol was Minori Chihara, and it was during this time she decided to become a singer.[3] However, she failed all her auditions. In junior high school, Zaq's favorite bands were Mongol800 and Going Steady, two rock groups which she was addicted to.[3] She is self-taught in composing and her works were characterized by a unique style which is unrestricted by music theory and musicology.[3]

She started writing songs for other artists in 2012, and made her solo debut with Lantis with the single "Sparkling Daydream" released on October 24, 2012; the title song is used as the opening theme to the 2012 anime series Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions.[4][5] Her second single "Alteration" was released on January 23, 2013, and the title song is used as the opening theme to the 2013 anime series Sasami-san@Ganbaranai.[6] She released two more singles in 2013, which are "Gekijouron" (激情論) and "Extra Revolution" (エキストラレボリューション). They were released on October 21 and 23, 2014, respectively, and were used as the second opening theme for High School DxD New and the opening theme for I Couldn't Become a Hero, So I Reluctantly Decided to Get a Job.

On January 29, 2014, Zaq released her fifth single, "Voice", which is used as the opening theme for the second season of Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions. On April 16, 2014, she released her first album, Noisy Lab..[7] She then again released another single, "Overdriver" on August 20, 2014, and is used for the anime Rail Wars! as the ending theme.

On June 12, 2016, Zaq had her first concert in the United States. This concert was at the Atlantic City Convention Center in New Jersey as part of the AnimeNEXT 2016 convention.[8]

On July 13, 2016, Zaq released her second album No Rule My Rule. It was released in two editions: a standard edition, and a limited edition which includes a music video, a making-of video, and recordings of live performances.[9] Her third album Z-One was released on May 16, 2018.[10]

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

Year Album details Peak Oricon
chart positions
2014 Noisy Lab.
  • Released: April 16, 2014
  • Label: Lantis (LACA-15378)
  • Format: CD
8[11]
2016 No Rule My Rule
  • Released: July 13, 2016
  • Label: Lantis (LACA-15570)
  • Format: CD
32[12]
2018 Z-One
  • Released: May 16, 2018
  • Label: Lantis (LACA-35717)
43[10]

Singles[edit]

Year Song Peak Oricon
chart positions
Album
2012 "Sparkling Daydream" 8[13] NOISY Lab.
2013 "Alteration" 25[14]
"Gekijouron" (激情論) 61[15]
"Extra Revolution" (エキストラレボリューション) 36[16]
2014 "Voice" 21[17]
"Overdriver" 45[18] No Rule My Rule
"Seven Doors" 35[19]
2015 "Philosophy of Dear World" 46[20]
"Katararezutomo" (カタラレズトモ) 47[21]
2016 "Hopeness" 39[22]
"Wareru Dōkoku" (割レル慟哭, "Split Barrel Wailing") 59[23]
"Serendipity" 59[24] Z-ONE
2017 "Last Proof" 51[25]
"Caste Room" (カーストルーム) 53[26]
"Braver" 100[27]

Other anime songs (composed or sung)[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "ZAQ's Profile" (in Japanese). Ameba. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  2. ^ "Official blog" (in Japanese). Ameba. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d "和書". Anikan. 114 (November 2012). MG2: 22. November 24, 2012.
  4. ^ "KyoAni Posts Chūnibyō Demo Koi ga Shitai! Promo Opening". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  5. ^ "KyoAni Posts Chūnibyō Demo Koi ga Shitai! Promo Ending". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  6. ^ "ZAQ Sings Sasami-san@Gambaranai Opening Theme". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  7. ^ "ZAQ's album "NOISY Lab." is officially launched" (in Japanese). Lantis. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  8. ^ "AnimeNEXT to Host Black Lagoon Manga Creator Rei Hiroe, Singer-Songwriter ZAQ". Anime News Network. April 29, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  9. ^ "NO RULE MY RULE(初回限定盤)(DVD付)" (in Japanese). Amazon Japan. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Z-ONE". Oricon. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  11. ^ "NOISY Lab" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  12. ^ "No Rule My Rule" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  13. ^ "Sparkling Daydream" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  14. ^ "Alteration" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  15. ^ "Gekijouron" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  16. ^ "Extra Revolution" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  17. ^ "VOICE" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  18. ^ "OVERDRIVER" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  19. ^ "Seven Doors" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  20. ^ "Philosophy of Dear World" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  21. ^ "カタラレズトモ" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  22. ^ "hopeness" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  23. ^ "割レル慟哭" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  24. ^ "Serendipity" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  25. ^ "Last Proof" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  26. ^ "カーストルーム" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  27. ^ "TVアニメ『食戟のソーマ 餐ノ皿』OP主題歌 「BRAVER」" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 23, 2018.

External links[edit]