Yama (singer)
Japanese singer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yama (stylized in lowercase; Japanese: ヤマ) is a Japanese singer affiliated with Sony Music Entertainment Japan.[1] After starting a singing career with Vocaloid covers, they became the vocalist of the rock trio BIN, and they also have performed music for the anime 2.43: Seiin High School Boys Volleyball Team, Ranking of Kings, Spy × Family, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, and Sanda.
Yama | |
|---|---|
| Genres | J-pop |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Label | Sony Music Entertainment Japan |
| Member of | BIN |
Biography
While in junior high school, Yama started making Vocaloid covers at home.[2] In March 2018, under the name "Yama" (stylized in lowercase), Yama made their singing debut with a YouTube cover of Picon's "Atatakai Ikimono".[3] In 2019, Yama formed the rock trio BIN, as the group's vocalist under the stage name Yamagami.[4][5]
In November 2019, Yama participated as a guest vocalist in a special version of Kujira's song "Nemurumachi".[6] In April 2020, Yama's first original song, "Haru wo Tsugeru", was released;[7] it peaked at #7 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and #8 at the Oricon Combined Singles Chart.[8][9]
In 2021, Yama sang "Mahi", the opening theme of 2.43: Seiin High School Boys Volleyball Team, and in February 2021, it was released as a single from Sony Music Records.[10] In September 2021, Yama's first album, The Meaning of Life, was released.[11] Yama later sang "Oz", the ending theme of Ranking of Kings;[12] in November 2021, it was released as part of another single, "Oz/Sekai wa Utsukushī Hazunanda/Smokey Heroine",[13] with all three songs in their 2022 album "Versus the Night".[14]
In 2022, Yama's song "Shikisai", was featured as the ending theme for the second half of Spy × Family's first season;[15] it was released as a single in November 2022.[16] In 2023, Yama performed "Slash", the opening theme of the second season of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury;[17] it was later released as a single that year, alongside another album the next year.[18][19] From 28 November to 5 December 2023, Yama held a solo concert tour throughout Southeast Asia and Taiwan, performing in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Manila, Bangkok, and Taipei.[20]
Yama uses a genderfluid public image, and their voice has been described by Azrin Tan of Vogue Singapore as "soulful, feminine".[21] Most of Yama's personal life is kept anonymous, including their true identity and gender.[3][22] When asked about this, Yama cited a lack of self-confidence and a desire to keep a real-life identity separate from their career.[3]
Discography
Albums
| Title | Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [23] |
JPN Comb. [24] | |||||
| The Meaning of Life | 2021 |
|
7 | 6 | — | [11] |
| Versus the Night | 2022 |
|
18 | 13 | — | [14] |
| Awake & Build | 2024 |
|
20 | 27 | — | [19] |
| ; Semicolon | 2025 |
|
39 | — | 1,563[25] | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||||
Extended playlists
Singles
| Title | Year | Single details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [26] |
JPN Comb. [9] | |||||
| "Haru o Tsugeru" (春を告げる) | 2020 |
|
— | 8 | — | |
| "Mahi" (麻痺) | 2021 |
|
15 | 49 | — | [10] |
| "Oz/Sekai wa Utsukushī Hazunanda/Smokey Heroine" (Oz./世界は美しいはずなんだ/スモーキーヒロイン) | 2021 |
|
44 | — | — | [13] |
| "Shikisai" (色彩) | 2022 |
|
29 | 21 | — | [16] |
| "Slash" | 2023 |
|
20 | 35 | — | [18] |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||||