Music Corner 49: KIRA

KIRA is a Japanese reggae-R&B vocalist, composer, and producer from Osaka. She got her start in the music industry singing at Macao Casino as the first Japanese vocalist to participate in the show and made an impression with her husky vocals, unique outfits, relatable lyrics, and African American inspired music style. In 2014, she made her major debut with the single “Nadeshiko Soul” which was written, composed, and produced by herself. The following year, she released her first full length album Listener Killer, that included a special remix of her first single “Nadeshiko Soul” and featured the popular reggae vocalist MINMI. This remix became a huge success and featured as a power play on over 16 radio stations nationwide. From there on, KIRA went on to release her first mini album titled SURVIVE in 2017 and her second studio album Naked in 2018. Naked went on to become number 1 on the iTunes Japan R&B charts. KIRA’s husky powerful vocals, mixture of Japanese and English, inspiring and relatable lyrics, and unique style captivate audiences.

KIRA’s reggae-R&B style fused with her vocals help create many memorable tracks. In her song “Carrier Bag”, you can hear her emotions come out in this powerful song that talks about packing up your dreams and going on a journey. In “SPACEY LOVE”, the upbeat techno-dancehall vibe in the chorus gets you hooked and pumped up. Whenever you hear this track, you can’t help but sing and dance to it. Her major debut song “Nadeshiko Soul”, along with many others such as “Listener Killer-Turn it up!”, “JEALOUSY”, and “Lucky Boy” all have a heavy reggae vibe and KIRA’s voice flows so perfectly. In her track “Bye Bye Boy”, you can hear husky vocals flow perfectly with the composition. The catchy chorus and composition easily get stuck in your head. In her ballads “Ice Cream Harmony” and “Honesty”, you can hear KIRA’s powerful voice on point. Her newest track "Lovin’ You” is a mid-tempo reggae-R&B fusion track that has a catchy chorus and easily relatable lyrics.

Currently KIRA has two stuido albums, one mini album, and seventeen digital singles. All of her albums are currently available for purchase on CDJapan. Several albums and singles are also available on digital platforms such as AppleMusic, Spotify, AmazonMusic, SoundCloud, iTunes, etc. Stay up-to-date with KIRA by following her official website, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube channel!