Recently it was decided that MIYAVI’s “STRONG (MYV “Exclusive ver.” which was recorded for the critically acclaimed release “STRONG” (TOCT-40365) will be used as the Nissan “X-TRAIL” commercial song starting January 12, 2012.

 
Before now, Nissan’s “X-TRAIL” commercials have featured some really big names like Offspring, The Clash, Chemical Brothers, and Boom Boom Satellites. Now, Miyavi joins their ranks!

Since the posting, the commercial has shown up online. You can see it here:
 

Source: mFound

As somebody who has been fortunate enough to see MIYAVI perform a handful of times, always in different contexts, I can say every tour, maybe even every show, is a wildly different experience.

 
Halloween’s iteration of MIYAVI’s WHAT’S MY NAME? WORLD TOUR 2011 -NORTH & SOUTH AMERICA CIRCUIT- was no exception.

 
Halloween fell on a Monday this year, and perhaps from competition of the downtown Halloween Parade or the mere fact that it was a workday, Irving Plaza wasn’t quite as full as one would’ve hoped or expected, certainly not considering his stellar performance there in June of 2010. Regardless, both MIYAVI and the fans gave it their all to make the atmosphere one of positive energy.

MIYAVI, as much known for his eccentric style as his shredding skills, initially emerged on stage wearing a (lightly adorned) white t-shirt and black blazer, his hair mostly undone and thick-rimmed glasses hanging on his nose. It was a remarkably subdued look for the effervescent singer and strummer, though, appropriately enough, he looked as if he could’ve hopped on the L out of Williamsburg to get to the venue that night. I can’t say it wasn’t refreshing – I think there’s a part in all of us that wants to see Lady Gaga in jeans, after all, but on Halloween, of all days, could this have possibly been an ironic non-costume costume?

His toned-down image by no means signaled a toned-down performance, however.

As soon as he climbed on stage, MIYAVI tore into his act. Not a moment’s hesitation, no opening band, a nearly non-stop set peppered with brief (but well articulated) MCs, mostly in English, showcasing the star’s fairly newly acquired linguistic skills. (For somebody who, by his own estimate, has only been learning English for 5 years, he speaks quite naturally. Either he’s more studious than he lets on, or he’s got a real gift. Maybe a little of both.) He playfully mocked his drummer, BOBO, whose English ability supposedly extends as far as, “What the fuck?!” but memories of the terrible disaster that struck Tohoku this spring put even a joker like MIYAVI in a sober mood as he promoted a message of peace, positivity, and cooperation.

 
The set-list was sprinkled with old and new songs alike, from the powerful SHELTER, to concert standbys ARE YOU READY TO ROCK?, BOOM HAH BOOM HAH HAH, and the tour’s eponymous WHAT’S MY NAME?, to a reworking of his classic anthem of individuality, 自分革命 (Jibun Kakumei). Here and there he showcased his picking and plucking skills with appropriately placed guitar solos, some seemingly spontaneous and others, extensions of songs.

Possibly the highlight of the night was when he popped out for the encore, clad in a dandy costume that he announced he’d picked up at Ricky’s (a New York-based costume and cosmetic shop), and went into a (suddenly) eagerly anticipated rendition of Señor, Señora, Señorita that caused the crowd to surge and frenzy like they hadn’t before. During the next song, he proceeded to climb a platform to the right of the stage, causing the fans on the balcony to lean precariously over the barrier trying to reach him.

Near the end of the masked MIYAVI’s encore, the musician whipped out his own camera to take shots of the crowd, proving once again that he is his fans’ biggest fan. Ever the gracious performer, MIYAVI stuck around after the show to sign autographs for fans who purchased VIP tickets before packing up and heading to the next date on his tour.

 
MIYAVI fans the world over! Did you see MIYAVI in New York? San Francisco? Lima? Buenos Aires? Leave your impressions of the tour in a comment!

 
Links: MIYAVI OHP

Remember when we talked about Miyavi working with Good Charlotte? He has been teaming up with bands from other countries again! Just a little time ago he was an opening act for 30 Seconds to Mars Japan tour. The singer Jared Leto even shared the following “Me and Miyavi pretty much naked in my dressing room… ” -picture with us.

Miyavi also made a guest appearance on a CD. Finnish band Lovex released their album “Watch Out!” in Japan on July 6th, and it has bonus track featuring Miyavi, re-make of their radio single “U.S.A.”.

Which band you’d want to see working with him next?

nite out wiz princess Lovelie. 娘と夜遊び中！❧ http://twitpic.com/5bg7hg

He seriously seems like a fun dad, and he has really pretty daughters!

Source: Miyavi Twitter

Also he left a message regarding his postponed/canceled fanclub appearance.

Notification of fan club trip to Izu postponed/canceled

Regarding the fan club tour to Izu presented by C.W.I.F. which was scheduled to be on April 23rd to 24th 2011, will be postponed/cancelled due to the recent earthquake.
Due to the recent disaster in North Eastern Japan, we have decided to either postpone or cancel the scheduled fan club trip to Izu (April 23rd to 24th 2011) to prioritize safety and to support the efforts being made to aid the victims of the earthquake.
Further announcements will be made shortly when plans are determined.
We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.
Applicants: The winners of the draw were scheduled to be notified by March 18th, however, that will not be carried out. For those who were looking forward to the fan club trip, again we deeply apologize and request for your understanding. Thank you.

Source: twitter

Thats not the only news: he is also releasing a photobook on December 31st! Different tour goods are already on sale over at his international shop located over here. You can find everything from towels to calendars!

What do you think of the video?

Sources: Miyavi’s youtube, OHP

-Japan-
2011-02-09 Nagoya [BOTTOM LINE]
2011-02-11 Okayama [IMAGE]
2011-02-17 Osaka [umeda AKASO]
2011-02-19 Fukuoka [DRUM Be-1]
2011-02-24 Sendai [darwin]
2011-02-26 Sapporo [cube garden]
2011-03-09 Tokyo [LIQUID ROOM]

-Europe-
2011-03-19 London [HMV Forum], UK
2011-03-22 Nantes [La Carriere], France
2011-03-23 Lyon [Transbordeur], France
2011-03-25 Lille [Le Splendid], France
2011-03-26 Strasbourg [Laiterie], France
2011-03-27 Paris [Trianon], France
2011-03-29 Amsterdam [Melkweg], Netherlands
2011-04-02 Hamburg [Markthalle], Germany
2011-04-03 Cologne [Live Music Hall], Germany
2011-04-04 Munich [Muffathalle], Germany
2011-04-05 Vienna [Wuk], Austria
2011-04-06 Milan [Alcatraz], Italy
2011-04-08 Budapest [Petofi Hall], Hungary
2011-04-10 Gdynia [Parlament Club], Poland
2011-04-12 Stockholm [Klubben], Sweden
2011-04-13 Helsinki [Tavastia], Finland
2011-04-15 Moscow [Tochka Club], Russia
2011-04-16 St. Petersburg [GLAVCLUB], Russia

On February 2nd Miyavi is going to release an E.P which is called [WHAT’S MY NAME? E.P] and will be released in two types. Both types will contain the song [WHAT’S MY NAME?] and a version with a special guest which is going to play the bass parts. If you buy the limited edition you’ll also get a DVD which includes PV’s from [WHAT’S MY NAME?], [TORTURE] and [SURVIVE] and the footage from his tour which was called [Screaming out from Tokyo] and the EMI ROCKS live.

Preorder @ CDJapan

Limited Edition CD + DVD
Regular Edition CD

Are you excited for his tour and his new single, Co-MIYAVI?

Source: OHP, CDJapan

The tourdates are as follow:
2011.4.2 @ Hamburg, GERMANY – Markthalle
2011.4.3 @ Cologne, GERMANY – Live Music Hall
2011.4.4 @ Munich, GERMANY – Muffathalle

Those who are interested, you can get your tickets @ eventim
The tickets will be on sale from December 1st (Wednesday) @ 10:00AM Germany time.
Who’s excited?!!

Source: Miyavi’s Twitter, OHP & J-glam Inc.’s Blog

2011.03.19 – London (HMV Forum), UK
2011.03.22 – Nantes (La Carrière), FR
2011.03.23 – Lyon (Transbordeur), FR
2011.03.25 – Lille (Le Splendid), FR
2011.03.26 – Strasbourg (La Laiterie), FR
2011.03.27 – Paris (Le Trianon), FR

Source: OHP

the second lil monster “JEWELIE” arrived on the earth.
im really pleased to be able to announce
that our new baby girl was born at 6:13 AM Oct 21st.
although it was way earlier than the official due date,
they r both so healthy n getting along together now.
honestly, it was a lil hard for me to feel the reality
of whats going on before she was born cuz it happened all of a sudden.
but now in the face of the hope for the future,
strongly feeling that there is no way other than to head strong on my way.

The reason(理) is Hope(希).

We wish her a hopeful bright future
and become a shiny and attractive lady like a JEWEL
we named her,

“Jewelie”.

and we gave her the middle name “Aoi”,
a very japanese name just like Miyavi as Lovelie’s middle name.

Jewelie Aoi Ishihara

please welcome her to our family.

my heart is filled with thankfulness to everyone n everything existing on the earth.

THANK YOU!!

M

Really sweet, seems like everyone is doing fine. What do you think when artists become parents?

Source: myspace

[MySpace PREMIRE] Good Charlotte x 雅-MIYAVI- Special Interview

SoundTown (EMI Music Japan) | Myspace Video

If you can’t see the video (because myspace video coding is mean) please click on the link over here.

Source: jrocknyc

Random note but Miyavi posted this picture of Lovelie back in September and its really adorable.

Congrats to the happy family on their second daughter! No name has been announced but knowing Miyavi – it should be fitting and unique!

Source: Miyavi twitter

The covers for both types feature the same pic, although they differ a little when it comes to the size, so here is only the limited type one and the tracklis for both:

01. WHAT’S MY NAME?
02. TORTURE
03. A-HA
04. CHILLIN’ CHILLIN’ MONEY BLUE$
05. I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, AND I HATE YOU.
06. MOON
07. GRAVITY
08. UNIVERSE
09. UNBREAKABLE
10. SHELTER
11. SUPER HERO(Album ver.)
12. すてきな みらい (Sutekina Mirai)
13. FUTURISTIC LOVE
14. SURVIVE(Album ver.)
15. SURVIVE(Acoustic Instrumental ver.)　|| Limited Edition Bonus Track

Pre-order your copy today!

⇒ 「What’s My Name ?」 [Limited Pressing] (1980 yen)
⇒ 「What’s My Name ?」 [w/ DVD, Limited Edition] (6800 yen)

Miyavi will hold few release parties to commemorate the album. The dates are:

December 6th @ Osaka BIG CAT
December 7th @ Nagoya BOTTOM LINE
December 14th @ Tokyo LIQUID ROOM

Tickets for each event are 4500 yen a piece.

Also, I think we haven’t mentioned it here, but Miyavi will be heading to Australia soon. He will participate at the music festival 「One Movement」 at Perth, Australia on October 8th. More info about the festival can be found here.

Source: OHP

Good Charlotte apparently has a lot of respect for Japan, so they were looking for a cool artist to collaborate with. Their record label’s staff recommended Miyavi after seeing his concert in New York, so the band’s members watched his concert videos and went to a live performance. They decided to go forward with the collaboration, and on August 26, Good Charlotte and Miyavi met in person for the first time in Tokyo.

Miyavi remarked that he was initially offered just to do a solo part, but he ultimately ended up doing the whole song. He also expressed his desire to work with Good Charlotte again, if an opportunity arises.

Source: Tokyo Graph

What’s My Name ? [w/ DVD, Limited Edition]
Album release from MIYAVI including “Torture,”"Survive (Album ver.),” “Super Hero (Album ver.),” and more for 14 songs total (subject to change). Co-produced by Toshikazu Yoshioka. This edition includes a bonus DVD with concert footage in Tokyo, LA, and NY and a original figure “MIYAVI BE@RBRICK.” *Unless otherwise indicated, DVDs are region-2 encoded (Japan, Europe, and Middle East), and carry no subtitles.

What’s My Name ? [Limited Pressing]
Album release from MIYAVI including “Torture,”"Survive (Album ver.),” “Super Hero (Album ver.),” and more. Co-produced by Toshikazu Yoshioka. *Limited low-priced edition available until the end of 2010 (subject to change).
Bonus Track: bonus track

Pre-order your copy today!:
What’s My Name ? [Limited Pressing]
What’s My Name ? [w/ DVD, Limited Edition]

Now, three years since his last release and the first single from EMI Music Japan has been confirmed! Co-produced by former Strokes engineer Toshikazu Yoshioka, the sheer heaviness of the track makes it hard to believe that the only instruments you hear on it are 雅-MIYAVI-`s trademark slap-guitar and the tight drums by Bobo (from legendary post-rock band 54-71). This song is perfect for his re-debut.

In addition to the standard edition single, fans can also get their hands on a limited edition featuring a bonus CD, with live recordings taken from shows in Tokyo, NY, and LA. The standard edition is a mere “one-coin” 500yen.

Prior to the release, the song will be made available as a mobile download from June 30, and until July 20 there will be an exclusive download period on Recochoku, where fans can win a chance to participate as special reporters in all 12 shows of 雅-MIYAVI-`s Tokyo Tour. Three winners will receive a name-printed and laminated AAV (Access All Venues) pass. So if YOU want to tour Tokyo alongside 雅-MIYAVI-, download the tune and enter the competition!

What is more, it seems that Miyavi will release a new full-album on October 13th, however, not more details are available so far.

Finally, it seems that Miyavi and his wife Melody will be having another child soon! Here is what he wrote on his MySpace:

i heard the rumor that Lovelie my daughter is gonna be an older sister. please welcome him into our big family

How awesome is that! Let’s wish our best for both Miyavi and his family!

Source: Official MySpace

雅-MIYAVI- has teamed up with the tap dancer SARO, to collaborate on the new UNIQLO SPORTS TV commercial!

You can definitely hear Miyavi’s influence, so go check it out at the UNIQLO OHP!

http://store.uniqlo.com/jp/store/feature/sports/men/.

Click TVCMを見る to watch it.

My dream is to star in a TV commercial for cheese puffs. Oh it would sexy. It would make you want to run out and buy then the second you saw it.

Today also marks the first anniversary of J-glam Inc. They left a nice message over at the company’s myspace. Check it out below!

We would like to humbly announce that today, April 8th 2010, marks the first anniversary of our company J-glam Inc.!
We were able to get through our first year because of all of our supporters and we sincerely appreciate everyone who has helped make this possible.
Thank you very much and we hope for your continued support for J-glam Inc. and 雅-MIYAVI- in the years to come.

J-glam Inc. Staff

Sources: myspace

Be sure to keep a watch on his twitter and his account on Ustream for hints of his next streaming message!

Sources: Twitter, Ustream

雅-MIYAVI- SAMURAI GUITAR PLAYING CONTEST

“NEO TOKYO SAMURAI BLACK WORLD TOUR vol.1” is currently available on DVD, and it documents the first half of 雅-Miyavi-’s three month world tour of 27 shows in 18 countries spanning Russia, Europe, South America, and Asia. In it you can bear witness to his mesmerizing guitar performances that have led many overseas to refer to him as the “Samurai Guitarist”, and this is your chance to copy and master his unique guitar techniques!
Simply select one of the videos of 雅-MIYAVI- playing (one of two categories; the Basic Course or the Master’s Course), and send in a video of yourself playing the same. We’re looking for precision and energy, so if you think you can rock as hard as, or even better than 雅-MIYAVI-, here is your chance to show it!
Your footage will be judged by a panel from GREAT HUNTING, EMI Music Japan’s talent scouting division.
The winner from each category will receive a handsome prize. Note that technical finesse will NOT be the only factor in deciding the winner, though it will be a prerequisite. There may even be a special “other” prize!?
Don`t miss your chance to be involved in this global samurai guitar competition!!

Contest Instructions (please read before entering)

What to enter
-Selected video of 雅-MIYAVI-’s playing (either the Basic Course or the Master’s Course).
-A video file of your own playing. The file can be in any format as long as it can be uploaded onto Myspace.
Who can enter You can be any gender, age, nationality, amateur or pro, BUT you must have a Myspace account or the ability to create a Myspace account. ONE ENTRY PER PERSON PLEASE.

When to enter
Mar 23 – Jun 30 2010 (Japan Standard Time)

How to enter
1. Log in to your Myspace account. If you do not have an account, sign up here:

http://signups.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=signup

2. Go to the special 雅-MIYAVI- Guitar Contest Page and open the link to the video files of 雅-MIYAVI-’s playing.

3. Select the 雅-MIYAVI- video you want to emulate, and make a video recording of yourself playing what 雅-MIYAVI- plays on it.

4. Upload your video recording onto Myspace by following these instructions:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.upload

5. Send a message with the URL of your uploaded video to the 雅-MIYAVI- Samurai Guitar Contest Page
(http://messaging.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=mail.messageV3&friendID=1004716495)

6. Entry complete!

The Judges
Your footage will be judged by a panel from EMI Music Japan`s talent scouting division GREAT HUNTING. For more details, go to

http://www.myspace.com/greathunting

The Results
Results are scheduled to be announced on EMI Music Japan’s official 雅-MIYAVI- site
(http://www.emimusic.jp/miyavi/) on Jul 29 2010

The Prizes
There will be one winner from each Course.
※ Please note that an insufficient quality in entries may result in no winners being selected.

Anyone interested in the contest?

Source: contest page myspace