Ayaka has been sliding around over the past few years under the radar. She been making moves, she's a mother with a family and she left her label(Warner music Japan) after two albums and created her own indie label called A-station where she releases her own music herself. What's amazing about her is that she didn't lose an ounce of popularity after going off on her own. She's a good business woman who knows how to give the right amount of promotion for her music. As a result, her albums still burn up the music chart even as indie releases. 30 y/o is Ayaka's fifth studio album to date.
- CD Tracklist
- Colorful!! (カラフル!!)
- Neon Light (ネオンライト)
- Pamala (パマラ)
- Sentiment (センチメント)
- Kotonoha
- Woman
- Daisy (ディジー)
- 365
- Sakura (サクラ; Cherry Blossoms)
- Ai Kotoba (あいことば; Love Words)
- Heart Up (ハートアップ) (ayaka & Miura Daichi)
- Glory (ayaka & KREVA)
30 y/o is the kind of album where you let the chips fall where they may. I say this because Ayaka is the type of artist that doesn't have much else to prove. Her biggest obstacle is finding a good way to reinvent herself as a singer in this ever growing changing scene of Japanese entertainment. Ayaka comes correct in her new sound as well. unleashing a new age pop and soul genre in 30 y/o that kind of makes you want to scratch your head but you get use to it as Ayaka's voice guides you through the album. The production is very artsy with violins, guitars, horns, saxophones, and a slight EDM beat that directs it all. Ayala also wouldn't be herself without her signature ballads gracing her albums. They don't make a real appearance until the back of the record but I'll say that she knows how to make a ballad bow at her feet. The duet with Pop King Miura Daichi sounds similar to the past duets she did with another group named Kobukuro, only a updated version. All of these tracks fall under the pop rock acoustic category. Glory featuring Keva brought a soulful excitement that interested me right away too. I liked 30 y/o for the art of the music, however, I didn't find any music that was as catchy as the releases she had under Warner Japan. Rainbow Road(her last album) didn't have this either even though I like both albums for a different reason: the dynamics of Ayaka's voice.
Ayaka has always been a powerhouse vocalist for as long as I've been a fan of her music. She's defiantly one of those singers that can sing well in the studio and live on stage. Her live performances are just as good as her recorded albums which is something a lot of singers in Japan can't claim.
I appreciate that Ayaka is still going strong as an artist that came out in the early 2000s who isn't Hikaru Utada or Amuro Namie until she called it quits.[INSERT ME LAUGHING.] I still look forward to hearing that voice. I'm sure I will be hearing her sing for more years to come.
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