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Japanese musician (born 1970) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shinya Yamada (Japanese: 山田 真矢, Hepburn: Yamada Shin'ya, born January 13, 1970), better known by his mononymous stage name Shinya (真矢), is a Japanese musician, media personality and entrepreneur. He is best known as the drummer of the rock band Luna Sea since 1989. He released the solo album No Sticks in 1997, and has supported other recording acts such as Maki Ohguro, Nanase Aikawa, Kyosuke Himuro, and Miyavi. Shinya has also done session work for a variety of artists. Luna Sea are regarded as one of the most influential bands in the visual kei scene.[1] In addition to his former pupil Jun-ji (Siam Shade), musicians such as Pierre Nakano (Ling Tosite Sigure), Shinya (Dir En Grey), and Satoyasu Shomura (Alexandros) have cited Shinya as an influence.
Shinya grew up in a family with two older brothers, an older sister, and a younger step-brother from his father's second marriage.[2] His family were Noh performers, and Shinya was forced to practice the art from the age of three until sixth grade.[3] He was also trained in the traditional Japanese taiko drums as a child.[4] Shinya attended Shiritsu Honchō Kindergarten,[5] Shiritsu Suehiro Elementary, Honchō Junior High, and Kanagawa Kenritsu Isehara High.[6]
In high school, he became best friends with Sugizo,[4] whose stage name Shinya originally coined as a nickname.[7] Although his parents had bought him a drum set, Shinya said it was not enough and he soon went to a store to buy his first real kit.[8] Coincidentally, Sugizo was at the music store in Ochanomizu and helped him make his selection.[9] Already determined to become a professional musician, he successfully convinced his parents to take out a loan for the expensive drum kit.[8]
In high school, Shinya and Sugizo were members of the power metal band[10] Pinoccio. They were then briefly both in Kashmir. When Shinya was asked to join Lunacy on January 16, 1989, he insisted that Sugizo also join.[11][12] In 1991, the band changed their name to Luna Sea and released their self-titled first album. They went on to become very successful, having sold more than 10 million certified units in Japan, and are considered one of the most influential bands in the visual kei movement. In 2003, HMV Japan ranked Luna Sea at number 90 on their list of the 100 most important Japanese pop acts.[1]
When Luna Sea took a brief break in 1997, Shinya started a solo career where he was vocalist and drummer. His first single, "Rakkasuru Taiyō", was released by Mercury Music Entertainment on September 26. It was written and produced by Yasushi Akimoto, and composed by Tsugutoshi Gotō.[13] For his next song, the drummer wanted to perform a duet. Hekiru Shiina was offered the job as she and Shinya were both hosts at the Japan FM Network radio program Deeper Street.[13] Two versions of the resulting single, "Hyoryusya", were released on November 21; one by Mercury and the other by Sony.[13] Shinya's first album No Sticks was released on December 10, 1997, and produced by Akimoto.[14][13] Shinya played drums on the track "Back Line Best" for his fellow Luna Sea bandmate J's 1997 debut solo album Pyromania,[14] and on Tak Matsumoto's 1999 song "Go Further", which also features Billy Sheehan.[15] He also contributed to tribute albums to the recording artists Hideki Saijo, Cozy Powell, John Bonham, and Rainbow. After Luna Sea disbanded in 2000, Shinya worked as support drummer for musicians such as Miyavi, Nanase Aikawa, Kyosuke Himuro, and numerous others.[3][16][17] He also occasionally taught drums to students at the Osaka School of Music.[3]
In 2002, Shinya was recruited by Satoshi Takebe to be part of a backing band for pop singer Maki Ohguro.[18] With a lineup that also included The Street Sliders guitarist Kouhei Tsuchiya and Judy and Mary bassist Yoshihito Onda, they released the cover album Copy Band Generation Vol. 1 on March 17, 2004, under the name Maki Ohguro and Friends (大黒摩季とフレンズ, Ōguro Maki to Furenzu). In 2003, Shinya held an audition for a female singer. Okinawa native Milky was selected from more than 300 applicants, and the duo made their live debut as Potbelly that April at the Heaven's Party Scene 1 event that the drummer produced at Shinjuku LiquidRoom.[19] Two years later, they released the album Crash, Crash, Crash on August 22, 2005 through Nippon Crown.[14] Produced by Shinya, it also features hide with Spread Beaver bassist Chirolyn, Siam Shade guitarist Daita, and Wands guitarist Hiroshi Shibasaki.[19] In 2006, Shinya collaborated with his fellow Luna Sea member Inoran's band Fake? for the song "Disco" on their mini-album Songs From Beelzebub. Also in 2006, he became a support drummer for Morrie's project, Creature Creature, and teamed up with La'cryma Christi drummer Levin for several exhibitions in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Pearl Drums.[20]
Maki Ohguro and Friends temporarily reunited for a tour in October 2007.[21] On December 24, 2007, Shinya reunited with Luna Sea to play a one-night only concert at the sold-out 55,000 seat Tokyo Dome.[22][23] The band would reunite once again at the hide memorial summit on May 4, 2008.[24] From 2008 to 2009, Shinya was support drummer for X Japan vocalist Toshi's project, Toshi with T-Earth.[25] Shinya opened Re:soul, a jewellery shop specializing in healing stones, in Daikanyamachō on April 23, 2008.[26] In 2009, he began "producing" the Tokyo ramen shop Tenraiken (天雷軒).[27] That year, he also played on L'Arc-en-Ciel guitarist Ken's first solo album In Physical,[28] and provided live support for the recently reunited Dead End.[29] On August 31, 2010, he appeared with the other members of Luna Sea at a press conference in Hong Kong, where they officially announced their reunion and their 20th Anniversary World Tour Reboot -to the New Moon-.[30]
In response to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami that occurred in Japan on March 11, Shinya supported Toshi at eight concerts throughout western Japan.[31] All of the shows were acoustic due to the electricity shortage and also featured X Japan's Heath and the Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa. All proceeds were donated to the Japanese Red Cross to aid the victims.[31] Shinya provided drums to the 2011 album Matsuri-bayashi by Vocaloid musician BuzzG.[32] On June 9, 2011, he joined Yellow Fried Chickenz, a rock band formed the previous year by vocalist Gackt and guitarists Chachamaru and You.[33] Other members who joined at the same time include former Rize basssist U:zo, Fade vocalist Jon, and third guitarist Takumi. The band toured Europe that summer, performing 14 shows in nine countries, before returning to Japan for 19 shows in nine cities.[34][35] However, after only a year together as a septet, they disbanded following their July 4, 2012 Nippon Budokan concert.[36] With Shinya, Yellow Fried Chickenz released two singles, one studio album, and three concert videos. Shinya played drums on Granrodeo's 2012 single "Can Do", which was used as the theme song to the Kuroko's Basketball anime.[37] Shinya participated in the HIV/AIDS benefit concert Hope and Live ~ HIV/AIDS Support and Treatment Benefit Concert 2013, which was held on August 26–28 at Club Citta and included many other artists such as Zigzo and his Luna Sea bandmate Ryuichi.[38] He also contributed to that year's Dead End tribute album, Dead End Tribute - Song of Lunatics -.[39] Shinya and Sugizo played together on "Ai no Uta" for Ryuichi's 2014 mini-album Concept RRR 「Never Fear」.[40] In 2016, Shinya began contributing to solo recordings by D vocalist Asagi with the triple A-side single "Seventh Sense / Shikabane no Ōja / Anpusai".[41]
Having had to postpone most of their 2020 30th anniversary tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, Luna Sea were set to perform at Saitama Super Arena on December 26 and 27, 2020. However, both were also postponed after Shinya tested positive for COVID-19 on the morning of December 26.[42] On May 6, 2023, Shinya was appointed an ambassador of his hometown of Hadano, Kanagawa.[43]
When asked about his drumming style, Shinya said his concept is wa or "harmony"; he enjoys making other people happy, and therefore believes it is his "duty" to play drums for others.[3] He also used hana (Japanese for "flower") as a word to describe his style, explaining that a flower blooms at all times, even when no one is watching. So one should try to "shine" at all times; "it is beautiful when you are blooming for yourself."[3] In contrast, the third and final word he listed was in'yō (Japanese for "yin and yang"), referring to how a drummer must act according to the circumstances, including staying in the "shadows" if appropriate; "When you are playing a dark song, if you try to shine, there's no point to it."[3] He speculated that his training in Noh as a child might be the cause for his unique drumming style.[3] Gota Nishidera wrote that the biggest difference between Luna Sea and their contemporaries was their rhythm section, who created a "rhythm revolution" in Japanese rock with their exquisite control and ability to freely manipulate silence and explosion.[44] Sugizo stated that it was the Noh background that taught Shinya that knowing when not to hit, or when to mute, is more important than playing a note.[44]
Shinya cited Led Zeppelin's John Bonham as his favorite drummer.[3] His drum instructor was Soul Toul, drummer of Daddy Takechiyo & Tokyo Otoboke Cats.[45] Shinya said he normally does not practice drums at all in his daily life; "If you keep on thinking 'I have to get better at drums', then playing would be like studying, and your playing style would get more and more restricted and rigid. To me, that's horrible."[3] After singing on his own 1997 solo album, Shinya said his drumming style changed to became more conscious of vocals.[3] Hisaaki Komatsu, Luna Sea's front of house engineer since 2011, said that Shinya is particular about his drum sounds in concerts. He said that after a show, Shinya listens to a recording on the way home and messages Komatsu to make changes for the next day.[46] Shinya's protégé and roadie was Siam Shade drummer Jun-ji.[47][48]
Pierre Nakano of Ling Tosite Sigure holds Shinya in high esteem,[49][50] as does Masahiro Matsuoka.[51] Reportedly, Alexandros drummer Satoyasu Shomura is largely influenced by Shinya,[52][53] and Shinya of Dir En Grey cited him as the number one drummer.[3] Kra's Yasuno was inspired to start playing the drums because of Shinya,[54] and Dio – Distraught Overlord drummer Denka cited him as one of his two biggest influences.[55]
The first drum kit Shinya ever bought was a Pearl President Export in high school.[8] He chose an expensive, double bass drum set because he already knew he wanted to be a professional musician.[56] He said his love for large kits originated from Munetaka Higuchi.[8] Throughout the majority of the 1990s, Shinya used Yamaha Drums. In 1999, he signed an endorsement contract with Pearl.[8] In addition to liking the variety they offered and their appearances, he said the fact that both Higuchi and Reaction drummer Yasuhiro Umezawa used Pearl was a factor in signing.[8] Since then, Shinya has continued to alter his kit, including using three bass drums, acrylic shells, and electronic drums.[8] He said this is because he views drums like toys, and compared it to how other people often tinker and customize their automobiles.[8] Komatsu said that Shinya is always willing to try new things.[57] When Pearl began re-manufacturing their Crystal Beat acrylic shells, Shinya requested see-through pink ones in 2014, before switching to green ones in 2017.[8] The drummer said he particularly liked the tone of the acrylic shells.[8] In 2019, Shinya began using Pearl's e/Merge electronic drums.[57] Although he had incorporated some electronic drums in his kits before, this time he went completely electronic.[56]
In 2020, Sabian Cymbals released Shinya's signature model cymbal, The Star. Featuring small holes in the shape of a star, three types were produced; an 18" crash, an 18" Chinese, and a 10" china splash.[58] Shinya has signature drum sticks with Pearl.[59] He prefers the stick in his left hand to be heavier than the one in his right. He uses a 53g stick in his left hand, and a 50g in his right.[46]
Shinya married former Morning Musume member Aya Ishiguro (石黒 彩) in May 2000.[60] Eight years his junior, Aya largely retired from the entertainment industry and became a housewife shortly after giving birth to their first child.[61] They have three children: daughters Rimu (玲夢, born November 2000) and Sona (宙奈, born September 2002), and son Youta (耀太, born August 2004).[2][60] Due to Shinya's unusual schedule for work, he rents a workspace separate from their home, and has spent more than a week there without returning home.[61] In 2019, Rimu made her first television appearance and announced she was taking vocal lessons to become a singer.[62]
Shinya said his three favorite things are drums, cars and golf.[9] He became an avid golfer in his 40s for health reasons.[61] He and Aya said they had no hobbies in common until she also became hooked on the sport in 2017.[61] Shinya does not normally listen to music in his daily life, explaining, "I don't want making music to be a routine thing. I want to be in love with music."[3] But when he does, he prefers Japanese pop music and enka, such as Ikuzo Yoshi and Saburō Kitajima.[3][4]
All credits are adapted from Luna Sea Complete Works Perfect Discography 30th Anniversary [Revised Edition] (2020) unless another source is given.[69]
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