Cyntia

Cyntia was a Japanese heavy metal band formed in 2011.^[1] They are believed to have been the first act from the Girls Metal Band Boom to have signed to a major record label when they joined Victor Entertainment in 2013.^[2] Drummer and co-founder Kanoko left the group in April 2015, and the band moved to the Village Again Association label for their 2016 album Urban Night. Cyntia began an indefinite hiatus after January 13, 2018.

Cyntia
Origin	Tokyo, Japan
Genres	Heavy metal hard rock power metal
Years active	2011–2018, 2024
Labels	Bright Star / Spinning Victor Village Again Association
Members	Yui Saki Azu
Past members	Airi Kanoko Ayano
Website	cyntia.jp

History

Bassist Azu joined the band in 2012.

Guitarist Yui and drummer Kanoko formed Cyntia in April 2011, after meeting on the set of a music video by Liv Moon. In the summer they recruited keyboardist Ayano and bassist Airi, who were followed by vocalist and former idol Saki in November after holding auditions.^[3] The name Cyntia is the English pronunciation of Cynthia, another name for the Greek goddess Artemis.^[4] Their debut single, "Run to the Future", was released in April 2012 on Bright Star Records,^[3] which was formed by fellow all-female metal band Aldious.^[5] Shortly after, Airi paused activities due to ill health and Azu from LAZYgunsBRISKY was chosen as support bassist. Airi officially left the group in June, but the band released their first album Endless World in September. Azu became a full member in November.^[6]

In January 2013, Cyntia was the backing band for South Korean pop group Kara's concert at the Tokyo Dome.^[7] The band released their major label debut, the album Lady Made, in March on Victor Entertainment.^[3] Cyntia was voted 2013's best new artist by readers of heavy metal magazine Burrn!.^[8] They performed at that year's Naon no Yaon female-only rock festival and then opened for American metal band Kamelot on their Japanese tour.^[9][10]

Their song "Senko Strings" was used as the fourth ending theme song to Saint Seiya Omega and released as a single in January 2014.^[11] Similarly, "Kiss Kiss Kiss" was used as the theme song of the 2014 Itazura na Kiss 2 ~Love in Okinawa television drama special,^[12] before being released as a single in January 2015. Its follow up a month later, "Akatsuki no Hana", was used as the second opening theme of the Yona of the Dawn anime adaptation.^[13] The album Woman was also released in February and featured a soft pop rock sound.

Drummer and co-founder Kanoko left the group in April 2015.^[14] Cyntia released their album Urban Night on December 14, 2016, via the VAA (Village Again Association) record label. The song "Bless of the Fire" features Aldious guitarist Toki.^[15] On December 26, 2017, Cyntia announced that they were suspending all activities indefinitely due to Yui's focal dystonia. Although the guitarist was planning to leave the band so someone new could take her place, the other members decided not to continue without her.^[16] An event on January 13, 2018, was their last.

Yui, Saki and Azu will reunite as Cyntia for one-night only at Club Citta on November 29, 2024, as part of the Queen of the Night two-man live with their former labelmates Aldious.^[17]

Members

• Yui – guitar, backing vocals (2011–2018, 2024)
• Saki – vocals (2011–2018, 2024)
• Azu – bass, piano,^[4] backing vocals (2012–2018, 2024)

Former members

• Airi – bass (2011–2012)
• Kanoko – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2011–2015)
• Ayano – keyboards, piano, backing vocals (2011–2018)

Discography

Cyntia discography
Studio albums	5
Singles	6

Albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		JPN Oricon [1]	JPN Billboard Hot [18]	JPN Billboard Top [19]
Endless World	Released: September 5, 2012 Label: Bright Star Records	22	—	33
Lady Made	Released: March 20, 2013 Label: Colourful Records	23	—	33
Limit Break	Released: February 12, 2014 Label: Colourful Records	9	—	10
Woman	Released: February 18, 2015 Label: Victor Entertainment	37	—	27
Urban Night	Released: December 14, 2016 Label: Village Again	33	73	37
"—" denotes a chart that did not exist.

Singles

Title	Year	Peak chart positions			Album
		JPN Oricon [1]	JPN Hot 100 [20]	JPN Top Singles [21]
"Run to the Future"	2012	42	—	43	Endless World
"Return to Myself ~ Shinai, Shinai, Natsu." (Return to Myself～しない、しない、ナツ。)	2013	36	46	31	Non-album single
"Senko Strings" (閃光ストリングス)	2014	13	32	9	Limit Break
"Shori no Hanataba o -Gonna Gonna Be Hot!-" (勝利の花束を-gonna gonna be hot!-")		39	—	42	Woman
"Kiss Kiss Kiss"	2015	33	49	30
"Akatsuki no Hana" (暁の華)		100	—	94
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

References

1. "Cyntia". Oricon の作品 (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
2. "Cyntia". jame-world.com. December 20, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
3. "Cyntia Biography". jame-world.com. December 19, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
4. "[Interview] Cyntia: "I hope that adding a new element to the tried and true Cyntia will cause a nice chemical reaction" (Part 1 of 2)". barks.jp. March 1, 2014. Archived from the original on September 14, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
5. "Female metal band, Aldious, release new PV". tokyohive.com. October 15, 2010. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
6. "Cyntia Biography" (in Japanese). Spinning Inc. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
7. "Girl Band Cyntia Releases Their First Major Debut Single: Bikini Top Included". barks.jp. June 13, 2013. Archived from the original on June 22, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
8. "ガールズ・メタルバンド・Cyntia、世界同時デビュー。雑誌『BURRN！』では新人部門の最高峰に輝く". Barks.jp (in Japanese). March 15, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
9. "【公演行こうぜ！】NAONのYAON、出演者続々決定！". Beeast (in Japanese). March 15, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
10. "Girls Band 'Cyntia' Joins Kamelot 'Stag of Melodic Power Metal Band' First Japan Tour after 6 Years". barks.jp. June 19, 2013. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
11. "A Girl-Band First: Cyntia in Charge of Anime "Saint SeiyaΩ" Theme Song". barks.jp. October 25, 2013. Archived from the original on August 7, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
12. "Itazura na Kiss Gets Live-Action Sequel Special in September". Anime News Network. July 22, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
13. "Cyntia Performs Yona of the Dawn Anime's 2nd Opening". Anime News Network. January 17, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
14. "KANOKO Leaves Cyntia". jame-world.com. April 8, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
15. "Cyntia Announce New Album Details". jame-world.com. November 19, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
16. "CYNTIA Announce Hiatus". jame-world.com. December 26, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
17. "CYNTIA活動休止から7年、一夜限りの復活ライブをAldiousと開催！AldiousはRe:NO、Arutoをゲストに迎え、この日限りのスペシャル編成！11/29(金)川崎CLUB CITTA'". PR Times (in Japanese). September 26, 2024. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
18. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. December 21, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
19. Peak chart positions for albums on Billboard Japan's Top Albums chart:

    • Endless World: "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. September 12, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • Lady Made: "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. March 27, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • Limit Break: "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. February 19, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • Woman: "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. February 25, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • Urban Night: "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. December 21, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
20. Peak chart positions for singles on the Billboard Japan Hot 100:

    • "Return to Myself ~ Shinai, Shinai, Natsu.": "Billboard Japan Hot 100: 2013/08/07 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). August 7, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • "Senko Strings": "Billboard Japan Hot 100: 2014/01/15 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). January 15, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • "Kiss Kiss Kiss": "Billboard Japan Hot 100: 2015/01/14 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). January 14, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
21. Peak chart positions for singles on the Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales chart:

    • "Run to the Future": "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales: 2012/04/18 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). April 23, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • "Return to Myself ~ Shinai, Shinai, Natsu.": "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales: 2013/08/07 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). August 7, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • "Senko Strings": "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales: 2014/01/15 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). January 15, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • "Shori no Hanataba o -Gonna Gonna Be Hot!-": "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales: 2014/09/15 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). January 15, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • "Kiss Kiss Kiss": "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales: 2015/01/14 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). January 14, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
    • "Akatsuki no Hana": "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales: 2015/02/25 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). January 14, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2021.

External links

• Official website (in Japanese)
• Official website (Victor Entertainment) (in Japanese)
• Cyntia at Anime News Network's encyclopedia