MIREI is the angelic yet dauntless voice from Japan calling attention to important issues like the #TimesUp / #MeToo movements, patriarchal oppression, and mental health awareness, while also delivering undeniable ’90s-inspired R&B and future-pop bangers. The newcomer recently unleashed her English-language debut Take Me Away via The Orchard / Cool Japan Music. The 11-track collection, crafted in both New York City and Tokyo, was produced by and co-written with Zak Leeker and mixed by DJ Shiftee (a two-time DMC World Champion).
“Her creative, transcendent aura is more than enough to get the world’s attention…” – ATWOOD
For MIREI, the making of Take Me Away marks a thrilling new chapter in her growth as an artist – one that finds her facing the most difficult of emotions, then transforming those feelings into music that questions, challenges, and ultimately empowers. “I was so moved by the whole experience of making these songs,” says MIREI. “Sometimes it actually hurt to write them, but I think thats a good thing. A lot of the time what we feel isn’t happy or perfect, but talking about it is what connects us. I hope that hearing these songs helps other people to feel more connected too.”
“The mesmerizing melodies and authenticity of her lyrics create a clever merge of elements from the electronic, pop, and R&B genres.” – LADYGUNN
With its hypnotic melodies and otherworldly beats, the album artfully merges elements of R&B-pop and electronic, dreaming up a boldly original sound but never distracting from MIREI’s captivating vocals. And in crafting her intimate lyrics, MIREI carefully drew from personal experience as a young woman in Japan’s capital city. “There’s a light side and a shadow side to Tokyo, and I’ve seen a lot of the shadow,” MIREI notes. “I wanted to write songs that let people know about both sides.”
Not only showcasing her fearless honesty, “Take Me Away endlessly reveals the tremendous musical passion that MIREI has pursued for almost her entire life. “When I was really young, like three-years-old, my parents used to bring me to karaoke and sing all night long,” she recalls. In kindergarten she began taking dance lessons, which immediately sparked a fascination with pop divas like Rihanna and Lady Gaga. Soon enough, MIREI added singing to her repertoire and – with the help of Garage Band – began making music on her own when she was just 12-years-old.
By age 13, MIREI had caught the attention of a major record label, her first step toward global stardom. While spending her eighth-grade year in New York City, she performed in the prestigious choir Gospel For Teens, and took home the top prize at the legendary Amateur Night at the Apollo. After moving to Tokyo the following year, MIREI soon found success with several hit singles and album releases on her home turf. Eventually teaming up with Zak Leever and DJ Shiftee, she began the process of bringing Take Me Away to life in 2018. Fast forward two years, her English-language debut and first international full-length album is now available everywhere, here: https://orcd.co/
