Naoko Gushima
Naoko Gushima | |
|---|---|
具島直子 | |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
Naoko Gushima (具島直子, Gushima Naoko) is a Japanese singer-songwriter. Her debut album, miss.G, debuted in 1996. Gushima is one of many musicians in Japan who have enjoyed renewed attention due to an explosion in interest in city pop since the 2010s, leading to many of her albums being pressed again in the 2020s, as well as the release of her 2023 EP, Prism.[1][2]
Early life and education
At the age of four, Gushima began playing the piano. She dropped out of university at the age of 21 to pursue a music career after having met musician and vocal trainer Bobby Kirigaya.[3]
Career
In 1996, Gushima released her debut album, miss.G, under the label Toshiba EMI. With production backing from Kirigaya, she subsequently released Quiet Emotion in 1997, Mellow Medicine in 1999, and Mystic Spice in 2007.[3][4][5]
In 2009, Gushima released a best of album called Magic Wave.[6]
In 2019, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Tower Records in Japan, the franchise reissued limited-edition, remastered CDs for three of Gushima's albums, along with albums by other artists.[7][5] In 2021, Tower Records re-released colored vinyls of miss.G and Quiet Emotion, followed by a vinyl re-release of Mystic Spice in 2023.[8][9][10]
In 2023, Gushima released Prism, her first EP, and release of any kind, since Mystic Spice in 2007.[11] It includes a remix of "Candy," from miss.G, from the Japanese producer Yaffle.[4]
Discography
Studio albums
- miss.G (1996)
- Quiet Emotion (1997)
- Mellow Medicine (1999)
- Mystic Spice (2007)
Extended Plays
- Prism (2023)
Compilation albums
- Magic Wave (2009)
References
- ^ "具島直子、およそ16年ぶり新作EPリリース Yaffleによる「Candy」リミックスも収録" (in Japanese). 2023-02-14. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
- ^ "具島直子、16年ぶり新作EP 『Prism』 リリース". ototoy.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-08-05.
- ^ a b "具島直子が16年ぶりのEP『Prism』を4月にリリース | 代表曲"Candy"のYaffleによるリミックスも収録". FNMNL (フェノメナル). Retrieved 2025-08-05.
- ^ a b "具島直子『prism』シティポップ／AOR再評価で注目を浴びるシンガーソングライターが16年ぶりの新作をリリース | Mikiki by TOWER RECORDS". Mikiki (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-08-05.
- ^ a b "Naoko Gushima's first to third albums are now available exclusively at Tower Records in 2019 remastered editions". Tower Records.
- ^ "具島直子16年ぶり新作「Prism」レビュー｜時代を超越して求められる音楽 - 音楽ナタリー 特集・インタビュー". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-08-05.
- ^ Arban (2019-11-12). "【タワレコ日本上陸40周年記念】 シティポップ再発11作 ＆ コンピ３作発売！ 永井博とのコラボグッズも". ARBAN (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-08-05.
- ^ "具島直子｜『miss.G』と『QUIET EMOTION』アナログ盤カラーヴァイナル仕様が再プレス！". Tower Records.
- ^ "具島直子｜アルバム『miss.G』、シングル『Candy』の2タイトルがカラーヴァイナルで10月6日に同時発売 - TOWER RECORDS ONLINE". Archived from the original on 2021-08-18. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
- ^ "具島直子｜アルバム『MYSTIC SPICE』アナログ盤が8月23日発売". Tower Records.
- ^ "新作EPの収録曲＆ジャケット公開！Remixを手掛けたYaffleのコメントも到着！". 具島直子 (in Japanese). 2023-04-18. Retrieved 2025-08-05.