Weekly Digest 01 - Favorite Artist: ORIGA

ORIGA

Official site: *ORIGA*

Just wanted to post something about my utahime I mean, my singing goddess. She performed for 4 albums of Ghost in the Shell series and 2 albums for Fantastic Children, and recently (YES! I thought that she was inactive since 2008!) she sang for Square Enix's newest Final Fantasy game, Final Fantasy XIII-2. Have you ever heard about her? Well duh, her name was already inputted in the title, so I guess I assumed that you knew her name. Her stage name is ORIGA (Russian: Орига), but her complete name is Ol'ga Vital'evna Yakovleva (Russian: Ольга Витальевна Яковлева). 




She was born Kochenёvo, Soviet Union (Russia) at 12 October 1970. At the early age of twenty, she finished her music school and a year after, she went to Japan and be contracted by ROAD&SKY Organization at 1993. She gained her popularity by singing these four albums of Ghost in the Shell, outside of Japan even. I have heard the rumor that G.I.T.S was popular outside of Japan. I couldn't say no, because I totally loved the anime, by the way.

Here was the timeline of her debut to albums, to everything in one way.

• 1970:
  
  Born in Kochenёvo, Soviet union (Russia)
• 1990:
  
  Graduated from her music school.
• 1991:
  
  Went to Japan and made a demo album named [Olga]
• 1993:
  
  Contracted by ROAD&SKY Organization.
• 1994:
  
  Released 1st album, [ORIGA] and released 1st mini-album, [Crystal Winters]
• 1995:
  
  Released 2nd album, [Illusia] and released 1st single, [Kaze no Naka no Soritea]
• 1996:
  
  Released 3rd Album, [Lira Vetrov] and released 2nd mini-album, [Aria]
• 1997:
  
  No information.
• 1998:
  
  Released 4th album, [Eternal (Eien)] and released 2nd single, [ Le Vent Vert—Le Temps Bleu (Полюшко Поле)]
• 1999:
  
  Released 5th album, [The Best of Origa].
• 2000:
  
  (With Yoko Kanno) On filling the vocals for "Moon" at ∀ Gundam: The Concert.
• 2001:
  
  (With Akira Senju) Has written lyrics & vocals for several tracks on [Princess Arete: Original Movie Soundtrack].
• 2002:
  
  - No information.
• 2003:
  
  - Released 6th album, [Era of Queens] and (With Yoko Kanno) On filling the vocals and writing the lyrics for "Inner Universe" track on [Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex O.S.T].  
• 2004:
  
  - Released 3rd single, [Mizu no Madoromi]
  - Released [GET9] single (With Yoko Kanno) and also writing the lyrics for "Rise" track.
  - Joined on writing lyrics and vocals for several tracks in [Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex O.S.T].  (With Yoko Kanno)
  - Joined on writing lyrics and vocals for "Rise" in [Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex O.S.T 2].  (With Yoko Kanno)
• 2005:
  
  - Released 7th album, [Aurora]
  - Joined on writing lyrics and vocals for "Pobezhdaet Ljubovj?" in [Fantastic Children: Original TV Soundtrack] (With Kouji Ueno)
  - Joined on writing lyrics and vocals for "Fuyuu Yume", both in Japanese and Russian lyrics in [Fantastic Children: Drama & Image Album] (With Kouji Ueno)
• 2006: 
  
  - Joined on writing lyrics and vocals for "Player" & "Date of Rebirth" in [Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C Solid State Society O.S.T] (With Yoko Kanno)
  - Released 4th, 5th, 6th singles respectively, [Leleyala], [Land of Love] & [Spiral].
• 2007:
  
  - Joined on vocals for "Exaelitus" in CM Yoko [Ragnarok 2 Concert]. Performing three openings of Ghost in the Shell respectively. Substituting Ilaria Graziano on singing "Yoru_Vo", Pierre Bensusan on singing "ELM" and Gabriella Robin on singing "Torukia". (With Yoko Kanno)
  - Released 7th single, [Hana Gumori]
• 2008:
  
  - Released 8th album, [The Songwreath].
  - Joined in [Aion: OST] featuring NCsoft MMORPG, Korea.
  - Performed in [Rise to Cosmic Dance] concert at December. (With Sugizo)
• 2009 - 2010:
  
  - No information.
• 2011:
  
  - Singing on "New Bodhum" at [Final Fantasy XIII-2 O.S.T]

Since she was contracted (1993), she has participated in several projects with various artists in addition to the Radio Japan Series and being part of the chorus for the Kobe earthquake disaster charity single.

She is not longer active singing on Russia, as she did her debuts and all of her popularity on Japan, she had her career there. She also performed alongside Maaya Sakamoto and Mai Yamane on singing selected songs, originally performed by Maaya Sakamoto.


I guess that is all I can post today. There are some videos (according to me, capital 'A' of Awesome) related with her vocals on Ghost in the Shell soundtracks. Hope you enjoy!