Arama They Didn't

8:35 pm - 12/02/2012

w-inds.'s lead singer Keita Tachibana launches a solo career (for a second time)



Image credit: Facebook

KEITA SOLO PROJECT BEGINS!

w-inds.’ main vocalist Keita Tachibana will start a solo career under the name KEITA.
While keeping with the dance music that his group is known for, KEITA intends to create music with a stronger R&B flavor and a sound that is of a world standard.

His first single “Slide ‘n’ Step” will be released on February 20th, 2013!

KEITA both wrote the lyrics and choreographed the song himself. The single was produced using the most current R&B sensibilities. Produced by Ryosuke Imai, the title “Slide ‘n’ Step” contains a double meaning; it is representative of the direction KEITA wishes to take his music, and tells a story about his musical aspirations by use of romantic metaphor.

His aim is to become the “ONE&ONLY” of Japan’s music scene. With his eyes on that goal, KEITA now stands ready at the start line.

CD INFORMATION

KEITA「Slide ‘n’ Step」2013.2.20(wed) ON SALE

FIRST PRESS A CD+DVD PCCA-03716 ¥1,500 [Tax.in]
【CD】
M-1. Slide ‘n’ Step
M-2.COUPLED WITH A
M-3.Slide ‘n’ Step(Instrumental)
【DVD】「Slide ‘n’ Step」Music Video

FIRST PRESS B CD+DVD PCCA-03717 ¥1,500 [Tax.in]
【CD】
M-1. Slide ‘n’ Step
M-2.COUPLED WITH B
M-3.Slide ‘n’ Step(Instrumental)
【DVD】「Slide ‘n’ Step」Music Video Making

REGULAR EDITION CD ONLY PCCA-70348 ¥1,000 [Tax.in]
【CD】
M-1. Slide ‘n’ Step
M-2.COUPLED WITH C
M-3.Slide ‘n’ Step(Instrumental)

PROJECT OFFICIAL HP http://keita-official.tv/
KEITA OFFICAL Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/keitamusic
KEITA OFFICIAL Twitter:https://twitter.com/Official_KEITA



Sources: translation of press release at w-inds. worldwide, original press release

w-inds. Tachibana Keita Begins Solo as KEITA. His Goal: Surpass J. Timberlake

Keita Tachibana, main vocalist of the 3 man dance vocal unit w-inds., has begun a solo project under the name KEITA. I attended his showcase on the 26th in Tokyo. Starting with his single “Slide’n'step” to be released on February 20th, he aims to use his singing and dancing to become an R&B singer of a world level standard. When asked about his ultimate aim, he cited the names of artists like Justin Timberlake, saying “I want to try my best to make my way to that level.”

w-inds. is already famous all around Asia, so on this day, overseas media also appeared. “I’m happy,” he said with a huge grin. “I want to flap my wings and soar into the world.” In addition, many domestic media and entertainment related people also attended the event, in which he performed “Slide’n'step” and “Thinking of You.” With his masterclass performance, he made a huge impression not as Keita Tachibana but as KEITA.

He’d been planning a solo project for about a year. He prepared the lyrics and the choreography by himself, and said “I want to open up more and more of my abilities. I want to use images during my concerts, try and add different entertaining elements to my work, and collaborate with different artists.” His ideal is boundless. He also stated “I want to work as a new artist, exploring and searching for new stimuli everywhere.”

In the world of show business, he is known for his beautiful muscles, but he refused to show them this day. Addressing his fans, he promised “I am going to pull out all the stops in this music video.” In regards to w-inds., he said they’d resume activities by the end of next year.

Sources: translation of article at w-inds. worldwide, original article

Just for all of you who are a little confused, yes, Keita did have a solo career from 2006 to 2008, but this looks like it's done with no relation to w-inds.
pilkul_calpico 3rd-Dec-2012 06:16 am (UTC)
I'm actually very pleased with how this sounds. The music is much more appealing.
Though I'm not sure how this differentiates from what the current w-inds. sounds like.

Despite liking the image he had in his previous solo career, I wasn't very fond of the sound, so hopefully this will stay a bit longer!

rebirthreborn 3rd-Dec-2012 06:49 am (UTC)
I'm hoping that 'FRIEND' will be put into his new solo album. It's such a waste if they didn't.

Good luck KEITA! =3
tsukino_aki 3rd-Dec-2012 07:09 am (UTC)
I'm in love with Slide 'n' Step already :3
inachan89 3rd-Dec-2012 08:42 am (UTC)
I didn't know he already went solo one time,good luck to him^^
okadarei 3rd-Dec-2012 10:47 am (UTC)
XD well, is not like he's not considered a soloist. When you go to VF website, he's listed as both: W-inds member and soloist. The same with the SPEED girls. He might had been on hiatus for a while, but he's still considered both a soloist and a group member by his own agency. Good news he's doing a new release, anyway.
jessui 3rd-Dec-2012 11:23 am (UTC)
I love the idea of him trying to appeal to a global audience and go for a different style, but to be honest the new style didn't sound AS different as I had hoped (still liked it though!). Best of luck to him.
lolufailhard 3rd-Dec-2012 04:59 pm (UTC)
lmao boy's got goalsss. If he wants to achieve them, he's gonna really need to STEP it up. I'm pretty sure this isn't strong enough to break into the western market + he might want to work on his vocals as well. I wish him luck though! I'm anticipating the MV.

Edited at 2012-12-03 05:04 pm (UTC)
ryusa5 3rd-Dec-2012 09:21 pm (UTC)
vocally he's capable of singing a lot better than this
since the beginning of 2011 he changed his voca technique cuz he started having problems with his tonsils,plus his recurrent bronchitis didn't help,he was sick most of the time and yet he still did 40 concerts(with 4 different setlists)
this year he was a bit better,but still not his usual standard
In fact he only removed his tonsils a while ago,plus the fact that he was nervous cuz he was performing in front of only the press+the not so great audio quality of the video,I can understad why people would question his vocal ability
he also has one of the widest vocal ranges I've heard,he just has to learn to control it again
ryusa5 3rd-Dec-2012 07:28 pm (UTC)
I loved his first solo album,but that sound doesn't fit him anymore

I wasn't very fond of the songs from this clip,but the jijipress video made me change my mind.I'm loving Slide'n'Step
About Thinking of you...I just wish he would stop forcing his voice,it's been 2 years since he used his softer register in ballads and it's such a pity cuz I feel he's only damaging his voice with how he's singing now

also he said his solo work will be in parallel with w-inds.

Edited at 2012-12-03 08:29 pm (UTC)
amenooto 3rd-Dec-2012 10:22 pm (UTC)
He's not even surpassing Jin with these songs.

There are what like 5 male R&B artists in Japan...Keita should be able to get better music.
stole_away 4th-Dec-2012 03:27 am (UTC)
what is W-inds doing now?
icysnowdrop 4th-Dec-2012 04:03 am (UTC)
As a group, they've just recently released their latest concert DVD. They're on hiatus until the end of 2013.

I don't know about individually, though. w-inds. has been pretty good about keeping their private lives, well, private. Either that or the media doesn't really care about them.

I don't feel as though Ryuichi and Ryohei are as invested in w-inds. They all seem like they want to do their own thing since they weren't that into singing like Keita is.
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