Tanaka (musician)

Tanaka (birth name unknown) was born in Yokohama, Japan,[1] and went to school in the same area.[2] He first became interested in releasing music in junior high school,[3] and began uploading songs on the Japanese video streaming service Nico Nico under the moniker Shigaisen (市街戦, "Street Fighting") from February 2012, at the age of 14.[4] This name (later changing the name to Shigaisen (紫外線, "Ultraviolet")) was his utaite moniker, a Nico Nico specific term for a person who uploads sung vocal covers of Vocaloid songs.[5][6] Among the songs he covered were Ishifuro's "Yurufuwa Jukai Girl", Denpol-P's "Hitorinbo Envy" and Hachi's "Donut Hole".

Tanaka became interested in rap music through the Nico Nico community Nico Rap, especially a rapper in the community called Vacon. After becoming friends, Vacon inspired Boku no Lyric no Bōyomi to try releasing original rap songs.[3] In late 2012, he uploaded his first rap song, "One Night Stand and Rain".[7] He decided on his stage name late at night while uploading the song, arbitrarily choosing the phrase Boku no Lyric no Bōyomi (ぼくのりりっくのぼうよみ, "Reading My Lyrics Monotone").[3] He felt that his voice while rapping sounded as if he were singing in a monotone instead of rapping, so decided on the name because of this.[3][8] Originally he wanted to form a band, however did not have any friends who wanted to join in. As a student at an elite high school, he found that his friends had little interest in music, so he decided to release music as a solo act.[8][9]

In April 2014, Boku no Lyric no Bōyomi released a free to download extended play through the independent hip-hop label Idler Records,[10] a label run by Denpa Girl member Hashishi.[11] Later in 2014, he was announced as one of the finalists of the Tokyo FM teen music contest Senkō Riot, after submitting the song "Sub/objective" because it had the biggest response on the internet.[12][2] Boku no Lyric no Bōyomi submitted another song, "Fuckin' Summer Vacatioooooon!!!!!!!!!!!", for the contest's annual contestant compilation album.[13]

In December 2015, Tanaka released his debut album Hollow World as Boku no Lyric no Bōyomi through newly founded JVC Kenwood Victor Entertainment sub-label Connectone,[11] His second album Noah’s Ark (2017) features a collaboration with Latin jazz producer Nicola Conte,[14] and "Be Noble", the theme song for the film March Comes in like a Lion Part 1 (2017).[15]

In September 2018, Boku no Lyric no Bōyomi announced that he would leave the music industry, by releasing a final studio album, Botsuraku, and a compilation album, Ningen, on December 12.[16] In 2019, he announced that he would change his stage name to Tanaka.[17] In April 2021, Tanaka formed a band with Ichika Nito and Sasanomaly called Dios.[17]

List of songs written by Boku no Lyric no Bōyomi for other artists.

• Official website
• Official blog