Rediscovering Mika

Pop singer Mika Nakashima’s cool and mystical demeanour has earned her many fans. But she has revealed a new “real” side of herself in her latest album, which reflects on her battle with an illness that threatened her career.

In “Letter”, one of 13 songs on the new album “Real”, released by Sony Music Associated Records and her first in two years, Nakashima relates her feelings with heart-wrenching lyrics such as:

“I was only thinking of disappearing, I was sick and tired of singing, all the things that I was sure to like looked crooked to my eyes, I felt as if I was only a piece of junk.”

The raw anguish Nakashima felt as she struggled with an ear problem that halted her career for six months beginning October 2010 has had the silver lining of providing her with a fresh perspective on life.

“I wrote these lyrics honestly as I had no intention to tell lies or put on a show,” says the 30-year-old from Kagoshima Prefecture. “I felt, ‘No matter what others think of me, I’ll only write the truth’.”

The album, her seventh, has 13 numbers including ballads, rock and pop songs. The composition creates a certain ambience by grouping songs with similar melodies consecutively, such as three ballads back-to-back followed by a set of rock numbers.

Many of the album’s songs are movie theme songs, such as “Dear” from “Yokame no Semi” (The cicada of the eighth day) and “Love Is Ecstasy” from “Unfair the answer.”

Since her showbiz debut at the age of 18, Nakashima has been regarded as a brilliant artist. In 2001, she was cast in the TV drama “Kizudarake no Love Song” as the heroine, who is also a singer. Her theme song for the drama called “Stars” was a big hit, selling about 500,000 CDs.

Nakashima continued to shine in subsequent music and film roles. She is often noted for her original style, which centres on her love of fashion.

“Even when I’m doing a recording without photography, I always select the make-up and clothes that are best suited to the music,” she says.

Nakashima can adjust her voice to fit any type of song, and this starts by changing her appearance to match the song.

She has created lyrics spinning rich stories with her own original world view.

However, not long ago, an eustachian tube dysfunction jeopardised her ascent as an artist. Characterised by inflammation in a small passage connecting the ear and throat, the illness can lead to loss of or dulled hearing, which is catastrophic for a singer.

“I couldn’t hear external sounds and could hear only my voice echoing in my ears. I couldn’t control the volume of my voice, and I lost my sense of rhythm and intonation,” she says.

From the start of the treatment, her doctor suggested that she would not fully recover from the illness. She was overwhelmed by a feeling of hopelessness.

Although Nakashima had to stop singing for several months, she tried to get used to the condition.

“I promised those around me and my fans I would make a comeback. If I didn’t set this goal, I felt I wouldn’t be able to stand on my feet again,” she says.

Eventually, Nakashima’s love for her fans helped drive her return to the recording booth and stage. Thus she decided to reveal her true self in the new album and wrote lyrics about only things that were true to her.

“My fans are worried I might have stage fright and are eagerly awaiting my return,” she says. “I want to thank all the people who have supported me. I’m very grateful to them.”

Nakashima will perform 26 concerts at 23 locations in Japan beginning in May.