You know all about Lily Chou-Chou. Here comes 'all about Salyu'

Lily chou, a singer idol borne out of shunji iwai's youth-angst movie does exist in real life. Her name is Salyu. She doesn't wear ghostly paint or mumble about 'ether' yet that familiar hypnotizing voice makes you blink: am I back in the movie?

Salyu's singing is a hodgepodge of pop, new age and gospel(probably influenced by her choir training...). Her slightly coarse voice sounds weirdly abstract and relaxing(the old elements of 'lily chou chou'). It might be my illusion that her lazy singing's always quarter of a beat behind melody. Still, the gluey voice drags on & on like this sunny winter afternoon, bathing your limbs your organs your nerves in a numbing comfort. Meditative or dangerously self-indulgent?

Mini Biography

Salyu (real name Suzuki sth) played piano since young and joined the choir where she sang mostly hymns and carols. She used to frequent live house and watched her friends perform. Occasionally she would sing on stage as well. In 1998, Takashi Kobayashi (composer for "All About Lily Chou Chou", "Swallowtail Butterfly") was greatly impressed by Salyu's live house performance and asked her to sing in shunji iwai's movie. The vocal album of the movie was released under the title 'Kokyu'(Breathe). Riding on the popularity, Salyu embarked on her solo career and has been actively invoving herself in live shows. Takashi Kobayashi writes and produces most of Salyu's solo projects. - so there you have lily chou's voice and the same composer from the movie. Welcome back!