Ado (Japanese: アド,[α] born October 24, 2002) is a Japanese singer/songwriter. In 2020, at the age of 17, she made her debut with the digital single titled "Usseewa", which peaked at number 1 on Billboard Japan Hot 100,[4]Oricon Digital Singles Chart, and the Oricon Streaming Chart.[5] The song reached 100 million plays on Billboard Japan within 17 weeks of charting, which was the sixth fastest in history and the youngest for a solo singer.[6][7][8] In 2022, her song "New Genesis" was used as the theme song for the anime film One Piece Film: Red and topped Apple Music's Global Top 100 charts.
She is represented by the artist management company Cloud Nine.[9]
Life and music career
Early life and musical beginnings: 2014–2020
Ado was born on October 24, 2002, in Tokyo, Japan.[9][8]
In 2014, Ado took an interest in music after software for the video-sharing website Niconico was released on the Nintendo 3DS. She began watching videos on the small screen of the handheld game console, and was impressed by cover singers on Niconico who sang without showing their faces.[10]
In 2017, Ado began singing as an utaite (an internet cover singer) on Niconico, beginning with uploading a video of herself singing a cover of "Kimi no taion" on January 10, 2017.[11] On Nippon TV, she said that during the time she was an utaite singer, she covered her closet in soundproofing material that she bought online and recorded in it.[12]
In 2019, she featured in Kujira's digital single "Kinmokusei", which was released on December 23, 2019.[13] A couple months later, she featured as a vocalist in a digital single "Shikabanēze" by jon-YAKITORY, which was released on March 29, 2020.[14] In May 2020, she participated in Pony Canyon's compilation album PALETTE4. She released two songs, "Call boy" by syudou and "Taema naku ai-iro" by Shishi Shishi, as digital releases.[15]
Debut with "Usseewa": 2020
On October 15, 2020, Ado announced that she would make her debut with Universal Music Japan.[16] On October 23, the day before her 18th birthday, she released the digital single "Usseewa" written by Vocaloid producer syudou.[6] The music video, released on her own YouTube channel, reached 5 million views by November 14.[17] On December 10, 2020, "Usseewa" ranked number 1 on Spotify Viral 50 Japan. On December 24, she released her second single "Readymade" written by Vocaloid producer Surii, as a digital release.[18]
By January 23, 2021, "Usseewa" had reached 40 million views on YouTube,[19] and on February 3, 2021, it ranked number 1 on both Oricon Digital Singles Chart and Oricon Streaming Chart.[5] On February 14, she released her third single, "Gira Gira", written by Vocaloid producer teniwoha, as a digital release.[20] Four days later on February 18, the number of subscribers on her YouTube channel exceeded 1 million.[21]
On March 15, 2021, "Usseewa" reached number one on the Billboard Japan Hot 100,[4][22] and on March 20, the music video on YouTube reached 100 million views, 148 days after its release.[7] On March 29, "Usseewa" reached 100 million plays on the Billboard JAPAN chart "Streaming Songs" after 17 weeks from charting-in, which was the sixth fastest in history and the youngest for a solo singer.[6][8]
On April 27, 2021, Ado released her fifth single "Odo", which was used in an NHK show about Vocaloid producers.[23]
On June 11, 2021, she was chosen as the second Japanese female artist for "YouTube's Artist on the Rise".[24] On June 14, 2021, she released her sixth single, "Yoru no Pierrot".
From December 2022 to January 2023, Ado went on her first national tour "Shinkiro" (Mirage), which lasted for 10 shows in 6 different locations across Japan.[28]
In October 2022, Ado signed with Geffen Records to release music in the United States alongside her current record deal with Virgin Music.[29]
From June 2023 to September 2023, Ado went on her second national tour "Mars", which lasted for 14 shows in 11 different locations across Japan.[30]
Ado announced her first world tour, "Wish", on her 21st birthday in October 2023; it lasted from February to April 2024. She also held two solo live performances called "Shinzo" (Heart) at the Japan National Stadium on April 27 and 28, 2024, becoming the first solo female artist to do so.[33]
On April 20, 2024, Ado announced her second studio album, Zanmu.[34] The album released on July 10, 2024, alongside a live CD from her first world tour "Wish" recorded at Peacock Theater, California.
On June 26, 2024, the idol group Phantom Siita, which Ado produced, made their debut with the single "Otomodachi".[35]
Discography
Albums
Studio albums
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
^ ab"Ado、「うっせぇわ」MV&ストリーミング再生回数W1億回を5ヵ月で突破 LINEスタンプも配信(CDジャーナル)" [Ado breaks through with "Usseewa" music video & streaming plays exceed 100 million in 5 months LINE stamps are also distributed (CD journal)]. Yahoo! News (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
^ abc"Ado「うっせぇわ」すっげえわ!サブスク再生1億回突破 世代超えた社会現象に" [Ado "Usseewa"! exceeded 100 million plays and becomes social phenomena beyond generations]. The Microsoft Network. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
^"「うっせぇわ」特設ページ" [Usseewa special page]. Universal Music Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved April 2, 2021.
^Ado (January 10, 2017). "【初投稿】君の体温 歌ってみた【Adovance】" [[First upload] I sang "Kimi no taion" [Adovance]]. Niconico. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
^"放送内容 | バズリズム02 | 日本テレビ" [Broadcast contents | Buzz Rhythm 02 |Nippon TV]. February 13, 2021. Archived from the original on February 13, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
^"くじら、「金木犀 (feat. Ado)」を配信開始" [Kujira's "Kinmokusei (feat. Ado)" now available]. THE MAGAZINE (in Japanese). Retrieved April 2, 2021.
^"Ado迎えたjon-YAKITORY「シカバネーゼ」バイラル好調 "やり場のない心情"を描いた現代のミクスチャーロック" [jon-YAKITORY welcomed Ado in "Shikabanese" Viral strong performance Modern mixture rock depicting "unfocused emotions"]. Real Sound (in Japanese). June 16, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
^"Ado、17歳最後の日にメジャーデビュー" [Ado, music debut on last day of age 17]. BARKS (in Japanese). October 15, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
^編集部. "18歳シンガーAdo、デビュー曲「うっせぇわ」500万再生突破" [18-year-old singer ado, debut song "Usseewa" exceeds 5 million views]. MusicVoice (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
^編集部. "女子高生シンガーAdo、新曲「レディメイド」12月24日にリリース" [High school girl singer Ado, new song "Readymade" released on December 24]. MusicVoice (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
^""てにをは"が手掛ける 新曲「ギラギラ」を2月14日"バレンタインデー"に配信リリース!" [New song "Gira Gira", digitally released on Valentine's day February 14, aided by Teniwoha]. Universal Music Japan (in Japanese). February 8, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
^"B'zがAdoに楽曲提供、コラボ曲「DIGNITY」が「沈黙の艦隊」主題歌に" [B'z provides music to Ado, collaboration song "DIGNITY" becomes theme song for "Chinmoku no Kantai"]. Barks (in Japanese). July 20, 2023. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
^"Adoの歌ってみた「unravel」が今夜ついに、「オールナイトニッポン」でフル尺オンエア" [Ado's Utattemita cover of "Unravel" will finally be aired in full length tonight on "All Night Nippon"]. Music Natalie (in Japanese). November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
^"Ado"歌ってみた"アルバムより日向電工「ブリキノダンス」先行配信決定、MV公開も" [Hyuga Denko's "Buriki no Dance" from Ado's "Utattemita" album will be distributed in advance, and the MV will also be released]. Natalie Music (in Japanese). November 27, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
^"「レコード大賞」各賞発表!リーダーズ、ミセス、Ado、NewJeans、JO1、ビーファら大賞候補に" [Japan Record Awards awards announced! Leaders, Mrs. Green Apple, Ado, NewJeans, JO1, Beefa and others are nominated for the grand prize.]. Natalie Music (in Japanese). November 22, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.