[US] J-Pop Diva A.I. to perform in Los Angeles on January 31st

January 1, 2008 by Dennis Amith

A J!-ENT Exclusive!

Universal Music Japan artist A.I. will be performing in Los Angeles at the El Rey Theatre on January 31st along with DJ Hirakatsu.

DON’T STOP A.I. LIVE in LA!!

“A.I.” – Elements of SOUL, R&B, HIP-HOP, and DANCE combine and formulate the “QUEEN OF HIP-HOP SOUL” = AI. AI was born in LA on November 2, 1981 between Japanese Father and 1/2 Japanese, 1/2 Italian-American mother. She moved to Kagoshima, Japan due to her father’s business. Since then, she has been traveling back and forth between Japan and the United States.

AI learned singing and dancing in LA on professional level, and she was featured on Janet Jackson’s promotion video of “GO DEEP” as one of the back dancers. Returned to Japan in the year 2000, she made a major label debut as a singer. In 2003, AI transferred a label to DefJam Japan and released a single “LAST WORDS (SAISHU-SENKOKU).” A ballad single, “Story,” was released in May 2005. The song ranked #8 on a single sales chart, sold a total of 300 thousand copies, had 3.5 million downloads, and became a song to represent 2005. An album released that same year, “MIC-A-HOLIC A.I.” was ranked #4 on the first week and sold over 500 thousand copies. On the New Year’s Eve of 2006, AI made an appearance on a prestigious national TV program, “56th Annual KO HAKU UTAGASSEN” on NHK.

In 2007, a single “I’ll Remember You / BRAND NEW DAY” was released in July. AI made appearances on stages of summer music festivals such as Rock In Japan Festival and Summer Sonic in August and September. Her latest single “ONE” released in November has been aired on a FUJI-TV drama series, “IRYU Team Medical Dragon 2,” as its theme song.

AI will be releasing her new album “DON’T STOP A.I.” in December, and that will be a prologue to “DON’T STOP A.I. Japan Tour” starting February 2008 which includes 32 shows nationwide and caters to 100 thousand audiences.

Pursuing ORIGINALITY at all times, AI leads the generation without a stop. With supports from a wide range of audience, it is certain that AI will attract worldwide attention.

**Get ready for her very first LA Live in concert opening up the tour 2008! A.Ifs premium Los Angeles live-LA’s own original story only at El Rey Theatre Los Angeles. Donft miss it!!!

Official Web Site: http://www.universal-music.co.jp/ai/