Utada

Utada Hikaru was born in New York to Japanese parents with roots in the Japanese music industry. Her father, Teruzane Utada, was a record producer. Her mother, Junko Utada, was an enka singer, performing under the stage name "Keiko Fuji."  Junko Utada’s mother, and Hikaru’s grandmother, was a blind shamisen player (ごぜ, or goze). Utada Hikaru made her first professional recording at the age of twelve. She did her recordings with her mother, releasing songs under a band named “U3” (also known as Utada 3) until 1996 when she started her first solo project, "I’ll be Stronger."  The "Cookin’ With Moses Vocal" from this project was called the "Cookin’ With Gas Vocal" on the promotional release. "I’ll Be Stronger" was the first song Utada Hikaru wrote. It was released under the artist name "Cubic U," a mathematical reference to her being the third Utada 'power,' which was Hikaru’s pseudonym before becoming a superstar in Japan. The song failed to release in the United States, and in 1997, she started her next project. Her goddaughter, Ayani Saiyuki helps her with some of her music. She is currently attending Polytechnic High.