Origa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Origa
Origa in 2013
Background information
Birth name	Olga Vital'evna Yakovleva
Also known as	ORIGA
Born	(1970-10-12)October 12, 1970 Kochenyovo, Novosibirsk Oblast, Soviet Union
Origin	Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Died	January 17, 2015(2015-01-17) (aged 44) Tokyo, Japan
Genres	New-age, electronica, anime soundtrack
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, musician, composer
Instruments	Vocals, piano
Years active	1991–2015
Labels	ROAD & SKY Company TOSHIBA EMI Records GEMMATIKA Records
Associated acts	Yoko Kanno, Seiya

Olga Vitalevna Yakovleva (Russian: Ольга Витальевна Яковлева, born October 12, 1970 – died January 17, 2015) was a talented Russian singer. She was best known by her stage name, Origa. Origa became very famous for her music work in Japan. She was especially known for her songs in the popular Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. anime series.

Origa's Musical Journey

Origa was born in a small village called Kochenyovo in Russia. This village is about 50 kilometers west of Novosibirsk.

After finishing music school in 1990, she got a chance to visit Japan in 1991. In 1993, she signed a contract with the ROAD&SKY Organization. She worked on many projects with different artists. She also sang for the Radio Japan Series. She even joined a chorus for a charity song after the Kobe earthquake.

Becoming Famous with Anime Music

Origa released eight solo albums and many other music collections. She became very popular outside Japan. This happened when she sang for the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex anime series. Her songs were featured on its original soundtracks.

Her long-time friend, composer Yoko Kanno, wrote these songs. Origa sang the theme song for the first season, Inner Universe. She also sang Rise, the theme song for the second season.

Origa first worked with Yoko Kanno for the anime ∀ Gundam. She sang "Moon" in concerts. In 2005, Origa sang songs for another anime series called Fantastic Children. Her most notable song was the ending theme "Mizu no Madoromi".

More Anime and Game Music

In 2006, Origa helped write lyrics and sang for the movie Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State Society. She performed the opening song "Player" and the ending theme "date of rebirth".

In 2007, Origa performed with Yoko Kanno at the Ragnarok 2 Concert. There, she sang all three Ghost in the Shell opening themes. These included "Player", "Inner Universe", and "Rise". She also sang songs usually performed by other vocalists. She performed with other singers like Maaya Sakamoto and Mai Yamane.

On December 19, 2008, she performed at Sugizo's "Rise to Cosmic Dance" concert in Tokyo. She later appeared on his 2011 single "The Edge".

Origa also lent her voice to the soundtrack for the video game Final Fantasy XIII-2. This game was released in Japan on December 15, 2011. The music for the game was created by Masashi Hamauzu, Naoshi Mizuta, and Mitsuto Suzuki.

Starting in 2013, Origa worked with musician Seiya. They performed together around the world. In 2014, Origa attended Anirevo (Anime Revolution). She performed songs from the Ghost in the Shell series. She also sang a mix of many other theme songs. This included her last song, "Bells," which she performed for the first time. She also joined a discussion panel with Production I.G CEO Mitsuhisa Ishikawa.

Her Passing

Origa passed away on Saturday, January 17, 2015. She had been battling lung cancer for two years.

Discography

Solo career

Demos:

• Olga (1991)

Studio albums:

• Origa (1994)
• Illusia (1995)
• Lira Vetrov (1996)
• Eternity (1998)
• Era of Queens (2003)
• Aurora (2005)
• The Songwreath (2008)
• Amon Ra (2013)
• Lost and Found (2015)

Singles:

• "Kaze no Naka no Soritea" (1995)
• "Le Vent Vert—Le Temps Bleu" (Полюшко Поле) (1998)
• "Electra's Song" (2003)
• "Mizu no Madoromi" (2004)
• "Leleyala" (2006)
• "Land of Love" (2006)
• "Spiral" (2006)
• "Hanagumori" (2007)
• "My Way" (2016)

Mini albums:

• Crystal Winter (1994)
• Aria (1996)
• The Annulet (2013)

Compilation albums:

• The Best of Origa (1999)
• All About Origa (2015)

Featured discography

• Yang Bang-ean (Kunihiko Ryo) – The Gate of Dreams (1997) – Background vocals for "Triumph of the Soul Behemian"
• Ao no Jidai: Original TV Soundtrack (1998) – Vocals and lyrics for "Le Vent Vert ~ Le Temps Bleu (Poljushko Pole)"
• Yoko Kanno – ∀ Gundam: The Concert (2000) – Vocals for "Moon"
• Akira Senju – Princess Arete: Original Movie Soundtrack (2001) – Vocals and lyrics for "Krasno Solntse", and "Majo no Yubiwa",
• Yoko Kanno – Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex O.S.T. (2003) – Vocals and lyrics for "Inner Universe"
• Yoko Kanno – Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex O.S.T. 2 (2004) – Vocals and lyrics for "Rise"
• Kouji Ueno – Fantastic Children: Original TV Soundtrack 1 (2005) – Vocals and lyrics for "Pobezhdaet Ljubovj"
• Kouji Ueno – Fantastic Children: Drama & Image album (2005) – Vocals and lyrics for "Fuyuu Yume" (both Japanese and Russian versions)
• Yoko Kanno – Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – Solid State Society O.S.T. (2006) – Vocals and lyrics for "Player", and "Date of Rebirth"
• Yoko Kanno – CM Yoko (2007) – Vocals for "Exaelitus"
• Kunihiko Ryo – Aion: The Tower of Eternity Original Soundtrack (2008) – Vocals on "The Wings of Knight", "Song of Moonlight", and "Voice from the Ruins"
• Allods Online – Allods Online Soundtrack (2010) – Background vocals for "Heart of the World" and "Oak Tears"
• Sugizo – Flower of Life (2011) – Background Vocals for "Enola Gay", "Arc Moon", "The Edge", "Tell Me Why You Hide the Truth?", and "Conscientia"
• Himekami, Mitsuto Suzuki, DAISHI DANCE, Language, Takashi Watanabe – Starry Tales Soundtrack (2011) – Vocals for "Starry Tales", "Wings for Freedom", "Astraea", and "Shining Future"
• Masashi Hamauzu, Naoshi Mizuta, and Mitsuto Suzuki – Final Fantasy XIII-2: Original Soundtrack (2011) – Vocals on "New Bodhum", "Historia Crux", "Missing Link", "Parallel World", and "Space-Time Interval"
• Himekami – Voyage to Another World ~ Himekami TV Onmibus ~ (2013) – vocals on "Voyage to Another World", "An Eternal Flower", "Miracle Presents From Nature", and "Ice Blue Calmy Flow"
• Yang Bang-ean (Kunihiko Ryo) – Yang Bang Ean – Piano Fantasy (2013) – Vocals for "Rainbow Leaves", "St. Medieval Rain", "Timeless Story (Origa Ver.)", and "Forgotten Sorrow (Origa Ver.)"
• Akira Tsuchiya, Akiko Shikata, Daisuke Achiwa, Kazuki Yanagawa, Eiichiro Yanagi – Ar Nosurge: Genometric Concert Side Blue Dancer of Time ~Tokikagura~ (2014) – vocals on "Empyein Varifen Jang" and "Yal Fiine Nohiar"
• XES – Black Tears EP (2014) – Vocals for "Black Tears"
• Herowarz: Herowarz Original Soundtrack (2014) – Vocals on "Audrey Theme Song"
• Yang Bang-ean (Kunihiko Ryo) – Embrace (2016) – Background vocals on "Voice from Aurora ~ I Can Hear It Even Now"

See also

In Spanish: Origa para niños