Maki Nomiya is best known as vocalist for Pizzicato Five in the 90s, but her career as a vocalist stretches considerably further back. Nomiya released her first album, Pink no Kokoro, in 1981. The album saw limited success, and luckily for future fans, Nomiya's career as cookie-cutter Japanese idol was over soon after it started. In the late 80s, Nomiya joined new wave act Portable Rock. The band released two albums and several singles to some critical acclaim but limited commercial success... read more

Maki Nomiya is best known as vocalist for Pizzicato Five in the 90s, but her career as a vocalist stretches considerably further back. Nomiya released her first album, Pink no Kokoro, in 1981. The album saw limited success, and luckily for future fans, Nomiya's career as cookie-cutter Japanese idol was over soon after it started. In the late 80s, Nomiya joined new wave act Portable Rock. The band released two albums and several singles to some critical acclaim but limited commercial success before disbanding. Nomiya auditioned for Yasuharu Konishi's Pizzicato Five in 1991, one of the most high profile and successful acts in the booming Shibuya-kei genre, winning the slot as the third and ultimately most successful vocalist. Nomiya bloomed in Pizzicato Five, embracing and embellishing their unique synthesis of retro chic and cutting edge music, and making the band a favorite both in cool-conscious Japan and abroad, where they signed with indie stalwart Matador Records. Pizzicato Five disbanded in 2001, by which time Nomiya was a full-fledged celebrity and cultural icon, also gigging as model, designer, writer, and narrator in addition to her music. Nomiya released her first solo album, Miss Maki Nomiya Sings in 2000, while P5 was still active, following up with Lady Miss Warp in late 2002. Nomiya has also authored and been the subject of several books, mostly promoting her personal style and colorful history. In March 2004, she launched an original clothing line - Mini She by Maki Nomiya - and later the same year guested on m-flo's Astromantic along with the Crazy Ken Band. Summer 2004 saw the release of her third full-length, Dress Code, a concept album revolving around the theme of a Maki Nomiya dinner show, released in tandem with a book of the same name. In addition to performing and recording as a solo artist, Nomiya and former P5 chorus singer Rieko Teramoto perform as the kitschily entertaining Oui Oui. Although working at a slighly lower level of visibility than she enjoyed with Pizzicato Five, Nomiya continues to be a unique and innovative presence in the music and fashion worlds. collapse