I. Introduction
May'n is a Japanese pop singer signed to HoriPro talent agency. She debuted as an urban singer under stage name Nakabayashi May on the Universal Music Japan in 2005 but later transferred to Victor Entertainment's sub-label flying DOG in 2007, and eventually in 2021 transferred to the Digital Double label.
II. Career
III. Prior to Debut and UMG Japan Failed Releases
Nakabayashi has been an avid lover of music from a young age and says she constantly sings wherever she is. When she was 13, she participated in the Love Music Audition held by HoriPro talent agency and was one of four chosen out of 34,911 hopefuls. In the year 2005, she debuted at the age of 14 as an urban singer under stage name Nakabayashi May with the single "Crazy Crazy Crazy". But due to the unsuccess of her three singles with Universal Music Japan, her talent agency decided to find a new way for her career. Nakabayashi took a one year hiatus for label changing. Prior to leave from Universal, she released her last song as Nakabayashi May title "Ame ni Saku Hana" as digital single.
IIII. Recovery from Label Release
In late 2007, it was announced that she has completed her transfer to Victor Entertainment and will debuted under its sub-label flying DOG with a new stage name, May'n (delivered from May Nakabayashi).
She also was chosen to lend her voice to the singing voice fictional idol Sheryl Nome in the anime Macross Frontier. Her re-but single, "Diamond Crevasse / Iteza☆Gogo Kuji Don't be late" featured composition by Kanno Yoko and was released on May 8, 2008. Thank to the popularity of the anime series, the single was shotted to #3 on the Oricon weekly charts and later became the 66th best selling single of the year. In August 2008, May'n collaborated with Nakajima Megumi and Kanno Yoko for another single, "Lion". She also got an invitation to MelodiX! on August 23rd, marking her first TV appearance, there she performed "Lion" B-side, "Northern Cross".
The success of Macross Frontier series and the popularity of her character Sheryl Nome also gave her a lot of notices. She was invited to perform "Iteza☆Gogo Kuji Don't be late" at Animelo Summer Live 2008. She also got a chance to perform at Nippon Budokan for Macross F Galaxy Tour and her live performance at Singapore's Anime Festival Asia 08 in November became her first oversea performance. In January 2009, her first Japan live tour was held along with the release of her debut mini-album, May'n☆Street.
IIIII. Breakout via OST Work and 2010's Singles
On January 24, 2010, May'n performed her first solo Nippon Budokan concert, titled BIG★WAAAAAVE, which sold out in only one day. In March of the same year, she held her first tour of Asia, followed in July by a 17-city summer tour of Japan. On July 28, 2010, she released her second single as May'n, "Ready Go!", which was used as the opening theme to the 2010 anime television series Okami-san to Shichinin no Nakamatachi.
In fall 2010, May’n was chosen to record the theme song for the film “Incite Mill -7 Day Death Game-” and she released her third single, "Shinjitemiru". In February 2011, she released her 3D live documentary movie May'n The Movie: Phonic Nation and later that month released her second album “If you...” which made number 7 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and which also incluyed the ending theme for the anime television series Saikyou Bushouden ~ Mikuni Engi, "Ai wa Furu Hoshi no Gotoku". In March, she held her second solo Budokan concert, titled RHYTHM TANK!!. She participated in the largest-in-Europe Japanese Culture and Entertainment Festival “Japan Expo 2011″.
In 2011 and 2012, May'n performed "Brain Diver", which was used as the opening theme to the 2011 anime television series Phi Brain: Puzzle of God, and she also collaborated with Asakura Daisuke who composed and produced two of her singles, "Scarlet Ballet" for the anime Hidan no Aria and "Chase the world" for Sunrise anime Accel World, which the anime edition was released under the Warner Home Video label.
On March 31, 2012 she released her third studio album, HEAT, which includes the opening theme for the Capcom flash/web game Onimusha Soul, "GET TOUGH". In the same year May'n also performed "Aozora", which was used as the ending theme to the 2012 anime television series BTOOOM!, and later performed "Mr.Super Future Star", which was used as theme song to the Capcom game E.X. Troopers.
IIIV. 2014 - Present: Continued Success
On January 29, 2014, May'n released their fourth studio album, NEW WORLD, which include a second CD with five live tracks from the May'n Hall Tour 2013 "LIVE!CAVE!DIVE!", at the same time she released her ninth single, "Kyou ni Koiiro", which was used as the opening theme to the anime television series Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha.. She would make her return to the United States with a solo concert in San Francisco and a performance at Union Square for J-Pop Summit Festival 2014.
In the middle of 2014 May'n performed "Re:REMEMBER", which was used as the first opening theme to the anime television series ''M3: Sono Kuroki Hagane.
In 2015 May'n performed "Lethe -May'n ver.-", which was used as the theme song for the Japanese version of the mobile MMORPG LINE Cross Legion and later it was announced her first best album by her 10th anniversary titled POWERS OF VOICE, that would include songs of all her musical career including new versions of her three first singles with Universal Music Japan. In August 26, she performed at the Nippon Budokan a special concert titled "Powers of Voice".
May'n performed "Yamaidare darlin'", which was used as the first opening theme to the 2015 anime television series Aquarion Logos, and later performed the songs "Yoake no Logos", which was used as the second opening theme to Aquarion Logos, and the series' second ending theme "Hontou no Koe wo Anata ni Azuketakute", which was performed with the singer Chisuga Haruka. She performed the song "Belief", which was used as the opening theme to the 2016 anime television series Taboo Tattoo and was released under the avex sub-label DIVE II entertainment. She performed the song "Hikari Aru Basho e", which is used as the ending theme to the 2016 anime television series Shuumatsu no Izetta.
In 2017, May'n performed "Itoshisa to Setsunasa to Kokoro Tsuyosa to", which was used as the theme song for the Japanese release of the game Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers and was released as digital single on May 31st. On August 9th, She will collaborate with idol unit Wake Up, Girls! in performing the song "One In A Billion", which was used as the opening theme to the anime television series Isekai Shokudou.
On July 3rd, a special live for her 28th birthday called "PEACE of SMILE" was announced on her official website, to be held on October 21. On July 25th, it was announced that the name of her fifth studio album would be PEACE of SMILE and would be released on October 18. The album includes a second CD that would be a maxi single.
III. Discography
IIII. Albums
[2009.11.25] Styles
[2011.02.23] If you...
[2012.03.21] HEAT
[2014.01.29] NEW WORLD
[2017.10.18] PEACE of SMILE
[2021.06.30] momentbook
[2024.02.14] Prismverse
IIIII. Best Albums
[2015.08.26] POWERS OF VOICE
IIIIII. Live Albums
[2015.02.18] Re:May'n☆Act
Character Albums
[2009.11.25] Universal Bunny (ユニバーサル・バニー) (Sheryl Nome starring May'n)
[2010.11.24] cosmic cuune (Sheryl Nome starring May'n & Ranka Lee=Nakajima Megumi)
IIIIV. Mini-Albums
[2009.01.21] May'n☆Street (メイン☆ストリート)
[2019.07.31] YELL!! (Concept)
[2020.11.11] 15Colors -soul tracks- (Digital)
[2020.11.11] 15Colors -unplugged- (Digital)
[2020.11.11] 15Colors -nu skool- (Digital)
[2021.06.16] momentbook (Digital)
IIIV. Singles
[2005.04.27] Crazy Crazy Crazy (Nakabayashi May)
[2005.08.03] Sympathy (Nakabayashi May)
[2006.09.27] Fallin' in or Not feat. SEAMO (Nakabayashi May)
[2009.05.06] Kimi Shinitamou Koto Nakare (キミシニタモウコトナカレ; Thou Shalt Not Die)
[2010.07.28] Ready Go!
[2010.10.13] Shinjitemiru (シンジテミル; Try to Believe)
[2011.05.11] Scarlet Ballet
[2011.11.02] Brain Diver
[2012.05.09] Chase the world
[2013.05.08] Run Real Run
[2013.07.24] ViViD
[2014.01.29] Kyou ni Koiiro (今日に恋色; Today's Love Colours)
[2014.06.18] Re:REMEMBER
[2015.07.22] Yamaidare darlin' (ヤマイダレdarlin')
[2015.12.16] Yoake no Logos (夜明けのロゴス; Dawn of Logos)
[2016.08.24] Belief
[2016.11.23] Hikari Aru Basho e (光ある場所へ; To a Place with Light)
[2018.02.07] You
[2018.08.08] Tenshi yo Kokyou wo Kike (天使よ故郷を聞け)
[2019.07.31] Kiba to Tsubasa (牙と翼)
[2019.11.20] graphite/diamond
[2021.11.24] Orange (オレンジ)
[2022.08.17] Ahatte Teppen (あはっててっぺんっ)
[2023.08.23] LIES GOES ON
[2024.09.04] Strobe Fantasy (ストロボ・ファンタシー)
IIIVI. Digital Downloads
[2005.12.11] Happy (Nakabayashi May)
[2007.01.31] Ame ni Saku Hana (雨に咲く花; Blooming Flowers in the Rain) (Nakabayashi May)
[2009.10.21] my teens, my tears
[2009.11.25] Grand Piano
[2010.05.12] Ai wa Furu Hoshi no Gotoku [TV-Size] (愛は降る星のごとく; Love Is Like Falling Stars)
[2012.04.21] Chase the world (TV Size)
[2012.10.11] Aozora (アオゾラ; Blue sky)
[2012.11.22] Mr.Super Future Star
[2015.05.06] Lethe -May'n ver.-
[2016.07.05] Belief (TV Size)
[2017.05.31] Itoshisa to Setsunasa to Kokoro Tsuyosa to (恋しさと 切なさと 心強さと; Heartwarming Feelings and Heart-wrenching Feelingsand Heartening Feelings)
[2019.01.30] Starring
[2021.01.20] I'm alright -Pastel Remix-
[2021.05.12] Mirai Note (未来ノート)
[2021.11.24] Shikizakura (シキザクラ)
[2021.12.17] Follow Your Fantasy
[2022.04.12] Aoi no Kodou (蒼の鼓動)
[2022.07.03] Ahatte Teppen <TV size> (あはっててっぺんっ)
[2023.01.04] Setsubunbun! (せつぶんぶん!) (May'n, JUVENILE)
[2023.05.31] Hakyou Juuen (破鏡重縁)
[2023.07.08] GLORY
[2023.07.09] LIES GOES ON (TVsize)
IIIVII. Split Singles
[2017.08.09] One In A Billion (Wake Up, May'n!)
IIIVIII. Character Singles
[2008.05.08] Diamond Crevasse / Iteza☆Gogo Kuji Don't be late (ダイアモンド クレバス / 射手座☆午後九時Don't be late; Sagittarius☆9PM Don't be late) (Sheryl Nome starring May'n)
[2008.08.20] Lion (ライオン) (May'n / Nakajima Megumi)
[2009.10.21] pink monsoon (Sheryl Nome starring May'n)
[2017.04.26] Gor~~geous (ゴ～～ジャス) (Sheryl Nome starring May'n) (Digital)
[2018.09.26] Good job! (Sheryl Nome starring May'n / Ranka Lee = Nakajima Megumi) (Macross Frontier 10th Anniversary Single)
IIIIX. Compilations / Other
[2006.05.24] ajapai - "unaffected" (#2 "Believe")
[2008.06.04] Macross Frontier O.S.T.1 Nyan Fro. (#2 "Welcome To My FanClub's Night!", #3 "What 'bout my star?", #4 "Iteza☆Gogo Kuji Don't be late", #8 "What 'bout my star?@Formo", #23 "Infinity", #24 "Diamond Crevasse")
[2008.07.23] Anisama Friends - "Yells ~It's a beautiful life~"
[2008.10.08] Macross Frontier O.S.T.2 Nyan Tra☆ (#2 "Northern Cross", #3 "Triangler (fight on stage)", #10 "Yousei", #12 "Shinkuu no Diamond Crevasse", #19 "Nyan Nyan Service Medley")
[2008.12.03] Macross Frontier VOCAL COLLECTION Nyan Tama♀ (Disc 1 #2 "What 'bout my star?@Formo", #4 "Diamond Crevasse ~ Tenbou Kouen Nite", #5 "Welcome To My FanClub's Night!", #6 "Iteza☆Gogo Kuji Don't be late", #7 "What 'bout my star?", #8 "Infinity #7", #19 "Diamond Crevasse"; Disc 2 #1 "Lion", #2 "Diamond Crevasse 50/50", #3 "Sheryl no Aimo", #4 "Yousei", #5 "Northern Cross", #10 "Nyan Nyan Special Service Medley (Tokumori)", #11 "Triangler (fight on stage)")
[2008.12.24] May'n and Miyake Kenta - "Sheryl no Uchuu Kyoudaibune Nado."
[2009.05.27] YOKO KANNO SEATBELTS - YOKO KANNO SEATBELTS Rai Chikyuu Kinen Collection Album Space Bio Charge (Disc 1 #17 "Lion")
[2009.06.24] Anisama Friends - "RE:BRIDGE ~Return to Oneself~"
[2009.07.08] Shangri-La O.S.T. (#2 "Kimi Shinitamou Koto Nakare")
[2009.08.21] Okui Masami - "Miracle Upper WL" feat. May'n
[2009.09.23] Shangri-La O.S.T.2 (#14 "Kimi Shinitamou Koto Nakare (Ballad ver.)")
[2009.10.14] Iijima Mari - "Iki wo Shiteru Kanjiteiru" (with FIRE BOMBER, May'n, Nakajima Megumi)
[2010.06.23] Anisama Friends - "evolution ~for beloved one~"
[2010.09.01] TV Animation "Sengoku BASARA Ni" Ongaku Emaki Ni ~Ransei, Futatabi!~ (#23 "Yuzurenai Omohi [Short Ver.]")
[2010.09.22] Ookami-san to Shichinin no Nakamatachi O.S.T. Otogibako (#2 "Ready Go! (TV Size)")
[2011.01.26] Ranka Lee = Megumi Nakajima - "Houkago Overflow" (#2 "Get it on - flying rock" feat. Sheryl Nome starring May'n, #4 "Get it on - flying rock")
[2011.03.09] Macross Frontier ~Sayonara no Tsubasa~ netabare album the end of "triangle" (#1 "Kindan no Elixir", #17 "Diamond Crevasse ~ thank you, Frontier"; #7 "Get it on ~ Kousouku Climax", #12 "Nyan Nyan Final Attack Frontier Greatest☆Hits!", #13 "Sayonara no Tsubasa ~ the end of triangle", #15 "dShootistarb")
[2011.05.xx] Fever Macross Frontier Musume Pachi (#2 "Iteza☆Gogo Kuji Don't be late", #3 "Northern Cross", #4 "Infinity #7", #8 "What 'bout my star? @Formo", #9 "Diamond Crevasse"; #7 "Lion" Sheryl Nome starring May'n & Ranka Lee = Megumi Nakajima)
[2011.05.11] Senjou no Valkyria 3 Sound & Song Collection (Disc 2 #15 "Moshimo Kimi ga Negau no Nara|Moshimo Kimi ga Negau no Nara (GAME Size)")
[2011.06.22] TV Animation "Hidan no Aria" Kyoyougakubu Ongaku Kyozai ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK (#2 "Scarlet Ballet (TV-SIZE MIX)")
[2013.03.28] Φ Brain ~ Kami no Puzzle Original Soundtrack Quebra Cabeça (#4 "Brain Diver (TV edit)")
[2012.04.21] Accel World SPECIAL SAMPLER DISC (#1 "Chase the world (TV size.)")
[2012.10.24] "Nyannyan FIRE!! ~ Totsugeki Planet Explosion / Virgin Story" (#1 "Nyannyan FIRE!! ~ Totsugeki Planet Explosion" / Sheryl Nome starring May'n, Ranka Lee = Megumi Nakajima, FIRE BOMBER)
[2013.09.25] TV Animation "Blood Lad" O.S.T. 2 (#23 "ViViD -TV-EDIT-")
[2014.03.26] Macross 30 Shuunen Kinen Chou Jikuu Duet-Shuu Nyan Cora× (#8 "Aimo ~Tori no Hito" / Mao Nome (Nanri Yuuka) × Sheryl Nome starring May'n)
[2015.09.23] TV Animation Aquarion Logos O.S.T. (#5 "Yamaidare darlin' [TV-EDIT]")
[2017.10.25] "Tsubasa wo Motsumono ~Not an angel Just a dreamer~"
[2021.10.27] MONACA - PRIDE OF ICE HOCKEY PuraOre! ~PRIDE OF ORANGE~ Original Soundtrack (#31 "Orange <TV size>")
IV. Video Releases
[2009.03.25] May’n☆Act
[2009.10.30] Macross Frontier Galaxy Tour FINAL in Budokan (マクロスF(フロンティア)ギャラクシーツアーFINAL in ブドーカン) (with Nakajima Megumi and Kanno Yoko)
[2010.05.26] May'n Special Concert BIG☆WAAAAAVE!! in Nippon Budokan (May'n Special Concert BIG☆WAAAAAVE!! in 日本武道館)
[2011.09.21] May'n THE MOVIE -Phonic Nation-
[2011.11.02] May'n Special Concert 2011 RHYTHM TANK!! at Nippon Budokan
[2012.08.08] May'n special concert 2012 『May'n☆GO!AROUND!!』at Yokohama Arena
[2013.07.24] May’n Special Concert 2013 BD 「MIC-A-MANIA」 at BUDOKAN
[2016.01.27] May'n 10th Anniversary Special Concert BD at Budokan 「POWERS OF VOICE」
V. Concerts
[2009.01.22 - 2009.01.29] May'n CONCERT TOUR 2009 "May'n Act"
[2009.07.26 - 2009.08.13] May'n SUMMER TOUR 2009 "LOVE & JOY"
[2009.11.01] May'n Daigakusai LIVE'09 in N.I.T. "Please enjoy it !!" (May'n大学祭LIVE'09 in N.I.T. "Please enjoy it !!")
[2009.11.13] May'n Seitan 20th Anniversary Osaka・AKASO (May'n 生誕20th Anniversary 大阪・AKASO)
[2009.11.15] May'n Seitan 20th Anniversary Tokyo・Shinagawa Stellar Ball (May'n 生誕20th Anniversary 東京・品川ステラボール)
[2010.01.24] May'n Special Concert 2010 at Nippon Budokan "BIG★WAAAAAVE" (May'n Special Concert 2010 at 日本武道館 "BIG★WAAAAAVE")
[2010.07.30 - 2010.08.20] May'n SUMMER TOUR 2010 "Phonic◆Nation side-A/B" ＜side-A＞
[2010.09.09 - 2010.09.21] May'n SUMMER TOUR 2010 "Phonic◆Nation side-A/B" ＜side-B＞
