Lensei
Check this guy out, he’s songwriter, composer and a musical protege. I think his songs are rather sweet. He wrote a song called Cry No More that was performed by Sony’s Mika Nakashima. Here’s a taste of his music, performed by Mika Nakashima:
Lensei is an Japanese-Australian chap who was born in Australia but is currently performing around the world. You can find some hilarious videos of his life in Japan on Youtube too - just search for Lensei. Here’s his biography:
Lensei was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia in August 1984. Shortly after, his family moved to the Gold Coast, where Lensei began his love of music. Starting piano aged just 7, he left school at age 8 when he began home-schooling. “I had so much time once I didn’t have to go to school – I could concentrate on the things I loved to do!” His piano teacher, Nadia McKenzie, took him through the next few years, furthering his piano skills through classical music exams. “I have to thank her for where I am now – she started me composing from age 10.” By 12, Lensei was creating complex songs based on the extensive musical knowledge he had by then.
In 1999 he gained entry to A.B. Paterson College on a full music scholarship. “I got involved in every co-curricular activity possible and enjoyed it all immensely, especially the Bands, Choirs and School Musicals”. Lensei played Pontius Pilate in the 2001 Gold Coast Arts Centre Summer School production of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’. He also played the lead role in school musicals ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’ and ‘Guys and Dolls’. In 2001 Lensei was appointed College Vice-Captain and upon graduation received the rarely awarded ‘Principal’s Award for Outstanding Service to the College Community’ in addition to awards for ‘Dux Proximae’, ‘Excellence in the Performing Arts’ and ‘Outstanding Leadership’.
Lensei’s love of singing led him to join ‘The Blenders’, Australia’s gold medal male acappella chorus when he was only 12. In 1999 he traveled to California with the Chorus and competed in the International Championships. In the same year he won a silver medal in the Australian quartet championships. In 2004 Lensei went with The Blenders to Christchurch, New Zealand where they won the Pan-Pacific Championship. In October 2005 The Blenders once again won the Australian championship for the seventh time with Lensei in the front row. Front row of the chorus involves complex choreography and dancing, where Lensei excelled.
He began his professional singing career in 2002 and has entertained in venues around the Gold Coast and Brisbane. His song list includes jazz, swing, rock and pop numbers from the 30s to today’s hits and his own originals, depending on the occasion.
Later that year, Lensei released “It Had To Be You”, his first solo CD - a compendium of 14 songs from the Swing Era. “Fans kept asking me if I had a CD for sale, so I decided to oblige. I get letters from people I don’t know telling me how much they love the CD.”
Lensei travelled during 2003 to Japan for a lucrative position playing as a regular at the Compass Rose Sky Lounge at Westin Hotel, Tokyo, Japan. While there, his talents were not unnoticed and he also entertained at the opening of new Grand Hyatt Hotel in Tokyo. In May 2003, Lensei progressed to the final 16 out of 10,000 entrants in the Sony Auditions in Japan. This resulted in an arrangement with Sony Music Publishing Japan, for which he now writes original music.
In April 2005 Lensei again travelled to Japan where he represented his University, being guest speaker and performing at Queensland Government Seminars at the Aichi World Expo in Nagoya.
While there he met Japan pop-star, Mika Nakashima, who had just released her third album “Music” which features one of Lensei’s songs. (Lyrics re-written in Japanese by Mika and re-titled ‘Rocking Horse’). “It’s such a great arrangement of my song and Mika is a brilliant singer – I got the news that she was recording my song on my 20th birthday. I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday present!”
In November 2005, Sony advised Lensei that Mika’s next single would be another of his songs “Cry No More”. The song is due for release in Japan on 22nd February this year and will also be used over the closing credits of a prime time animated television show “Blood+”. “I am really happy that Mika will be recording another of my songs. I can’t wait to hear what she does with it.”
Lensei graduated in December 2005 from the Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University, Gold Coast, with a Bachelor of Popular Music. So what’s next for this talented performer and composer?
“I want to sing and record a CD of my own songs.” As Lensei has written over a hundred original songs, he’ll have a lot to choose from. “But first I’m going to Japan, to meet Mika again and see if I can present my songs to other artists there as well.” In the meantime he says “I’m having a great time. When you do what you love, it’s all good.”
Well, I hope his talents will flourish into fulfillment someday. Cheers!
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