Hayashibara Megumi

Megumi Hayashibara started as a voice actress in Tokyo, getting her big break in 1989 when she was cast as Rei Ayanami in 'Neon Genesis Evangelion.' That role led her to form the band Hayashibara Megumi in 1991. Their debut single 'Ano Natsu no Hi' did well, but it was the 1992 ballad 'Ookina Kuri no Ki no Shita de' that really connected with listeners and became a staple in anime circles.

Her voice work on Evangelion gave her a platform, and she used it to release songs like 'Ame No Hi No Shakespeare - To Fly Away' and 'Hanareteitemo.' The band's lineup included Takeshi Hayama on guitar, Hirohito Miyamoto on bass, and Mitsuru Shiomi on drums, with Hayashibara handling vocals. They put out albums through the 1990s, including 'Love Letter' in 1993 and 'Kono Machi de...' in 1995.

Hayashibara worked with other artists like Yoko Kanno and Toshihiko Seki, and her collaboration with Ringo Shiina stirred some debate about artistic styles. She kept recording into the 2000s with tracks like 'Northern Lights,' and songs such as 'Be Natural' and 'Distance' show her range from pop to more reflective material. Her voice, familiar from anime, carried over into her music without much fuss.