Where are the Kalafina Members Now?

Kalafina was the only band that I’ve ever actively kept up with, and the main content on this blog used to be Kalafina translyrics. So, for the handful of people who might still care, what are Kalafina’s members up to after the band disbanded in early 2019?

If you need a refresher on what they sound like or want to read up on Kalafina, you can check out A Tribute to Kalafina, or any of the many Kalafina posts I’ve written.

I keep up with all of them to some degree on Twitter, though admittedly without the same fervour as before, so I might be able to give you some summaries. The good thing: they all still sing!

Left to right: Wakana, Hikaru, Keiko

Wakana

Twitter: @Wakana1210staff

My soprano bias Wakana was the first to return to the music scene, with the single “Toki wo Koeru Yoru ni,” for which she wrote the lyrics. I think she’s the member who has preserved the most of Kajiura/Kalafina’s music style in her solo debut, with the series of slow, melodious ballads that she’s been doing. Recently, Wakana has also been covering anime classics.

My favourite post-Kalafina Wakana song:

I said up front that Wakana is my fave, but I don’t know if I’m feeling optimistic about her. Perhaps due to her choice of music style, people are inevitably going to compare her new songs with the old Kalafina, and if you make that comparison, her voice sounds kind of lonely.

I don’t want to spread distasteful rumours about my favourite band, but it’s hard not to notice how the other ex-members, Keiko and Hikaru, are still in touch, but Wakana alone seems to have cut ties with everybody. Even Yuki Kajiura still shares Keiko and Hikaru’s updates on her Twitter account, but as far as I know, she isn’t even following Wakana. I don’t know what happened there, but my best guess is that hearing them sing together again would be rather impossible…

Hikaru

Twitter: @Hikaru_0702_

Hikaru now has a new stage name – “H-el-ical///”! Not a fan of the punctuation, but still, glad to see her off to a strong start in the anisong scene. She landed an anime opening right off the bat – the opening for Gleipner.

That one bit in this opening’s animation is totally inspired by Fate/Zero‘s OP2 “to the beginning,” right? Don’t tell me I’m the only one who thought that.

To quote Leap250, Hikaru’s voice has always been the most “anisong” of the Kalafina members, so although I find this opening a bit generic, her capitalizing on the edgy, powerful quality of her voice feels right. Hopefully, we’ll be getting songs that really help her voice shine. I don’t want to keep comparing everything to Kalafina, but something with the wow factor of “Magia“?

Following Hikaru after Kalafina has also been the most interesting, because she actually uses a personal Twitter account (and often tweets in English!). I adore her wholesome selfies and evidence of her being an unabashed Fate fan.

Keiko

Twitter: @KeikoStaff

Keiko took a slightly longer break than the others, and only came back this April with the solo “Inochi no Hana,” lyrics written by herself. Keiko’s undoubtedly the one whose singing style has undergone the greatest transformation. She was such a power alto before, but as a solo vocalist, her style is sweet and soothing. Perhaps Keiko had wanted to sing these kinds of songs all along?

Okay, this woman is gorgeous!! And I guess we know who inherited Kalafina’s later fashion?

My favourite Kajiura-era Keiko solo song is “Kaze no Machi e,” and where she is going now reminds me of that a little. Looking forward to hearing more!

Also, may I bring your attention to this soul-healing song:

I have never seen Keiko so expressive in her Kalafina days!

Miscellaneous Thoughts

Perhaps we’ll have a chance to see Keiko and Hikaru collaborate in the future, as both have expressed a desire to do so! I love all three of them very much, and it’s a pleasure to still be able to follow their works as they expand in different directions.

Maybe my passion for Kalafina’s music is dwindling too, not just because they’re no longer a unit, but because my own taste in music has been diversifying. Still, Kalafina will always have a special place in my heart, and I am never changing that laptop lock-screen.

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Is anyone else still following the Kalafina members? Belated thoughts on their disbandment? I can talk about Kalafina all day, you know, so feel free to drop a comment and get cozy!

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