Hikaru Utada is a Japanese artist who gained prominence with their debut single "Automatic/time will tell" in December 1998, selling over two million copies at the age of 15. Their first album, First Love, released shortly after, set a record for the highest number of CDs sold in Japan. Utada's subsequent albums have consistently topped the charts. In 2019, their collaboration with Skrillex on the theme song for the video game KINGDOM HEARTS Γàó, "Face My Fears," became their first Billboard Top 100 hit in the US.
In 2021, Utada released an EP featuring the A.G. Cook co-produced single "One Last Kiss" and a self-cover of "Beautiful World (Da Capo Version)," both featured in the film EVANGELION:3.0+1.0 THRICE UPON A TIME (SHIN EVANGELION). Their 8th studio album, BAD MODE, was digitally released on January 19, 2022. Utada made their debut at Coachella in April 2022, as part of 88rising's showcase, HEAD IN THE CLOUDS FOREVER. To celebrate their 40th birthday, Utada hosted the livestreaming event "40 Dai-Wa-IroiroΓÖ½," featuring 360 Reality Audio for an immersive sound experience.
