January 18, 2015

Origa, singer from Ghost in the Shell, passes away

From Anime News Network

Anime News Network is reporting that vocalist Origa has passed away from lung cancer at age 44.

Origa was born October 12, 1970 as Ol'ga Vital'evna Yakovleva in Russia. After graduating music school in 1990, she visited Japan in 1991 and contracted with the ROAD&SKY Organization two years later. She participated in projects with various artists including the Radio Japan Series and as part of the chorus for the Kobe earthquake disaster charity single.

She released seven solo albums, two mini-albums, and three singles. Origa first performed with Yoko Kanno for Turn A Gundam, singing Gabriela Robin's "Moon" with the Gey's AX chorus. Most notably, she performed on the soundtracks to Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Both the first and second season's theme songs used Origa's vocals as well as the opening and ending themes of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State Society.

Origa made guest appearances at Anime Boston 2013, Anime Revolution 2013, Anime 2014, Anime Revolution 2014, and Youmacon 2014.

Origa died on Saturday, January 17, 2015.