Akiko Kobayashi  

Holi, whose real name is Kobayashi Akiko and hails from Tokyo, Japan, is a renowned Japanese singer-songwriter, composer, and arranger. Her debut single "Koi ni Ochite Fall in Love," released in 1985 as part of the popular show "Kinyoubi no Tsumatachi e," catapulted her to fame in Japan. The song was later used as an insert song in the anime Crayon Shin-chan, further solidifying her popularity. Holi began singing at age 15 and went on to write songs for other artists that became massive hits both domestically and internationally. She studied at the University of Tokyo before landing her first job in the music industry as a secretary at a publishing company through a professor from university. In 1984, she made her debut as a writer with "Moon Eyes" for folk duo Bread & Butter. Her debut single "Koi ni Ochite Fall in Love," released in 1985, became an instant hit and earned her a nomination for best newcomer at the 27th Japan Record Awards. The recording staff compared Holi's voice to that of Karen Carpenter, lead singer of The Carpenters, and suggested she collaborate with Richard Carpenter. After hearing her demo tape and appreciating the melody and vocals, Richard announced that her album "City of Angels" would be released in 1988. In 1991, Holi relocated to the United Kingdom and released an album under the name "holi." She soon followed with a cover album of The Carpenters songs. In 2001, she married a British accountant. It's important to note that there is another singer named Kobayashi Akiko who shares her name but is a voice actress and songstress, not a musician like Holi.