Independent (Ai album)

Independent
Ai, in a thin black dress and a lot of golden jewelry, leaning to her left and looking above her, while holding her right hand above her head.
Standard cover[note 1]
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 22, 2012 (2012-02-22)
Recorded2011–2012
Studio
Genre
Length40:18
Language
  • Japanese
  • English
Label
Producer
Ai chronology
The Last Ai
(2010)
Independent
(2012)
Moriagaro
(2013)
Singles from Independent
  1. "Letter in the Sky"
    Released: October 14, 2011
  2. "Happiness"
    Released: November 18, 2011
  3. "Beautiful Life"
    Released: April 6, 2012

Independent (stylized in caps) is the ninth studio album by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai. Originally released on February 22, 2012, by EMI Music Japan, and later released outside of Asia on July 17, 2012, the album served as her international debut following a global publishing deal with EMI.[1] Hoping to experiment with new sounds that would expand her music beyond contemporary R&B and hip hop music, Ai worked with multiple American producers alongside long-time collaborator Uta. The final product resulted in an album combining dance-pop and R&B.

The album was supported by the release of three singles, including "Happiness", which became Ai's most successful single since "I'll Remember You" in 2007, receiving two different gold certifications from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). In Japan, Independent debuted at number 2 and spent 33 weeks on the Oricon Albums Chart, having sold over 60 thousand physical units in its first week.

A deluxe reissue of the album was released on November 17, 2012.


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  1. ^ "[CD] INDEPENDENT / AI". Neowing (in Japanese). Retrieved August 15, 2012.