Laura Shigihara

Early life

Born in the United States to a Japanese father and a French American mother, Shigihara grew up in both the United States and Japan. She was classically trained on the piano for 11 years and taught herself guitar and drums. While studying International Relations, Business and Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley, she was given an old version of Sonar (known as Cakewalk since 2018) which she used to start learning about mixing, arranging and production by recreating old video game soundtracks and composing her own songs. After a friend leaked her original material to record companies in Japan, Shigihara was offered record contracts as a singer there, but ended up turning them down for personal reasons.

Career

Shortly after returning to the U.S., Shigihara took a job as the sound director for a company that produced an audio talk show and English learning materials through Apple Japan. She also released a studio album and composed her first video game soundtrack for a small casual game called Wobbly Bobbly. She stated that she would work voluntarily, and soon the company liked her work and paid her to create music for several subsequent projects. From there she built up her portfolio and has worked on over 30 published titles including Plants vs. Zombies, Deltarune, World of Warcraft, Minecraft, and the indie RPG To the Moon. She participated in Akira Yamaoka's charity album Play for Japan where she contributed an original song called "Jump", alongside other composers like Nobuo Uematsu, Koji Kondo and Yasunori Mitsuda. On November 16, 2011, she released her single "Cube Land" in relation to Minecraft and Plants vs. Zombies.

As a game developer herself, Shigihara published two adventure games: Rakuen in 2017 and Mr. Saitou in 2023.

Personal life

She is an online streamer under the nickname supershigi on Twitch.

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Soundtrack albums

Shigihara's works also include:

• Deltarune (Toby Fox/2018), arranged/performed "Don't Forget" and "Until Next Time"
• Farmer in the Sky, director, writer, composer
• Band Saga (Rekcahdam, Playism/2016), singer
• Plants vs. Zombies 2 (PopCap Games/2013), composed "Ancient Egypt" tracks
• Cosmic Star Heroine (Zeboyd Games/2016), singer/lyricist "Lauren’s Song"
• Chrono Trigger & Chrono Cross Arrangement Album/Harukanaru Toki no Kanata e () (Yasunori Mitsuda/2015), contributing Lyricist/Arranger/Singer
• CHUNITHM (Sega/2015), Sung "Alma" by Yasunori Mitsuda
• Penny Arcade's "On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 4" (2013), voice of MistleToe
• Minecraft: The Story of Mojang, co-created ending theme song
• Aether (The Basement Collection) (Edmund McMillen, Tyler Glaiel/2012), original song
• Theme Park (Electronic Arts/2011), lead composer
• Ghost Harvest (Electronic Arts, 8lb Gorilla/2011), composer
• Sweet World (Kabam/2010), lead composer and sound designer
• Minesweeper (Microsoft, TG Xbox 360/2009 TBA), lead composer
• Quintessence: The Blighted Venom (Kan Gao/2009 TBA), ending theme lead vocalist
• Domino Master (Microsoft, TG Xbox 360/2008), assistant sound designer
• U.S.G. A New Beginning (GPTouch/2008), ending theme composer and lead vocalist
• Interpol 2: Most Wanted (Big Fish Games, Tikgames/2008), contributing composer
• Waterscape Solitaire: American Falls (Tikgames/2007), lead composer and sound designer
• Interpol: The Trail of Dr. Chaos (Big Fish Games, Xbox 360, Tikgames/2007-2008), lead composer and sound designer
• Mahjong Tales: Ancient Wisdom (Big Fish Games, Tikgames/2007), lead composer and sound designer
• Flowershop: Big City Break (Big Fish Games, Tikgames/2006), lead composer and sound designer
• Wobbly Bobbly (Tikgames/2006), lead composer

References

References

1. Shigihara, Laura. (April 16, 2023). "It's my birthday today 💕 It would make me really happy if you could go make someone's day a little better :) Text your mom that you love her, wash someone's dishes, bring someone a fun snack, build someone up in a way that helps them. Thank-you 💜".
2. arcticpenguin. (May 5, 2009). "Interview with Laura Shigihara- Composer for Plants vs. Zombies". Play as Life.
3. (January 24, 2018). "Laura Shigihara, a composer who uses heartwarming music to create a bond between the player and the game".
4. Uy, Michelle. (September 2, 2020). "The best PC games from Asian American creators".
5. (September 7, 2006). "VGM « mybluedream". Shigi.wordpress.com.
6. Shigihara, Laura. (November 24, 2012). "@hafufilm I just wanted to say that I am really looking forward to watching your film! (I'm ハーフ – Japanese Dad, French-American Mom).".
7. "laurashigihara.com".
8. Poisso, Lisa. (November 1, 2010). "15 Minutes of Fame: Laura Shigihara, voice of WoW's Singing Sunflower". Wow.joystiq.com.
9. "The Album | Artists | Play For Japan – A Game Industry Relief Effort". Play For Japan.
10. "News – Interview: Yamaoka, Shigihara, And Jackson Play For Japan". Gamasutra.
11. (April 1, 2012). ""Cube Land" – A Minecraft Music Video – An Original Song by Laura Shigihara (PvZ Composer)". YouTube.
12. "supershigi {{!}} Twitch".
13. "My Blue Dream +, by Laura Shigihara".
14. (2021-12-27). "Shigi Lofi, Vol. 1 by Laura Shigihara on Apple Music".
15. (2011-11-16). "Cube Land - Single by Laura Shigihara on Apple Music".
16. (2012-11-22). "From the Ground Up - Single by Laura Shigihara on Apple Music".
17. (2017-05-14). "Searching My Life - Single by Laura Shigihara on Apple Music".
18. (2017-12-14). "Wish My Life Away (From "Finding Paradise") - Single by Laura Shigihara on Apple Music".
19. (2020-10-19). "Kingyo Hanabi - Single by Laura Shigihara on Apple Music".
20. (2021-05-03). "Much Wow, So Space - Single by Laura Shigihara on Apple Music".
21. (2021-05-26). "Electric Disco Shiba - Single by Laura Shigihara on Apple Music".
22. (2021-08-12). "Work Hard, Play Hard (CS:GO Music Kit) - Single by Laura Shigihara on Apple Music".
23. (2024-02-29). "When You Wake Up - Single by Laura Shigihara on Apple Music".
24. (2010-11-22). "Plants Vs. Zombies (Original Video Game Soundtrack) by Laura Shigihara on Apple Music".
25. (2017-08-31). "Rakuen (Original Soundtrack) by Laura Shigihara on Apple Music".
26. (2020-03-18). "Dunk Lords (Original Video Game Soundtrack) by Laura Shigihara on Apple Music".
27. "Credits".