Miho
Also known asRosana:miho
BornJuly 22
Tokyo, Japan[1]
GenresHeavy metal
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)Bass guitar
Years active2011–present
Formerly of

Miho (ミホ) is a Japanese heavy metal musician and songwriter. She is best known as the former leader and bass guitarist of the all-female band Lovebites, which she co-founded in 2016. She was previously in the pioneering all-female metal band Destrose from 2011 to 2015. After leaving Lovebites in August 2021, she switched her stage name to Rosana:miho and continues to perform with several different acts.

Early life edit

Miho is a self-described otaku and it was the distorted guitar and drums in music from anime and video games that first made her interested in music.[2] "Odoru Pompokolin" by B.B.Queens, the theme song of the Chibi Maruko-chan anime, was the first CD she ever owned, but "Mezase Pokémon Master" by Rica Matsumoto, the theme song to the Pokémon anime, was the first she ever bought for herself.[2] In middle school, Miho came to feel that foreign music was "cooler" than Japanese music, which lead her to discover heavy metal.[2] She cited Sum 41's album Does This Look Infected? as one of the things that got her into metal and playing music herself.[2] She then joined the music club in high school and formed a band.[2] At some point, she also took piano lessons.[3]

Career edit

2011–2021: Destrose and Lovebites edit

In September 2011, Miho announced she was participating in Arch Roses, the Animetal-like solo project of Destrose leader Mina.[4][5] She was then invited to join Destrose, and did so on November 11, 2011.[6] Her first release with them, and first time on a commercial recording, was the March 28, 2012 single "Fenixx -To Revive-".[7] Their first studio album, the self-titled Destrose, was released on April 10, 2013.[8] During their participation in the Naon no Yaon festival on April 28, Show-Ya bassist Satomi Senba and drummer Miki Tsunoda gave Miho the nickname "Rosana" (ろざーな).[6][9] Destrose released the mini-album The Prologue on September 24, 2014.[10] It features "Rewrite the Curse", the first song Miho wrote for the band.[10][11] However, in February 2015, Mina left the band and vocalist Lisa went on hiatus for health issues. According to Akitaro Sakurazaka of online music magazine Beeast, Miho took over the role of bandleader following Mina's departure.[12] After playing with a guest vocalist, Destrose began an indefinite hiatus following a July 18, 2015 concert.[13] From October 2015 until February 2016, Miho was support bassist for Moth in Lilac at several gigs.[14][15][16]

Before 2015 was over, Miho began talking with former Destrose drummer Haruna about forming a new band. After recruiting guitarists Midori and Miyako, the four chose vocalist Asami based on a demo she made.[17] Lovebites had their first concert on November 18, 2016, at Tsutaya O-West as part of the Girls Band Next Generation event.[1][17] They signed to Victor Entertainment, who had Miho serve as a "student teacher" on the March 16, 2017 broadcast of their Line television show Oto-more Chūi! Victor Metal Vocational School!.[18] The band's debut EP, The Lovebites EP, was released in May 2017. Miho explained that it was more of a demo to get the band signed, but Victor liked it so much they had it properly mastered and released.[19] It was released in the United Kingdom and in North America later that year.[20] Their first full-length album Awakening from Abyss followed that October.[21] Lovebites played their first gigs outside Japan in London, England at the end of November 2017, and won the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Award for Best New Band in 2018.[22][23] Over the next two years, the group released the EP Battle Against Damnation and the album Clockwork Immortality and continued to perform overseas, including major festivals such as Wacken Open Air, Download Festival, and Graspop Metal Meeting. Third album Electric Pentagram was released in January 2020 and includes the Miho-penned "Golden Destination", which was released as the band's first-ever single.


Lovebites released their third EP Glory, Glory, to the World on March 10, 2021.[24] Four months later, Miho announced her departure from the band on August 17. The other members and their staff had held "countless meetings to find a way for her to stay," but ultimately decided to respect her decision. As a result, Lovebites temporarily suspended all activities, but assured fans that they would return.[25] The compilation album In the Beginning – The Best of 2017–2021 was released on December 22, 2021, and includes "Nameless Warrior", which was the last song recorded before Miho left the band.[26]

2021–present edit

After leaving Lovebites in August 2021, Miho switched back to using the stage name "Rosana:miho"[a] and has performed in session bands and as a guest or support bassist for several different acts. She formed the cover band Down Dope Squad (DDS) with singer Maki Oyama, Aldious guitarist Yoshi, and TSP drummer Hina in 2022.[2] She played bass on March 2023's Catharsis, the debut solo album of Mary's Blood drummer Mari.[27] She also appears in the music video for Maki Oyama's song "My Only Hero".

In 2023, she became a guest member of the metal band Chaos Control and provided bass to their second album The Legacy Within.[28] Bandleader Hiroyuki Kaneko said he had actually tried to recruit Miho for their first album in 2022, but the timing did not work out.[29] Miho teamed up with Cyntia vocalist Saki and former Aldious drummer Aruto to open the joint 15th anniversary concert of Aldious and Tears of Tragedy on October 28, 2023.[30] The one-night only cover band The Midnight Roses, consisting of Miho, Oyama, Aldious members Toki and Marina, and male guitarist Kazunori Saita, opened for the The Dead Daisies at Spotify O-East on November 1, 2023.[31]

Miho served as a judge at the Japanese qualifiers of the 2023 Wacken Open Air Metal Battle (Japan's entry, Phantom Excaliver, went on to win the contest),[32] and will do so again in 2024.


Miho also occasionally acts as a DJ at events, such as Heavy Metal Soundhouse hosted by Masanori Ito.[33][34]

Musical style edit

Miho likes Iron Maiden, Pantera, Mötley Crüe and Anthrax.[35] She plays bass in the fingerpicking style under the influence of Steve Harris.[36] Miho referred to her playing as more showmanship than technical, and cited Harris as a particular influence alongside the style of Nikki Sixx.[35] She opined that speed and technicality are typically looked at as the most important aspects in Japanese metal, but she believes originality should be more important and said she personally focuses on her stage presence and performance.[2]

From the beginning of the band, Miho knew she wanted to have English lyrics.

Miho frequently collaborates with Lightbringer keyboardist Mao on composing the music for her songs.[17]

Discography edit

With Destrose edit

  • Destrose (2013)
  • The Prologue (2014)

With Lovebites edit

Other work edit

  • Mari; Catharsis (2023) – bass on "Stardust and Shadows", "Love Yourself" and "Mirror of the Heart"
  • Maki Oyama; "My Only Hero" (2023) – bassist in the music video
  • Chaos Control; The Legacy Within (2023) – bass

Notes edit

  1. ^ She had previously used the name while supporting Moth in Lilac in 2015 and 2016.[15]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "LOVEBITES プロフィール・バイオグラフィ・リンク". Barks (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-08-23.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Rosana:miho (2022-08-13). Episode 0: Interview with Rosana:miho Part 1 (video). The Heavier Japan. Retrieved 2023-12-23 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ "DESTROSE miho登場!". HMV Japan (in Japanese). 2012-03-23. Retrieved 2019-08-11.
  4. ^ "久しぶりの告知". mr.fifty-five-rock!! - miho Official Blog (in Japanese). 2011-09-17. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
  5. ^ "Profile". Destrose Official site (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2013-07-09. Retrieved 2019-08-11.
  6. ^ a b "miho DESTROSE". Destrose Official site (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2015-11-04. Retrieved 2019-08-11.
  7. ^ "3.28にシングル「Fenixx -to revive-」リリースされました!!". mr.fifty-five-rock!! - miho Official Blog (in Japanese). 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
  8. ^ "『嬢メタルシーンの一角を担うDESTROSEが、待望の1stフルアルバム発売&全国ツアー決定』". Barks (in Japanese). 2013-04-08. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  9. ^ "昨日はNAONのYAONでした!". mr.fifty-five-rock!! - miho Official Blog (in Japanese). 2013-04-30. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
  10. ^ a b "ガールズ・HR/HMバンド"DESTROSE"、激しくも美しいミニアルバムを発売". Barks (in Japanese). 2014-09-20. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  11. ^ "ライブから一晩たって". mr.fifty-five-rock!! - miho Official Blog (in Japanese). 2014-05-29. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
  12. ^ "DESTROSE ONE-MAN LIVE 2015 -Persistence of Rose-". Beeast (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  13. ^ "DESTROSE Announce Indefinite Hiatus". jame-world.com. 2015-05-31. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  14. ^ "Moth in Lilacサポート終了!". mr.fifty-five-rock!! - miho Official Blog (in Japanese). 2016-02-19. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
  15. ^ a b "【PHOTOレポ】BEAUTIFUL HELL". Beeast (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  16. ^ "Moth in Lilac". jame-world.com. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  17. ^ a b c "LOVEBITES – Interview (2017)". JRock247. 2017-08-10. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  18. ^ "人気ハードロック/ヘヴィメタル特番『メタル専門学校』、LOVEBITES mihoが参加し復活". Barks (in Japanese). 2017-03-06. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  19. ^ "INTERVIEW: Lovebites". Distorted Sound. 2018-06-06. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  20. ^ "LOVEBITES - All Girl Japanese Band To Release Debut EP In North America Next Month; "Don't Bite The Dust" Music Video Streaming". BraveWords. 2017-07-27. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  21. ^ "LOVEBITES Release More Details For Their Debut Album". BraveWords. 2017-09-04. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  22. ^ "New Band Of The Week: Lovebites". Loudersound. 2017-12-18. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  23. ^ "LOVEBITES Named Best New Band at The Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards 2018". JaME World. 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  24. ^ "Japan's All-Female Metal Band LOVEBITES To Release 'Glory, Glory, To The World' EP". Blabbermouth.net. December 25, 2020. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  25. ^ "Japan's All-Female Metal Band LOVEBITES To Go On Hiatus Following Bassist's Exit". Blabbermouth.net. August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  26. ^ "Lovebites | ベストアルバム『In the Beginning - the Best of 2017-2021』12月22日発売 | タワレコ先着特典ポスターカレンダー" (in Japanese). Tower Records. October 25, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  27. ^ "Debut Solo Album from MARI". jame-world.com. 2022-12-28. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  28. ^ "パワー・メタル・バンド CHAOS CONTROL、2ndフル・アルバム『The Legacy Within』9/20リリース!響(摩天楼オペラ)、Rosana:mihoら参加!". Geki-Rock (in Japanese). 2023-07-11. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  29. ^ "CHAOS CONTROL 激ロック インタビュー". Geki-Rock (in Japanese). 2023-08-24. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  30. ^ "Aldious × TEARS OF TRAGEDY、結成15周年イベントを川崎CLUB CITTA'にて10/28開催決定!SAKI(CYNTIA )、Rosana:miho、Aruto(ex-Aldious)によるスペシャルOPゲストも!". Geki-Rock (in Japanese). 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  31. ^ "ザ・デッド・デイジーズ来日公演にRosana:miho率いるオープニング・アクト決定". Young Guitar Magazine (in Japanese). 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  32. ^ "特別連載企画:ファントム・エクスカリバー:栄光の"Wacken Open Air"への道 第1回". Young Guitar Magazine (in Japanese). 2023-05-18. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  33. ^ "【"メタルゴッド" 伊藤政則インタビュー~メタルヘッズの定番イベント<HEAVY METAL SOUNDHOUSE>開催直前SP!". Burrn! (in Japanese). 2018-12-08. Retrieved 2019-07-14.
  34. ^ "【今年も開催決定! 年末恒例の鋼鉄祭『HEAVY METAL SOUNDHOUSE 2019 ーMAKE EPOCH!ー』". Burrn! (in Japanese). 2019-09-02. Retrieved 2019-07-14.
  35. ^ a b "男勝りのヘヴィ・メタルを掻き鳴らす! ガールズ・メタルの新星、LOVEBITESの1st EP". EMTG Music (in Japanese). 2017-05-31. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
  36. ^ "【インタビュー】LOVEBITES、ヘヴィメタルのエッセンスを凝縮し超絶技巧満載の1stフル・アルバム『AWAKENING FROM ABYSS』". Barks (in Japanese). 2017-10-24. Retrieved 2019-07-14.

External links edit