22-year-old Manami Nakamura will make her international debut as a singer this month. In August of last year, she outlasted a field of 1,700 hopefuls to win the STAR BAPE SEARCH, an audition held by American producer Pharrell Williams and Japanese producer NIGO (creator of fashion brand A Bathing Ape).

The singer will go by just her first name, Manami. Her debut song is an R&B love song titled "Back Of My Mind," produced by Pharrell. It will be released through iTunes in 23 countries on October 21.

Pharrell is said to have high expectations for Manami, guaranteeing that the singer will be able to achieve international success.

Born in Okinawa, Manami has been living in Tokyo since the age of 4. She attended dance classes but decided to take up voice training at 19, aiming to become a professional singer. She is also said to have reached a conversational level of English.