In the beginning, I was searching for myself in my music. My music was for me. I didn't have the mental room to be conscious of the listener; I wrote to save myself.

In November 2002 as "Ayu" Ayumi Hamasaki released her first European single "Connected" a trance song from I Am. She began to compose less after I Am. My music was for me.

Hamasaki's constantly changing image and tight control over her artistry has helped her popularity extend across Asia; music and fashion trends Ayumi Hamasaki has started have spread to countries such as China Singapore and Southeast Asia. Ayumi Hamasaki (浜崎あゆみ Hamasaki Ayumi? also 濱崎歩; born October 2 1978) is a Japanese recording artist lyricist model and actress. The album debuted atop the Oricon charts and stayed there for four weeks establishing her popularity in Japan.