Pomodorosa is a multi-talented illustrator and character designer. She utilizes music and painting for her own artistic vision of the world. Pomodorosa performs the guitar, bass, sax, and mixes old and new technology (including AI) when creating her music. Some of her favorites genres are jazz and blues, latin, and pop music but at times has used genres such as alternative rock, hip hop, dance/edm, and reggae in her music. Her music and painting is continuing to evolve and change and you see this through her music. Pomodorosa illustrations and music compliment each other. Recommended.
Kei Owada 大和田 慧 is a captivating and charming singer/songwriter, lyricist/composer and was born in Tokyo. She was fascinated by gospel and soul music in her teens and started writing songs, and admiring artists like Carole King and Joni Mitchell. She creates music that calms the emotions and relaxes the senses with her soulful voice. Kei travels regularly to the U.S. and records in NY and LA. In Japan, she is known for his live performances with top musicians such as keyboardist Jun Miyagawa. In addition, Kei has provided music for NHK’s “Canoe no Ue no Hitoyasumi” (2023). As a vocalist and songwriter, he has participated in numerous high-profile projects including MONDO GROSSO.Recommended.
Showmore are band unit consisting of Manami Nezu (vocals. Keyboard, and compositions) and Atsushi Inoue (keyboardist, producer, and compositions) are a good musical team. They started in 2017 and have a modern pop, hip hop, and jazz sound and take a low key approach towards music promotion or marketing. Recommended.
This heartwarming mid-tempo ballad depicts the moment when coffee-loving aliens fall in love with each other despite their loneliness, and is arranged by Shin Sakiura with a brilliant alternative guitar sound. The stylish alien in a suit is illustrated by Sayaka Suwa, and the jacket design is by Fumina Nishino
Loneliness is a fantasy Oh the smooth bgms All but a dream, when it sets The freshness of the city roast We’re just a pair of aliens The city trains that we’re supposed to use, runs coldly like it doesn’t care We will reach our destination, Your planet, in no time Let’s kiss like never before Once, no, more and more Can’t believe how modest we can be at times! Just a little bit sweet, and Just a little bit special night with you If only we were meant to be The orbit-less falling leaves Look up, now can’t you see? The slumbering sky above Perfect day for a city roast Brings colour to the last phrase We have quite some time upon our hands, until we burrow through those layers of clouds Let us make a little promise, eh? On the next planet Let’s kiss like never before Once, no, more and more Can’t believe how modest we can be at times! Just a little bit bitter wound We have right there just underneath, yeah Keep them hidden up inside Let’s kiss like never before Once, no, more and more Can’t believe how modest we can be at times! Just a little bit sweet, and Just a little bit special night with you If only we were meant to be
Punipunidenki a.k.a Puniden ぷにぷに電機 is an lyricist, composer, and music producer. Her music is genre-less and without any boundaries as she integrates jazz, Bossa Nova and Latin, as well as, City Pop, Future Funk, and Future Bass into her sound. Recommended.
Fumika Asari 浅利史花 is a very stylistic jazz guitarist from Fukushima City. Her musical background included learning classical piano at five years old. In high school she joined a jazz club and was influenced by Grant Green and Jim Hall. In 2015 she competed at Gibson Jazz Guitar Contest and performed with many veteran musicians. Some of the jazz musicians she has performed with included Mei Inoue g, Toru Anbo ts, Shunji Takenaka g, and Atsusuke Minue ts. Recommended.
Tomita Lab 冨田ラボ aka Keiichi Tomita 冨田恵一 is a musician and accomplished music producer. He is considered a maestro in the world of pop music and has over 20 years experience in the music industry. Keiichi’s producing talent has been key ingredient to the success of numerous Japanese musicians. On June 29, he released his first album in about 3 years, “7+”, featuring 20 artists who will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Tomita Labo. As a music producer, Tomita Labo has been involved in the production of music for many years, and has produced songs for many artists, including Kirinji, MISIA, Ken Hirai, Ringo Shiina, Kaela Kimura, Negicco, Sugashikao, kiki vivi lily, and Naz among others. He has provided songs for many artists including Naz, kiki vivi lily, Hiroshi Takano, Saori Hayami, Ryohu, V6, Mononcru, KinKi Kids, etc. He has also held a “Composition and Arrangement Show” in which he demonstrates the process of creating a song in front of an audience. Recommended.
Salasa さらさ is a singer-songwriter from Shonan, Japan. Her twitter and instagram name is omochimingen. She is not your typical musician as she also is an artist, apparel buyers, photographer, and hula dancer. Her musical style is influenced by “blues” or what she calls Live Bluesy such as living in a working class lifestyle, sadness or sorrow. Salasa has her own musical style. It’s a mix different styles like some pop, soul, jazz or creative music, and blues. A year after her debut she performed at the famous Fuji Rock Festival in 2022 and she is becoming more popular. Please support and listen to Salasa.
Akane Matsumoto 松本茜 is a jazz pianist from Tottori, Japan. Akane has a very rhythmical, smooth, and effortless style. She is also a Tottori Hometown Ambassador. And she made her major debut on Columbia Records in 2008. Akane leads her piano trio and also performs with other musicians such as Ko Hamasaki, Minoru Yamada (as), Seiji Tada (as), Mitsuaki Furuno (b), and Tatsuya Sato (ts). When she lived in New York where she performed with Gene Jackson and Peter Washington among others. In addition, Akane also provides piano lessons and also does illustrative work. Recommended.
ChiLi GiRL チリ・ガール aka Shinobu Kawashima 川嶋志乃舞 is a shamisen player and singer-songwriter’s new music project that started in 2020. Through her group, she is creating a new type of music incorporating the traditional with her own unique modern sounds. It is her developing and refining her musical voice that makes her music captivating. She learned and studied Tsugaru shamisen and min’yo under teacher Mitsugi Sasaki from the age of three. While studying nagauta shamisen at Tokyo University of the Arts, she also taught himself how to effectively compose pop songs, which have been used in TV Tokyo’s “Wafu Sohonke Nidaime” and other media theme songs. Shinobu won various national competitions and has been appointed as a min’yo ambassador (Japan Min’yo Association). Favorite songs of ChiLi GiRL/Shinobu Kawashima are: 1. Nakimushino Hoshi 2. MNNS 3. Love Hit! 4. Horoyoi 5. Mogitta 6. Kowarechau Yokanga Suruno 7. Tulips in the park – improvisation 8. おしゃれなふたり Fashionable Futari 9. 牡丹姫 10. 2018Ver. Peony Princess 11. City Shake 12. 遊廓ディスコ Yuukoro Disco 13. Akita Nikatabushi. Recommended.
Kaho Nakamura 中村佳穂 is a free-spirited pop singer-songwriter from Kyoto who started her career at 20. She often improvises on the piano or synthesizer that creates her own style like jazz musicians. Kaho was quoted in saying “Our hands are creatures, voices are prayers.” Musically her sound is a mixture of rap, pop, soul, hip-hop, and jazz when performing solo, duet, or in a band. There is no hint in self promotion or egoism when listening to her because her music is for the listeners. Recommended.