Yoko Akiyama

Bio:

.... 「理由はわからないけど涙が溢れてくる歌」
「その佇まいから曲間の沈黙まで、全てが彼女の音楽」
　
秋山羊子の歌には、最高のメロディ、透明な歌声、そして生々しく感情に刺さる言葉たちが宿っています。
人の心の中を代弁するかのような歌でありながら、どこか「そのままでいいんだよ」と優しく抱きしめられるような不思議な感覚に襲われる歌です。
　
秋山羊子は、2006年、1stアルバム『指一本で倒されるだろう』をリリースしました。
同年秋には、世界的なサックス奏者、梅津和時プロデュースによる3曲入りサウンドトラック『銀河鉄道の夜〜I carry a ticket of eternity〜』をリリースしました。
2009年、ギターリスト内橋和久とのDUOによる待望の2ndアルバム『ピラニアの棲む湖』をリリースしました。
完売となっていた1stアルバム『指一本で倒されるだろう』を再リリース。再発記念として1st以前の音源と1st以前の歌のリテイク集『青春ブルース』の特典付き（限定枚数）となっています。..
「歌屋台」と称して、小規模なお店を中心に全国的にライヴ活動を積極的に行っています。


“I don’t know why, but tears come to my eyes.”
“If her songs could cut, they would draw blood.”
“Her songs made me realize that good music still exists in Japan.”
“I had goose bumps and felt like crying. Her music is so delicate and fragile.”
“Everything was musical; her appearance, movement and even the silence between music.”

These are the reactions of some people who listen to Yoko’s music.

Her music has a striking simplicity and translucent voice.
It isn’t all serious and quiet. Some of her songs are quite humorous which well reflects her style. A little humor put in the context of life, sometimes troublesome or seemingly inescapabe has a funny effect. I feel like crying and laughing at the same time and I can’t stop it all from come out. Yoko’s optimism is contagious, and her music tells me everything is fine and it will be from now on. It is a pretty powerful feeling that can linger in me for a while after listening to her music. The psychological effect of her music is better than chocolate! If you are feeling down and need something up-lifting, you might try a piece of her music.
Yoko was born in Hokkaido, Japan. Since young she played the piano and was trained in classical music. Her favorite artists are Radiohead, Debussy, and a Japanese idle pop-star, Seiko Matsuda. She was influenced by variety of musicians. She showed outstanding talent in composing and song writing while in college where she studied music. She had constantly worked on making her own songs and had numerous lives in Sapporo, Hokkaido then moved to Tokyo in 2001.

Her professional debut was in 2001. Her song,”Boku ha dorobo” was handpicked and sung by a Japanese pop singer and also an actress, Kyoko Koizumi in her album, “'KYO→2 ~ ANNIVERSARY SONG.” In 2003, she was chosen as the annual best and received a first place in nifty@nobis, a mainstream internet based audition program. The same year, Yoko participated in the solo album “bonyari bonyari” which was released by Hirobumi Suzuki, the member and bassist of long-lived Japanese rock band, Moonriders. The following year in 2004, Japanese subculture magazine “Bikkuri House” held the 30th anniversary music festival in Tokyo, and Yoko was invited to perform with Hirobumi Suzuki and Masahiro Takekawa in Moonriders at the event. In 2006, her first album “Yubiippon De Taosarerudarou” was released. The same year in the fall her songs were featured in the movie, “Ginga Tetsudou no Yoru − I carry a Ticket of Eternity”, and its soundtrack album was released. Kazutoki Umezu, a famous saxophone player and producer of the album said, “The beauty of her music is exquisite.”

Yoko Akiyama + Kazutoki Umezu - Croquette Bread 2007.12.14
Yoko Akiyama - yubiippon de taosarerudarou 2007.12.14

Member Since:

6月 19, 2007

Members:

基本はピアノ弾き語り。
スタンダードなバンド編成からあらゆる楽器とのDUOなど、編成にこだわらず活動中です。
ライヴでは好んで即興的な要素も取り入れています。
ピアノを弾かず、伴奏なしで「歌詞」「声」「メロディ」「間」だけで1ステージをやりきる"無伴奏ソロ"というLIVEも行っています。

主な共演者： 梅津和時、内橋和久、小川紀美代、坂本弘道、橋本潤、多田葉子、秋田祐二、田ノ岡三郎、臼井康浩、喜多直毅、続木力、田中詩織、熊坂路得子、徳永淳、渡辺聡彦、他

Influences:

Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, Sigur Ros, U2, Travis, Debussy, Glenn Gould, Yumi Matsutoya, Seiko Matsuda, Akiko Yano, Quruli, Mishio Ogawa, Tomoko Tane, Kazutoki Umezu, Kazuhisa Uchihashi

Sounds Like:

Yoko's pop music is expressed delicately like a Japanese traditional India-ink drawing.

Piranha In Lake

..Official Website..

Yubiippon De Taosarerudarou

..CD Baby..
..Amazon.co.jp..


"Rail" Ginga Tetsudou no Yoru - I Carry a Ticket of Eternity: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack

..CD Baby..
..Amazon.co.jp..

Record Label:

unsigned