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Ichiko Aoba

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Ichiko Aoba
青葉市子
Aoba in 2023
Aoba in 2023
Background information
Born (1990-01-28) 28 January 1990 (age 34)
Urayasu, Chiba, Japan
OriginKyoto Prefecture, Japan
GenresFolk
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
  • accordion
  • clarinet
  • flute
Years active2010–present
Labels
  • Sinonome
  • Speedstar Records
  • commmons
  • hermine
Websitewww.ichikoaoba.com

Ichiko Aoba (Japanese: 青葉市子, Hepburn: Aoba Ichiko, born 28 January 1990) is a Japanese folk singer and songwriter. Her main instrument is guitar, on which she composes most of her music. She also plays the piano, clarinet, accordion, and flute.[1]

Aoba is known for her acoustic sound and songwriting, which is inspired by her dreams.[2]

Early life

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Aoba was born in Urayasu, Chiba and raised in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.

Ichiko Aoba began to learn how to play classical guitar at the age of 17. Her music has been inspired by Disney music and Studio Ghibli, both of which she listened to growing up.[1]

Her mentor was Japanese singer-songwriter Anmi Yamada, who remotely taught Aoba the craft of the instrument.[2] Aoba's albums 0 and qp each feature two covers of Yamada's songs.

Career

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In 2010, aged 19, Aoba released her first album, Razor Girl (Japanese: 剃刀乙女).[3] She has since released several studio and live albums.

Around 2012, Aoba was introduced to Gezan frontman Mahi to the People by their mutual friend Koji Shimotsu (frontman of Odotte Bakari no Kuni). Aoba and Mahito formed the collaborative duo Nuuamm, which has since released two studio albums: Nuuamm (2014) and w/ave (2017).[citation needed]

In 2013, Aoba was asked to work for a theatre production of "9 Days Queen", a stage play by playwright Go Aoki. She has also worked with Takahiro Fujita's Mum & Gypsy company in a production of "Cocoon", as well as a revival of "Lemming" by Shūji Terayama.[2]

Aoba features on the soundtrack of the 2019 Nintendo Switch remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. Her arrangement was used to promote the game in Japan.[4]

Aoba has collaborated with Ryuichi Sakamoto, Taylor Deupree, Cornelius, Haruomi Hosono, Mac DeMarco, Sweet William, and MahiToThePeople.[5]

She releases music on her own label, Hermine.

Discography

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Studio albums

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  • 2010: Kamisori Otome (剃刀乙女)
  • 2011: Origami (檻髪)
  • 2012: Utabiko (うたびこ)
  • 2013: 0
  • 2016: Mahoroboshiya (マホロボシヤ)
  • 2018: qp
  • 2020: Windswept Adan (アダンの風)
  • 2022: Amiko (Original Soundtrack)
  • 2025: Luminescent Creatures

Live albums

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  • 2011: Kaizokuban (かいぞくばん)
  • 2014: 0%
  • 2017: Pneuma
  • 2020: "gift" at Sogetsu Hall
  • 2021: Live at Ginza Sony Park
  • 2021: "Windswept Adan" Concert At Bunkamura Orchard Hall
  • 2021: Live at Jazzstate, 4 December 2019 (with Albert Karch)
  • 2023: Live at Milton Court (with 12 Ensemble)

Other releases

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  • 2011: Hinoko (火のこ) – Ichiko Aoba & Kazuhisa Uchihashi
  • 2012: Meteor (流星) – Haruka Nakamura & Ichiko Aoba
  • 2013: Radio (ラヂヲ) – Ichiko Aoba and the Fairies (青葉市子と妖精たち)
  • 2013: Yura Yura feat. Ichiko Aoba – Ovall (Dawn)
  • 2013: Soto wa Senjou da yo (外は戦場だよ) feat. Ichiko Aoba – Cornelius (Ghost in the Shell: Arise OST)
  • 2019: Amaneki (あまねき) – Sweet William & Ichiko Aoba
  • 2020: amuletum bouquet – Ichiko Aoba
  • 2020: "gift" BGM – Ichiko Aoba
  • 2020: Seabed Eden (海底のエデン) – Ichiko Aoba
  • 2021: Asleep Among Endives (アンディーヴと眠って) – Ichiko Aoba
  • 2021: Windswept Adan Roots – Ichiko Aoba
  • 2022: hello – Ichiko Aoba
  • 2023: Space Orphans – Ichiko Aoba
  • 2023: meringue doll – Ichiko Aoba
  • 2023: Sketch (青葉市子) – Ichiko Aoba
  • 2024: Seabed Eden - French version – Ichiko Aoba & Pomme
  • 2024: Grandiose - Japanese version – Pomme & Ichiko Aoba
  • 2024: Lullaby – Ichiko Aoba

References

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  1. ^ a b Mostafa, Vanessa (27 February 2020). "Creating dreams with Ichiko Aoba". Asia Live 365. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Hadfield, James (17 January 2016). "Inspiration that comes in dreams and rice balls". The Japan Times. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  3. ^ Beltran, Sarah. "Ichiko Aoba". Beats Without Borders. Impact 89 FM. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  4. ^ Barder, Ollie. "The 'Zelda: Link's Awakening' Soundtrack Set Is Entirely Legendary". Forbes. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Barbican announces Ichiko Aoba & 12 Ensemble | Barbican". www.barbican.org.uk. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
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