KAZUYOSHI NAKAMURA

Biography

Kazuyoshi Nakamura is at 23 one of Japan's most talented young musicians. His music could be classified into that almost indefinable, but definitely cool category 'Shibuya Sound' as occupied by artists such as Pizzicato Five or Cornelius. He has taken an unconventional route to becoming a musician, after not wanting to join a band, but at the same time not wishing to rely on synthesizers or sampled sounds to record as a solo artist. After leaving High School, he bought a guitar, a bass, keyboards and drums and started off practicing each one, soon achieving a high degree of efficiency. He heard the music he wanted to create in his head, the live sound he wanted to achieve especially inspired by UK 60s groups such as the Beatles or the Kinks. He even bought some of the same instruments as the Beatles. He stayed at home for the next two years, composing a multitude of songs, (at least 200), and gradually worked out a recording process whereby he could record each instrument and using overdubs create a finished song. He finally completed a sensational demo tape, difficult believe it was created by one man in a bedroom, which soon gained attention from a Management Company in Tokyo. One of the songs 'Hopper and Bopper' was re-recorded and released as his first single 'Inu to Neko'. (released by Mercury Music Entertainment)

He soon garnered effusive praise in the Japanese music press, as an emerging major talent, and subsequent singles all gradually increased his profile and in sales. His first album 'Kinjito' became a top 10 album in Japan, and is widely considered one of the most significant album releases of 1997.

Kazuyoshi Nakamura is a manic music fan, constantly with headphones draped around his head, and buying about 200 new CDs a month. What new sounds are being created in his head that will be heard on his next album, only he knows. But certainly it is something many people are looking forward to hearing.