Yoko Akiyama

「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、1stã‚¢ãƒ«ãƒãƒ ã€ŽæŒ‡ä¸€æœ¬ã§å€ ’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ムƒã‚¯ã€ŽéŠ€æ²³é‰„道の夜〜I carry a ticket of eternity〜』をリリースしました。
2009年、待望の2ndã‚¢ãƒ«ãƒãƒ ã€Žãƒ”ãƒ©ãƒ‹ã‚¢ã®æ£²ã‚€æ¹ –』をリリースしました。
東京都内を拠点に、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