Music analysis: After crossing oceans - Ichiko Aoba’s busy year continues
Fresh off tour, Japanese folk singer-songwriter Ichiko Aoba returns with a new single, an animated film soundtrack and another run of live performances.
For most artists, completing an international tour would be the perfect excuse to slow down, but not for Ichiko Aoba.
Aoba recently wrapped up her Across the Oceans tour, appearing in cities across Europe and North America before taking the City Stage at the Asian Pop Festival in South Korea.
After months of travelling and performing for her audiences in different countries, the singer wasted no time moving into her next creative chapter, writes Music News Blitz’s Victoria Bruwer.
Music born from dreams
If you’re into music that feels like aimlessly wandering through a misty forest at dawn or drifting through a dream that you never wanted to wake up from, then Ichiko Aoba probably already holds a place not only on your playlist, but in your heart.
For more than 15 years, Aoba has built a career unlike anyone else’s.
Armed with little more than an acoustic guitar and a voice so soft it almost feels like a whisper, she creates music that can be described as ethereal, intimate, and otherworldly.
Often labelled under folk or alternative/indie pop, her songs are delicate enough to feel fragile, yet emotionally powerful enough to linger with listeners long after the final note fades.
Writing process
Aoba is such a whimsical character, and her writing process is beautiful as she records and draws her dreams, creating stories before transforming those imagined worlds into music.
She believes that being stuck or in the midst of chaos is part of the joy of making art while also expressing that feeling sleepy often puts her in a better state of mind to write music, as being awake makes things seem too real, which overall adds to that dreamlike vibe of her work.
That storytelling instinct can be traced back to her childhood in Kyoto Prefecture, where she grew up at the foot of a mountain surrounded by nature.
Her work then became inspired by the everyday sounds of the world around her, as well as influences from Disney films and Studio Ghibli classics such as Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Princess Mononoke.
A fun fact: Aoba is talented in multiple instruments, including the guitar, piano, clarinet, accordion, and flute, which all add their own elements to the storytelling of her songs.
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A busy year ahead
Aoba’s creative momentum shows no signs of slowing down.
On Friday, July 3, she released her latest single, ‘Sayonara Penguin,’ a gentle and heartfelt addition to her growing discography that perfectly captures the warmth and quiet beauty for which she has become known.
She has also written the theme song for the upcoming Japanese animated short film Shiranuhi, premiering on August 21 in Shinjuku.
Set during the final days of summer in 1996, the story follows a 10-year-old boy living with his alcoholic father whose innocent wish eventually turns into a curse.
Emotional premise
This project’s nostalgic and emotional premise aligns with Aoba’s reflective style that fans can’t wait to hear.
And on top of all this exciting news, the artist announced that she will once again return to the stage with performances scheduled across Japan and Australia in the coming months from August to October.
It's a demanding schedule, yet one that reveals her growing international audience.
Once considered something of a hidden gem outside of Japan, Aoba has steadily become a favourite among listeners searching for music that prioritises atmosphere over spectacle and sincerity over volume.
Ironically, she once believed that her soft voice was a weakness.
During her school years, she left her choir because she felt she couldn't sing loud enough, switching instead to the clarinet in the school brass band.
Greatest strength
Today, that same quiet voice has become her greatest strength.
In an industry that often rewards artists for being louder, faster and bigger, Ichiko Aoba continues to prove that there is remarkable power in gentleness.
Whether she's writing from dreams, finding melodies in everyday sounds or saying goodbye to a penguin, she invites listeners into a world where slowing down is part of the experience.
For fans old and hopefully new, there is plenty to look forward to as one of Japan’s most enchanting musical storytellers continues her journey.
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