MUSICIANS
Vo/Gt/Pf Ohzora Kimishima
Gt/Cho Shuta Nishida
Ba Kazuki Arai
Dr Shun Ishiwaka
Cho ermhoi
Cho Kuro 〈TAMTAM〉

Ohzora Kimishima (Vocal･Guitar･Piano)

Born in 1995 in Ome City, Tokyo, songwriter and guitarist Ohzora Kimishima has participated in the production, recording, and live performances of various artists, including Yoshizawa Kayoko, Nakamura Kaho, Hosoi Tokutaro, Sakaguchi Kisa, RYUTist, adieu (Kamishiraishi Moka), Takai Ibuki, UA and Aratani Shota. He launched his solo career after releasing the EP Gogo no Hanshakou in 2019. His discography includes Gogo no Hanshakou (2019, APOLLO SOUNDS), Housou (2020 EP, APOLLO SOUNDS), Sode no Migiwa (2021 EP, APOLLO SOUNDS), Eitai suru Kemuri (2023 1st Album, APOLLO SOUNDS) and no public sounds (2023 2nd Album, APOLLO SOUNDS).

Shuta Nishida (Guitar･Chorus)

Guitarist and producer Shuta Nishida was born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1988. He is actively involved in both the studio recordings and live performances of artists and bands such as Ohzora Kimishima Ensemble, KID FRESINO BAND, Nakamura Kaho, UA, AiNA THE END, Ayaka, Hanaregumi, Hakushi Hasegawa, Bialystocks, odol, Songbook trio and Ortance.

Kazuki Arai (Bass)

Born in Tokyo, Kazuki Arai was raised by a mother who loved hip-hop and black music. He started playing bass in middle school after forming a band with friends and later joined the music club in high school. A live jazz session he attended with his senior sparked Arai's interest in jazz and deepened his love for black music. He studied under Hino "JINO" Kenji and Kawakami Osamu and was influenced by Pino Palladino, Meshell Ndegeocello, Marcus Miller and Ray Brown. In university, he met Seki Yu at Nishi-Ogikubo CLOP CLOP and began playing with Tsuneta Daiki and Iguchi Satoru in the band Srv. Vinci before King Gnu launched in April 2017. Since then, Arai has expanded his activities to include live performances and recordings with various artists.

Shun Ishiwaka (Drums)

Born in Hokkaido Prefecture in 1992, percussionist Shun Ishiwaka graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts Music, receiving the Acanthus Music Award and the Doseikai Award. He leads projects like Answer to Remember, CLNUP4, SMTK and Songbook trio, and has also participated in numerous live performances and recordings with artists such as QURULI, CRCK/LCKS, KID FRESINO BAND, Ohzora Kimishima, MILLENNIUM PARADE and Sheena Ringo. His recent work includes the concert piece Sound Mine with Hosoi Miyu and YCAM, aimed at evoking memories through sound, as well as the performance piece Echoes for unknown egos—manifestations of sound and the installation piece Echoes for unknown egos with cymbals. "Shun Ishiwaka x Asai Nobuyoshi Live Session" was held at Assembridge NAGOYA and used the entire former Nagoya Customs Port Dormitory as a stage. Ishiwaka's solo performance was selected as the music for the promotion video for Yamamoto Seisakusho's OU, Figaro Japan's online serial directed by Yamada Tomokazu Rainbow Time Chapter 15, and the documentary Architecture, Time and Sejima Kazuyo (direction and cinematography by Takashi HOMMA) about the new art science department building at Osaka University of Arts designed by world-famous architect Sejima Kazuyo. In 2023, he premiered his concerto suite playgroundz (for Percussion) with the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra and performed drum parts for the anime BLUE GIANT. He has collaborated with many international artists, including Kurt Rosenwinkel, Jason Moran, Federico Casagrande, Tony Allen, James Francies, John Scofield, Taylor McFerrin, Peter Evans, Fabian Almazan, Linda Oh, Richard Spaven, Corey King, Chris Potter and Monty Alexander.

ermhoi (Chorus)

ermhoi is a versatile track maker and singer with roots in both Japan and Ireland who effortlessly crosses genres. In 2015, she released her debut album Junior Refugee on Salvaged Tapes Records. Her work includes creating and remixing music for films and TV commercials, and providing support as a vocalist, synthesizer player and chorus member. In 2018, ermhoi formed Black Boboi with Kobayashi Utena and Julia Shortreed, performing at FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL's RED MARQUEE STAGE in 2019. ermhoi's band project, ermhoi with the Attention Please, features members Kobayashi Utena, Shun Ishiwaka, Marty Holoubek and Taikimen, reimagining electronic music with live instruments. The latest album Junebug Rhapsody was released as an LP in January 2024.

Kuro 〈TAMTAM〉 (Chorus)

Originally from Hokkaido Prefecture, Kuro is the vocalist, songwriter and composer for the Tokyo-based band TAMTAM, and a multi-instrumentalist with the synthesizer and trumpet. Her solo career took off with the release of her debut full album Just Saying Hi in 2019. Her 2022 EP Hisui featured hip-hop artists OMSB and Campanella, showcasing her mellow and meditative vocal style. With TAMTAM, she released the EP Ramble In The Rainbow (2024) through the U.S. label Peoples Potential Unlimited, marking their first international release. The title track, a fusion of soul, psychedelic and new age music, was featured on Gilles Peterson's BBC Radio6 playlist and Bandcamp Weekly and was highlighted in Rolling Stone Japan's "Future of Music 2024."