Folk singer and multi-instrumentalist Ichiko Aoba from Kyoto is a master at creating magical, fairy-tale-like music, inspired by the soundtracks of Disney and Studio Ghibli. She has been revered in her homeland of Japan for years, but she is now rapidly winning over a growing global audience captivated by her charm.

With her latest album Luminescent Creatures, Ichiko expands her musical vocabulary and explores themes of connection. Inspired by her time on Japan’s islands, where she was mesmerized by the beauty and mysterious depths of the ocean, the album draws from the primal forces that have shaped life on Earth. Her research into coral reefs and the effects of climate change adds a sense of urgency to her music.