She released her acclaimed debut album 32 years ago at the age of 21, but Akiko Yano still refuses to rest on her laurels. Even with a 27th solo album on the way, the pianist, vocalist, lyricist and composer is still searching for new musical experiences.
Known mainly for her unique, versatile voice on her renditions of jazz and pop tunes, Yano has been collaborating with Kyoto-based electronic artist and producer Rei Harakami (see side bar) for the last four years in a duo called Yanokami. She first encountered Harakami in 2002.
"There's a Japanese band called Quruli and they have a single arranged by him called 'Bara no Hana,' " Yano says during a brief trip to Tokyo following a Yanokami performance in Singapore. "When I listened to it, I was blown away. So new. Very organic. It was something that I'd never heard of.