The Monocle Weekly
The Monocle Summer Series touches down in Tokyo this week and welcomes Japanese pop sensation bird to the studio to perform an acoustic set of her songs from past and present. Also joining the team is Mami Kataoka, chief curator at the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, who talks about the latest movements in the city's art scene and how it compares to neighbouring capitals in the region. Monocle's Asia editor Fiona Wilson brings us up to speed with what's happening in her home city and editor Andrew Tuck and culture editor Rob Bound share their impressions of Japan with host and editor in chief Tyler Brûlé.
Download Edition 2 (mp3) *
Bird was discovered by record producer Shinichi Osawa in the late 1990s while she was singing in jazz clubs in Osaka. She released her first single, "Souls", on Osawa's label RealEyes in March 1999 and in July of the same year launched her first album on the Sony Music Japan label, which sold over 700,000 copies and won her the Japan Gold Record for Newcomers award. Bird has recorded six original albums, released 24 singles and has a huge fan base in and outside of Japan, who know her for her unique blend of jazz, R&B, reggae, and Latin music.
You can find out more about bird here.
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