Ichiko Aoba, with Support from Aoife Wolf

Hailing from Kyoto, Japan, Ichiko Aoba began her journey with classical guitar at the age of 17. Drawing inspiration from Disney and Studio Ghibli soundtracks, she was mentored by Japanese singer-songwriter Anmi Yamada. In 2010, at just 19 years old, Aoba released her debut album, Kamisori Otome (Razor Girl). She has since gained recognition for her folk and jazz-influenced songs, composed for nylon-strung classical guitar and vocals, with notable albums including 2013's "0" and 2018's "qp."

Aoba has collaborated with numerous renowned artists, such as Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, American sound artist Taylor Deupree, and Haruomi Hosono of Yellow Magic Orchestra. Additional collaborations include Canadian singer-songwriter Mac DeMarco, Japanese producer and multi-instrumentalist Cornelius, Japanese hip-hop producer Sweet William, and Japanese indie band MahiToThePeople. Canadian violinist Owen Pallett has even cited Aoba as an inspiration, drawing comparisons between her compositions and those of Burt Bacharach.

Aoba has also contributed to several stage productions, including a production of Cocoon written and directed by Takahiro Fujita and a revival of Lemming by Shuji Terayama.

The year 2022 has proven to be significant for Aoba, as her US, UK, and EU tours have sold out, and her captivating music has garnered thousands of new fans. Her distinctive sound spans the genres of ambient folk, psych, jazz, and classical. Aoba's live shows have generated a viral buzz across social networks, where she performs favourites from her extensive 10-year catalogue, as well as pieces from her latest work, Windswept Adan.