Ichiko Aoba

Born in 1990 in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, Ichiko Aoba emerged on the independent folk scene with work centered on voice and acoustic guitar. Active since the late 2000s, she released her first album, 'Kamisori Otome', in 2010, followed by 'Origami' in 2011 and 'Utabiko' in 2012, which established an intimate universe blending folk, classical influences and touches of jazz. The album '0' (2013) and 'Mahoroboshiya' (2017) continued this pared-down writing, while 'qp' (2018) explored a more compact format. With 'Windswept Adan' (2020), Ichiko Aoba broadened her sonic field to chamber-like orchestrations, constructing a musical narrative around imaginary islands while retaining her acoustic foundation. Her style relies on slow compositions, subtle harmonies and a very nuanced use of silence; she often appears solo on stage or with small ensembles. Present on many stages in Japan and later internationally, Ichiko Aoba alternates tours, studio recordings and collaborative projects with musicians from experimental folk, contemporary music and film music.