Album Review: Shigeto Reflects on His Journey and Pays Homage to Detroit in Cherry Blossom Baby

Producer, drummer, label owner, and radio host, Shigeto is a passionate champion of the Detroit music scene. Last month, he returned with a brand-new LP on Ghostly titled Cherry Blossom Baby that weaves together all these roles and influences, and then some, including his heritage - a topic that's quite prominent in his music.

The album opener, "Dial In (Intro)" must be a reference to his The New Music Show on WDET 101.9 FM , where he spotlights “forward-thinking music from the Detroit Diaspora.” 31 seconds designed to grab your attention before my current obsession "Ready. Set. Flex", where Bruiser Brigade's member Zelooperz lays a steady flow on top of a groovy piano-driven breakbeat instrumental. The song is eerie and spaced out, while it has a sense of tightness because of the impeccable drums on it. I can only imagine how tight this would sound live with Zach behind the drum kit.

The way things sound to me, "Ready. Set. Flex" felt like a warm-up and the perfect segway to one of the most hard-hitting tracks on the record, "Runnup On'm". The song features Cleveland Thrasher and harpist Ahya Simone - artists whose input is crucial and invaluable for the sonic universe of Cherry Blossom Baby.

The follow-up songs like "Nothing Simple" and "The Punch!" mark the beginning of a more soulful, r&b-infused section of the record. In that moment, I realized that in just 10 tracks, the Michigan-born drummer captures a genre-rich mix of emotions, eras, and energy, all while paying tribute to Detroit, the city that shaped his journey. With a lineup of collaborators drawn exclusively from Detroit's vibrant music scene, this project feels like his tribute to his community - a way to honor his roots while leading the charge forward with those around him.

"I am a cherry blossom baby," Shigeto shares. "We all are cherry blossom babies, we all are resilient, we all are growing, we all will continue to."

Cherry blossoms, Japan's national flower, are a thoughtfully chosen reference in both the album's title and artwork.

"A cherry blossom is regrowing, but it's always different too, and I'm speaking to that with all the different musicians on this record, getting everyone involved and honoring their contributions is part of that cherry blossom philosophy.”, he elaborates.

One of the first tracks that captured my heart, "Can't Keep Up," features Cherry Blossom Baby's frequent and prominent collaborator, KESSA, who contributes to half of the album's songs. The track is further enriched by Zach's collaborators - Ahya Simone on harp, Sasha Kash on guitar, Tim Shellabarger on bass, Dez Andrés on congas, and Marcus Elliot on tenor sax, plus adlibs from Josh Craig. A tasteful blend of lounge, downtempo, trip-hop, all glued together by a beautiful rhythm section.

Capturing the essence of Detroit's sound while staying true to his roots, the album ebbs and flows, and doesn't let you be idle. The emergence of trap-heavy "BookaMagick" with Cleveland Thrasher was an instant change of scenery, right where it belongs.

As a wholesome experience, I love with all my heart the warmth and essence of Cherry Blossom Baby last tune, "Honey High and Blue" where KESSWA's lush vocals sound as if she's sitting next to me and telling me a story. As I write this and the final notes of an incredible album fade out, I feel goosebumps rising. That’s the highest compliment my body, soul, and mind can give to an album—and this one is truly timeless.