Unapologetically Me

By now, you're probably well aware I've got a thing for the Japanese music scene and here come 2 of my fav artists in the neo-soul & jazz scene.

Singer Nao Yoshioka is joined by the absolute legend, trumpet player Takuya Kuroda & US producer Khari Mateen. As you can imagine, the result is out of this world, with marvelous vocals, stunning jazz touch, and a gorgeous groove. This is also the opener of Nao's forthcoming album, stemming from the depths of her emotions during the pandemic's uncertain times. It delivers a powerful message, urging listeners to embrace their true selves and break free from societal expectations in the face of an unpredictable future.

Nao shares the story behind "Unapologetically Me", “When I wrote this song, I was questioning what it meant to live as an artist. I felt different from others and felt like I had caused trouble for people in the past. During the pandemic, when I was asked if music was really necessary, I thought it might be better to live quietly and not bother others. At that time, I remembered a scene from my favorite Block Party DVD where Dave Chappelle says ‘Life is Unpredictable’ at the piano. Life is unpredictable, and there is no stable future. If life is unpredictable anyway, I thought maybe I should just live freely. This experience led to the birth of the two words ‘Unapologetically’ and ‘Unpredictable’ in the lyrics and song title. I would be happy if even a few people could relate.”

Out via our friends at Sweet Soul Records.