Unapologetically Alive: Nao Yoshioka's Path to Self

Nao Yoshioka‘s journey from Japan to the heart of New York’s music scene is proof that music speaks a language everyone understands. It’s a story of chasing her own sound, reflected in live shows that have captivated audiences everywhere, from London’s Jazz Cafe to Jakarta’s Java Jazz Festival. Her music becomes a captivating conversation, inviting us to eavesdrop on her honest quest for meaning and the transformations she undergoes along the way.

Nao’s new single ‘Unapologetically Me‘ – produced by Khari Mateen and featuring Takuya Kuroda‘s trumpet lines – has been born from the quiet reflection of pandemic days and blends jazz and soul into a touch of funk. There’s magic in a song that weaves the perfect atmosphere. It becomes the soundtrack to your moments, whether you’re sipping coffee in a bustling cafe, lost in the human kaleidoscope, or finding peace in a sun-dappled park.

“When I wrote this song, I was questioning what it meant to live as an artist. I felt different from others and thought I had caused trouble for people in the past. During the pandemic, when I was asked if music was really necessary, I wondered if 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 words ‘Unapologetically’ and ‘Unpredictable’ in the lyrics and song title. I would be happy if even a few people could relate.”

And we can do that. It’s good to have music that gives you back the glitter of life, and if it’s for that moment when the sounds fill the room, it makes your soul dance.