Born in Tokyo and schooled in American music, Nao Yoshioka is a soulful singer who blends classic and contemporary influences into an original sound. Releasing her debut album The Light in 2012, Nao’s trajectory towards superstardom was cruelly curtailed by the global pandemic. However, with a deluxe version of the latest album Flow, just released and garnering great reviews and new music in the pipeline, the future is once again looking rosy. Therefore, we couldn’t resist sitting down with Nao for an exclusive chat just before her gig at London’s The Lower Third venue, to find out from where she came and where she is going.
AVO Magazine: I wonder if we could start by talking about your earliest musical memories?
Nao: I grew up in a family who were really into art. So, I wasn’t into music initially, but my sister was listening to a lot of American music, and she was the one who played a lot of Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige, and that’s why I got into music. Around that time, Sister Act was a big hit in Japan, and that was my gateway into soul music.
AVO Magazine: Your parents were very supportive in your creativity, which is unusual for Japanese parents; usually they want their children to follow more academic routes. How important were they in shaping your career?
Nao: It was my mother who really helped me in my career, it was her desire to raise her children as artists. I have two sisters; one is a painter, the other is an animation background artist, and I am a singer, so my mother was always focused on my being creative when I was younger. When I dropped out of my high school, she was the one who told me to go to a music school in London, but I decided to go to New York instead. I would not be here without her support, even now, if I have questions about my career, I talk to her and she always supports me.
AVO Magazine: You have been very open about your personal struggles in your teenage years. Japanese people, even more than English, are very reserved. Was it difficult for you to open up?
Nao: The first time it was hard, but when the artists I admired shared their struggles, it really helped me. When I released my first album, I started to talk about my depression. I lost my best friend to suicide, she had depression too, so I started to talk about those things, and people really connected with the experiences I had. They told me it helped them overcome their struggles, too. When I got such positive feedback, it made me think that I was so glad I shared those things.
AVO Magazine: We don’t usually think of Japanese voices singing R&B and soul. Were there any challenges?
Nao: I don’t really think that way. I just love R&B, soul and gospel music. When I arrived in New York, that was the place where I learned about music deeply, and since then, a lot of American people have accepted my music. Even though I am Japanese and singing soul music, they are surprised, but they really accept it.
AVO Magazine: When you relocated to New York it was a real turning point in your career. How did that whole experience shape you?
Nao: It was a huge step, but at that time I dropped out of high school and I had severe depression and I couldn’t even leave the house, so going to New York was the only way I could feel excited about the future. So, when I decided to go to the United States, I only felt excitement, I didn’t worry because there was no other way I could choose.
AVO Magazine: In terms of your career, the global pandemic came at the worst time and halted your career progression. How have you managed to gain momentum again?
Nao: When I was in New York, I always dreamed about having a career in the United States, because a lot of American music really influenced me. But I think I was chasing the idealised version of myself for a long time, I was thinking, how can I get the Grammys, and how can I be successful in America? But I didn’t care about what my heart really wanted, so when I went back to Tokyo and saw my dream of having a career in the United States crumble, that was a good time for me to re-evaluate my goals. Even if I received all the Grammys and all the other honours, if I don’t love myself, then there’s no happiness that comes with it. If the pandemic hadn’t happen, then I think I would have quit singing. If I kept chasing that version of myself, that would have been the end of my singing career.
AVO Magazine: It sounds as if your latest album Flow, was very therapeutic for you. Would you say that’s true?
Nao: Yes, 100%. I came back to Japan, and at one point I had a panic disorder. I still have it, but I’m trying to manage it now. when it first happened, I couldn’t even have a normal life, I couldn’t even get on the train, and even getting into a car gave me a panic attack. So, I only started doing things that made me happy; cooking a lot and having fun with my friends, going to the sea, I even started to take a dance class around that time, and when I started to do those things it reminded me of when I was a kid and my heart was full of joy, I was enjoying my life without any expectation or caring what other people think. When I experienced those feelings, it made me feel so free, and that was therapeutic for me. At that time the world was full of fears and confusion, and because of the pandemic I really felt like the world was divided and I couldn’t stand it any more, so I just wanted to make an album and music that felt like; maybe today the world is a mess and my condition is a mess, but tomorrow is a better day and we are living in a beautiful world. I really wanted to believe those simple things again, that’s why a lot of songs on the album are very optimistic, I didn’t sing about anything negative, except on ‘You Never Know’. I really needed to make that album…and it saved me.
AVO Magazine: We’ve had three versions of Flow; the original album, an acoustic version, and a deluxe version just released on 16th May. Because it was such an important album for you, it feels like you have difficulty in letting it go. Is there a reason for that?
Nao: When I released Flow last year, I had more opportunities to tour with that album and I went to seven countries last year and this year I’ve been to many countries, and when I was playing those shows I felt like I didn’t want this album to come to an end. So that’s the reason why we released Flow deluxe, but at the same time we are working on a new album, so I’m starting to think about the theme of the next album. After this European tour and American tour, we are going to focus on the next album.
AVO Magazine: For the acoustic version, how was it working with Kazuki Isogai? And how was it performing your songs acoustically? Did you feel “naked” at all?
Nao: Yes, I felt that way. Also, Kazuki is a bandmate, I’ve been working with him for a couple of years and he has the same dream as me, he wants to become an international artist too, he’s been collaborating with international artists too, so what he does really inspires me and I wanted to make music with him. It was an amazing time creating Flow acoustic, we actually recorded everything in my house, in the living room, so everything you hear is very natural because we were so chilled, we’d jam and then have lunch together. It came about very naturally and I’m happy that some fans prefer listening to the acoustic version.
AVO Magazine: Would you ever consider doing an acoustic concert?
Nao: That would be amazing. The original Flow is very full and there are so many things going on, but when it’s stripped down I really love that intimate feel, so I would love to do that.
AVO Magazine: You’ve had many collaborations throughout your career. How do you pick a musical partner?
Nao: I always work with the same producer and he always gives me amazing ideas for collaborations, and sometimes he says to me “You should listen to this person”, and when I do, I fall in love with it and follow the artist on Instagram, they follow me back and that’s how everything starts. Sometimes, when I love one artist and they come to Japan to perform, I go to the live show and talk to them and from there everything starts. We’ve already started to look for a collaboration for the next album, we’re listening to new artists and start to think how can we make this happen.
AVO Magazine: Likewise, you choose interesting songs to cover. How do you pick cover versions and are there any songs outside soul and R&B you’d like to cover?
Nao: I love covering soul music, so I don’t think I’d cover anything outside soul.
AVO Magazine: You feel more like an international artist that Japanese. How is your music received in Japan as opposed to the rest of the world?
Nao: Japan has a very unique music industry, and for me I’d say it is the most difficult market because most people speak Japanese. My fans are very supportive but it is very difficult for me to branch out, that’s my home country and that’s the place I want to conquer musically the most but it is very difficult. Other countries seem to appreciate my music more than in Japan, but that is a challenge I have to take.
AVO Magazine: This is your second UK show inside a year. What keeps you coming back?
Nao: London is a very special place for me because this was the first placed I played after the pandemic outside of Japan. At that time I didn’t have confidence in my music, I wasn’t sure how many people were going to come to my shows, but in 2023 I had a show at London’s Jazz Café and that was the first time after the pandemic I was able to deeply connect with my fans and that experience gave me courage to believe in myself again, so from there I got more opportunities from different countries and I started to tour more than before, but the starting point was London, so I will keep coming back because I appreciate what my fans in London did for me.
AVO Magazine: If someone was unfamiliar with your music, where would you advise they start?
Nao: I think Flow is the most easily accessible album and I think lots of different people can really enjoy it. However, if people like old school soul, go to my first album, The Light, and if you like neo-soul, go to my third album, Undeniable.
AVO Magazine: Finally, if I had a magic wand and could make one wish come true for you, what would it be?
Nao: I’d like to visit lots of different countries, but I’d like to skip the travel time!
A big thank you to the staff at The Lower Third, Jon at Global Soul and Nao’s management. And, of course, special thanks to Nao herself for giving up her time. Photography by JJ Grant (wonderlens), translation Dutch version by Natsu and Francisca (Seraphinne).
