Named “Best Folk Act 2017” by Seattle Weekly, Tomo Nakayama has consistently created music that is complex, nuanced and emotionally compelling. His decade of work both as a solo artist and as frontman in his chamber-pop band Grand Hallway has been praised by NPR, The New York Times and KEXP.
He will bring his acclaimed stylings to the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, courtesy of Space Craft, at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, joined by Tom Brosseau and Oono Yuuki.
Known for his crystalline high-tenor voice, intricate fingerpicking, cinematic production style and simple, poetic lyrics imbued with warmth and humanity, Nakayama’s songs have drawn comparisons to Paul Simon, Elliott Smith and Jeff Buckley. He has also composed music for film and television, and starred as an actor alongside Ellen Page in Lynn Sheltons Sundance Grand Jury-nominated movie “Touchy Feely.” He was an artist in residence at Seattle’s Town Hall, where he wrote and recorded (with Yuuki Matthews of the Shins) his solo debut album “Fog On The Lens,” which spent eight weeks on the CMJ Top 200 and was named Album of the Month by Seattle Met.
In 2017, Nakayama toured with Seattle legend Jeremy Enigk of Sunny Day Real Estate. His self-produced second solo album, “Pieces of Sky,” finds Nakayama venturing further into the digital chamber folk sound of his debut album while incorporating ambient synths, dream pop atmospherics, and analog drum machines into the mix.
Brosseau has been featured on NPRs “All Songs Considered,” “Weekend Edition,” “First Listen” and on Cerys Matthews’ much revered BBC6 show. His songs are included in Judd Apatow’s Netflix series “Love,” and in the Showtime series “Shameless,” and were also chosen by Natalie Portman for a charity compilation.
Yuuki is renowned in Japanese indie rock and folk circles as a musical polymath, both as the leader of his nine-piece orchestral “math rock” band, and as a solo singer/songwriter of intimate, emotionally stirring folk songs whose soaring melodies transcend all barriers of language.
Over two full-band albums on Tokyo-based Art Union Group, and four solo releases that recall kindred spirits Sufjan Stevens and John Fahey, Yuuki has created a unique musical world which has earned him performances at high profile festivals all across Japan.
This show marks his first performance in the United States.
Tickets, $15 in advance ($20 at the door), are available now. Visit www.spacecraftpresents.org to learn more and purchase.
