Sakura Nozaki OTO Recordings Funk/ Hip Hop 仙台市連坊出身

60年代、70年代のソウルミュージックに聴かれる泥臭く、魂に訴えかける音楽をベースとした良質なHip Hop音楽の発信を目的とするOTO Recordingsを主宰し、これまでに4枚のアナログＥＰをリリース。ラップ、歌、楽曲制作を手がけるミュージシャン。09年には[NIHILIST ep]と[we meet, we part.]を2枚連続でリリースし、さらにキーボードリストとしてO-parts recordings作品に参加。[NIHILIST]では自己のニヒリズムを”ド”ファンクな生バンドと共に叫び歌い、[we meet, we part.]でＢluRum13(ONE SELF/NINJA TUNE), DJ DAIKEI(O-parts Recordings)という鬼才二人と、「出会いと別れ」の音をHipHopを触媒に紡ぎ出した。 現在はDAIKEIとのアナログ機器を駆使したライブと新作EPの制作中。

99年に十代で単身渡米後、Jimmy Cliffのバックボーカルの他、Ｒ＆Ｂ/ＰＯＰのバッキングシンガーとしてＮＹを中心に東欧・アジア諸国でライブを行う。Sunset Parkエリアの音楽スタジオで3年間ピアノレッスンを持ち、室内楽のコンサートをこなす傍ら、自身のHipHop楽曲制作とBrooklyn Collegeで作曲をAmnon Wolmanに師事。'05年の"S.F.T.H."(12")発表と同時に[Music of the People,by the People,for the People]を掲げた自身のレーベルOTO Recordingsを仙台にて始動。'07年３月に「既成概念からのインディペンデント」を宣言した2nd EP[Direction]をリリースし、アナログ専門店を中心にアンダーグラウンドチャートを賑わせSOLDOUT。 '08年はTiempos de Lilica（スペイン）のアルバム[GLOBAL SONAR]に客演。一連のアートワークはUNIZONの庄司 嘉宣氏、web designはbmpdの木村麻理氏が手がける。

Sakura Nozaki is a Sendai based Singer, Songwriter, and MC with a 5-octave vocal range. Her second EP, “Direction”, has been sold out. Her various musings related to political, social, and personal issues of the today’s world are set to her particular style of music. She was born in 1980 in Sendai City, Japan, and grew-up grooving to 70’s soul music. She would often steal from her father’s vinyl stash. Sakura says “I would always sing and imitate the greatest singers of all time from Otis Redding to Lauryn Hill. I would sing all day just to kill time. There wasn’t anything else I really wanted to do. Music for me has become an addiction.” Right after graduated from high school, she sent a demo-tape to an audition held by a small independent label in New York City and it was accepted. This success led her to NYC by herself. Even though the project failed, she started her professional career in music in NYC as a pop and R&B singer at the age of 19 in 1999. She is also a former member of YPC of New York City, with which she performed at the United Nations, the White House, Carnegie Hall and broadcast networks like CBS, NBC, FIX, NPR & WNYC Radio. After experiencing stage performances as a singer (including performances with Jimmy Cliff, Jesse Martin and various other famous musicians), she was motivated to create an original sound coupled with gritty urban and poetry and hip-hop. Right before returning to her home in Sendai, she released her first 12” EP “S.F.T.H.” in late 2004 and her latest EP “Direction” was released in March, 2007, featuring “SPaNK” – a hardcore New York City based funk & soul band. In 2008, Sakura will be featured in Tiempos de Lirica’s upcoming album “Global Sonar”.And also, her third EP "NIHILIST" will be released in January 2009. She is currently hard work at recording her fourth EP, collaborating with Blu Rum 13 and DJ DAIKEI, which is expected to be released in Spring 2009.