Kishi Bashi
An electrifying fusion of sound, storytelling and pure energy.
With his violin in hand, the indie-rock artist weaves together lush, layered melodies that pulse with life. His music stretches across boundaries—symphonic folk, Brazilian jazz, 70s funk, orchestral rock and Japanese city pop—blending them into something new. With a backup band that is pure energy, Kishi Bashi's songs create an immersive, one-of-a-kind experience.
In his latest album Kantos, the California-based multi-instrumentalist otherwise known as Kaoru Ishibashi, explores the possible end of humanity as we know it in a party album; at turns deeply unsettling and sublimely joyful.
Don't miss a screening of Omoiyari: A Song Film by Kishi Bashi about WWII-era Japanese incarceration and what it means to be a minority in America today.
Funded in part by the William B. Hart 1934 Trust.
Photo by Rob Williamson
Kishi Bashi is the pseudonym of Emmy-nominated singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Kaoru Ishibashi. Born in Seattle, Washington, and raised in Norfolk, Virginia, Ishibashi is a virtuoso violinist and a Berklee College of Music alumnus. He is renowned for his groundbreaking collaborations with symphonies across the U.S., such as the National Symphony Orchestra (Kennedy Center), Chicago Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony, and Oregon Symphony. His orchestral work has expanded his reach, blending classical and pop influences in performances that continue to captivate audiences worldwide.
As a violinist, Kishi Bashi has recorded and toured internationally with artists like Regina Spektor, Sondre Lerche, and indie band of Montreal, and has made appearances on major late-night TV shows including SNL, David Letterman, Conan, and Jimmy Fallon. His original music has been featured in commercials for major brands like Microsoft, Samsung, American Express, Target, and Apple. His debut album 151a (2012) received high praise from NPR's Bob Boilen, who called it "a radiant, uplifting soundscape." This launched Kishi Bashi onto major festival stages such as SXSW and Austin City Limits and began his journey as a critically acclaimed solo artist.
In addition to his solo career, Kishi Bashi was the founding member of the electronic rock outfit Jupiter One. In 2011, he began recording and performing solo, opening for artists like the Sondre Lerche and Alexi Murdoch, before embarking on his own U.S. tours. He gained further recognition in 2014 for his coffee line Royal Daark Blend, which included exclusive song downloads with each purchase. His 2016 album Sonderlust was released live on NPR's All Songs Considered, adding to his ever-growing legacy.
His 2019 album Omoiyari (a Japanese word meaning compassion for others) and its accompanying documentary explored themes of minority identity and the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans. The film, after four years of work and over $100,000 in funding from global backers, premiered at SXSW 2022. Kishi Bashi also scored the soundtrack for the Apple TV+ series Stillwater (2020), a collection of uplifting orchestral tracks he co-composed with Toby Chu.
In 2021, Kishi Bashi released Emigrant EP, a companion piece to Omoiyari, further exploring the themes of his documentary. In 2022, he re-issued his debut album 151a in celebration of its 10th anniversary, with a double LP featuring demo versions of the original tracks. His documentary A Song Film By Kishi Bashi: Omoiyari was acquired by MTV Documentaries and will be available on Paramount+ in the fall of 2023. The soundtrack, Music from the Song Film: Omoiyari, is also available.
2024 saw the release of his fifth studio album Kantos (August 23), a kaleidoscopic journey inspired by sci-fi, philosophy, and ancient ruins. The album blends everything from Brazilian jazz and '70s funk to orchestral rock and city pop, influenced by the cult-classic sci-fi novel series Hyperion Cantos, the writings of 18th-century Enlightenment philosopher Immanuel Kant, and Kishi Bashi's revelatory trip to ancient ruins on the island of Crete.
With an ever-evolving sound and a passion for cinematic storytelling, Kishi Bashi continues to break new ground as a storyteller and performer, captivating audiences with his unique blend of classical and popular music.
“a radiant, uplifting soundscape”
NPR
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