Naia Izumi
2018 NPR Tiny Desk Contest winner
Izumi busking on the streets of Los Angeles in 2017

Naia Izumi is an American virtuoso guitarist and singer songwriter from Columbus, Georgia.[1]

Early life

Izumi received his first guitar by age 10. He learned how to play the instrument in a closet, hiding from his father, who disapproved of his interest in creating music.[2] His mother is a choir director.[3]

At the age of 16, Izumi was diagnosed with autism. He is open about being autistic, and describes it as "not a problem but instead a unique brain chemistry one can use to accomplish the unexpected".[4][5]

Career

Izumi began his music career busking on the streets of Los Angeles.[1] Filmmaker Suzuya Bobo met Izumi in LA and offered to create a music video for him. She suggested he submit a song to the NPR Tiny Desk Contest.[2]

In 2018, at age 34, Izumi won the fourth annual NPR Music Tiny Desk Contest with his song "Soft Spoken".[6][7][8] According to the series' creator, Bob Boilen, Izumi "impressed the judges with his intricate, complex guitar playing and his sweet, emotive voice."[9] The competition was judged by Boilen, Tarriona "Tank" Ball, Sylvan Esso, and Gaby Moreno.[10] Izumi was surprised to learn he had won, because he forgot he had entered the contest.[11] Following his win, he played a 10-city national tour.[10]

In 2019, Izumi signed to Sony Masterworks.[12] He is sponsored by Fender.[13][14]

On July 30, 2021, Sony Masterworks released Izumi's debut album, A Residency in the Los Angeles Area. On the album, he played vocals, guitar, bass, drums, Japanese Koto, mandolin, and cittern. Izumi was influenced by King Crimson, Musiq Soulchild, and Shakti.[15] American Songwriter wrote, "it's amazing to see an artist like Izumi make a bold, exciting new sound out of the cherished, ol' six-string. That's raw, unabashed creativity."[16]

In 2022, Izumi played a concert in Bushwick to raise money for abortion access.[2]

Releases

Albums

  • A Residency in the Los Angeles Area (2021)[17]

Singles

  • "Soft Spoken"[18] (2018)[19]
  • "Our Gravity"[20] (2019)[21]

Shows

  • Naia Izumi: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert[22] (2018)

Personal life

Izumi resides in Los Angeles, California.[1] He identified as genderfluid, then as a transgender woman for seven years, but now identifies as a cisgender man.[3][11] The song that won the Tiny Desk Concert was originally titled "Soft Spoken Woman", and was written about his experiences as a woman.[23]

References

  1. ^ a b c Adam Kovac (2021-11-08). "Naia Izumi: "The most important part isn't about the chord voicing, it's about the melody and bassline"". guitarworld. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  2. ^ a b c Smith, Kyle Andrew (2022-05-19). "No Aloha Says Yes To Abortion Access Fundraiser". Bushwick Daily. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  3. ^ a b "Meet Naia Izumi, The 2018 Tiny Desk Contest Winner". WVXU. 2018-04-24. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  4. ^ Prown, Pete (August 2022). "Naia Izumi | Vintage Guitar® magazine". Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  5. ^ "Tiny Desk Contest winner Naia Izumi on being a role model for those with autism". RIFF Magazine. 2018-09-06. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  6. ^ Shapiro, Ari. "Meet Naia Izumi, The 2018 Tiny Desk Contest Winner". NPR Music. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  7. ^ "Los Angeles' Naia Izumi Wins NPR Music's 2018 Tiny Desk Contest". WOUB. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  8. ^ Varian, Ethan (20 February 2019). "Meet Guitarist Naia Izumi, Winner of NPR's Latest and Greatest Tiny Desk Contest". Guitar World. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  9. ^ ""Soft-Spoken, Soulful" Naia Izumi Wins NPR's 2018 Tiny Desk Contest". www.grammy.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  10. ^ a b Deflin, Kendall (2018-05-14). "NPR Winner Naia Izumi Performs Tiny Desk Concert Ahead Of National Tour [Watch]". L4LM. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  11. ^ a b Stories, Local (23 April 2019). "Meet Naia Izumi – Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide". voyagela.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  12. ^ "Naia Izumi". Sony Masterworks. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  13. ^ Dye, Robert (2020-06-22). "Watch Guitarist Naia Izumi Create Loops, Harmonics and Percussive Rhythms On The Fender Acoustasonic Stratocaster". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  14. ^ "Fender Press Releases & Products Updates | Fender Newsroom". spotlight.fender.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  15. ^ "Naia Izumi Shares New Video and Playlist of Songs that Inspired Forthcoming Album". Relix Media. 2021-06-17. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  16. ^ Vitagliano, Joe (2021-07-09). "Daily Discovery: Naia Izumi Lays Down Funky Guitars And Hard Truths On "Six Inch Stilettos"". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  17. ^ "New Mix: Jomoro With Sharon Van Etten, Naia Izumi, Laura Stevenson, More". NPR. 2021.
  18. ^ "Soft Spoken"
  19. ^ Soft Spoken, retrieved 2020-02-20
  20. ^ "Our Gravity"
  21. ^ "Naia Izumi Gets Caught Up in "Our Gravity" in Original Tracks Video". FLOOD. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  22. ^ Naia Izumi: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
  23. ^ Igun, Tolu (2018-09-10). "Naia Izumi rocks free concert at Memorial Union Terrace after dark". The Badger Herald. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
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