Introducing...Japanese Female Music Producers
G. Rina - old school R&B, hip-hop, G-funk
A part of supergroup FNCY together with Chinza Dopeness and Zen-La-Rock, as well as a Dj and singer in her own right, G.Rina handles production for both FNCY and herself. She also produces for other artists such as Maliya and Bim. Having released her first self-produced album in 2003, she has been a trailblazer as a female producer in Japan, determined to go against the grain of typical R&B divas and conservative label management. She’s well versed in 90’s hip hop culture as a rapper and her production reflects this, her music contains elements of funk and soul and always feels good on the groove.
Selected works: FNCY - Rep Me, MALIYA - Hot Spot, G.Rina - 魅力
Chocoholic - indie pop, future R&B
Chocoholic studied music production in Melbourne, Australia and is currently based in the Netherlands. She’s associated with Styrism Inc. and does commercial work as well as producing for artists such as SIRUP, Erika Nishi, MoMo, Sincere, and Amiide. She also released her own EP titled Rewrite in 2020, which featured singers from all different backgrounds including Friday Night Plans, Laura Ribiero, Fortunes, and Shyo. Her style is cute, edgy and fun and incorporates many of the latest international trends.
Selected works: Chocoholic - 7PM feat. ROMderful, MoMo & Chocoholic - Keeps Coming Back
Links: Spotify, Instagram, Twitter
Check out our interview with Chocoholic
Qrion - ambient, house
Born in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Qrion started out making music on her iPhone, initially influenced by Skrillex, but she found her zone in deep, melodic house. Her debut album on Anjunadeep, “I Hope This Lasts Forever”, was made during the pandemic and she drew inspiration from her childhood memories back in countryside Japan. As a result, her music is delicately tinged with emotion and nostalgia and features interesting uses of samples such as Deniece Williams’s “I’m So Proud”. Based in the United States since 2015, Qrion has been named on Forbes Japan’s 30 Under 30 list, Spotify Japan’s EQUAL Artist, DJ Mag’s Future Star of 2021, and a resident artist for 88Rising Radio on SiriusXM, as well as having garnered support from Mixmag, Attack Magazine, Forbes, and Triple J.
Selected works: Qrion - Proud, Qrion - 11-11
Maika Loubte - electronica, synthpop
Maika Loubte was raised in Hong Kong, Paris and Tokyo, and speaks Japanese, French and English. As a solo artist, she’s released two albums that draw heavily from her personal experience and the world around her. Her first album, Lucid Dreaming, was drawn from her dreams and the events that stimulated those dreams, and it makes it quite the experimental journey. Meanwhile her latest album is inspired from her recent pregnancy and birth of her first child. Intrigued by the possibilities of technology such as 5G and AI, she experiments with a variety of synthesizers and samples to create soundscapes that are both new and familiar, electronic and warm.
Selected works: Maika Loubte - Ice Age, Maika Loubte - Zenbu Dreaming
Links: Spotify, Instagram, Twitter, Website
Read our feature on Maika Loubte's first album “Lucid Dreaming”
Shima - indie pop, future R&B
Initially trained in singing and dance as part of pop idol group FAKY under Japanese mega-label Avex, Shima grew disillusioned with the lack of creative autonomy and struck out on her own, studying music engineering at the University of Miami. Drawing influences from pop, hip-hop and R&B, her music is bright and fun while anchored by solid beats and production wizardry - she’s been generous enough to do some video breakdowns of her work. Being able to sing in both Japanese and English allows her to add in her voice for hooks or backing vocals, which makes her an ideal global collaborator for any rapper or singer-songwriter.
Selected works: Shima - Fade Out, Shima - After the World Ends
Tomoko Ida - EDM, J-pop, trap, hip-hop
Tokyo native music producer Tomoko Ida may have started playing the piano at 6 due to her mother’s influence as a music teacher, but somewhere along the way she got into new jack swing and hip hop, honing her skills and understanding of the culture through DJing at various clubs in Tokyo as well as a period of time spent among artists in New York. Utilizing the AKAI MPC (she’s also sponsored by AKAI), she deftly mixes traditional Japanese sounds and instruments like the koto and the shakuhachi flute with classic 808 samples, tapping and chopping them up. As producer, she makes songs and instrumentals for concerts for major label J-pop artists like SixTONES, idom, and the various EXILE groups.
Selected works: Tomoko Ida - Call my 808 “YAOYA”, Tomoko Ida - The Manner, @djtomoko n Ucca-Laugh - キスをして
Black Boboi (ermhoi, Julia Shortreed, and Utena Kobayashi) - ambient, electronica
ermhoi is a trackmaker and singer with roots in both Japan and Ireland. She creates her own world and expresses it through a variety of languages and musical genres including pop, ethno, dance, and improvisation. Working on a wide range of activities not bound by genre or style, she composes music for illustrators, fashion brands, movies, and TV commercials, and provides support as a vocalist (as part of Millenium Parade or featuring on tracks by Opus Inn, Sara Wakui, Solmana, Mondo Grosso, and others). She’s also remixed songs by Merlion, Sen Morimoto, and Maika Loubte.
Selected works: ermhoi - 埋立地, Sen Morimoto - Love, Money Pt.2 Ft. Jua (ermhoi remix)
Julia Shortreed is a Japanese-Canadian composer and songwriter based in Tokyo. She writes songs using guitar and laptops, combining natural rhythms and imaginary landscapes with nostalgic melodies and dreamy vocals. She’s also featured as vocalist on tracks by arauchi yu and Ghost in the Tapes, and her music has been used in films such as Zokki, Parasite in Love (恋する寄生虫), and The Ancient Magus' Bride - Those Awaiting a Star (魔法使いの嫁 星待つひと).
Selected works: Julia Shortreed - CLOCKWORK QUICK AND LIGHTNING SLOW (A Spell to make all things well), Julia Shortreed - Wild Rose
Utena Kobayashi produces soundtracks for films such as “12 Suicidal Teens” (十二人の死にたい子どもたち), advertising music, and remixes. As a steelpan player she performs as a guest musician for shows and recordings of many artists. For her own solo work, she produces music based on the themes of “suffering with hope/laughing while crying”. In 2018, she launched the music community label “BINDIVIDUAL” and simultaneously formed the group Black Boboi along with ermhoi and Julia Shortreed. The following year, she formed MIDI Provocateur with Diana Chiaki. She performs with D.A.N. and KID FRESINO (BAND SET) as a support member, and is a member of the Shuta Hasunuma Philharmonic Orchestra.
Selected works: Utena Kobayashi - The Garden of Harps, Utena Kobayashi - Rose
Links: Spotify, Instagram, Twitter, Website
Ai Kakihira - electronica, synthpop
Born and raised in Nagasaki Japan, Ai Kakihira is a Tokyo based DIY singer/songwriter who writes, arranges, and produces everything herself. As a singer she’s featured on tracks with Low Fu and New Biboujin, and she recently did production/arrangement on two tracks for Tina Moon’s first album MY ARMS. She released a 4-track EP back in 2021 titled KIGEKI which showcases her eclectic, exotic sound leveraging her experience playing the electone since she was 3 years old: a mix of electronic beats, quirky samples and vocal effects with a dash of traditional Japanese music elements.
Selected works: Ai Kakihira - IBU, Ai Kakihira - DONCHOU
KISSY - indie pop, J-pop, lo-fi
KISSY is a Japanese music producer and songwriter from Tokyo who started composing and arranging when she was 13, uploading demos to SoundCloud and YouTube. Absorbing various genres centered on synthpop and electro house, she has established a unique musicality with tight beats and exquisite chord work. She produced Itsumi’s debut album and has done work for fleur as well as FANTASTICS from EXILE TRIBE, demonstrating her versatility across J-pop, anime songs, hip hop, R&B and lo-fi beats.
Selected works: Itsumi - Burnt Toast for Breakfast (also check out the breakdown video!), FANTASTICS from EXILE TRIBE - Baby Rose
Leon Top - indie pop
Leon Top is a Tokyo-based production unit consisting of twin sisters Mai and Yui. Having grown up in Tokyo, Germany and America, they have a strong sense of self and a desire to break stereotypes. Their sound can’t be pigeonholed into any particular genre, it’s a brand of alternative pop that incorporates elements of electro, trap, hip-hop, K and J pop. They’re very open and make lots of fun, self-aware videos on YouTube about their music. They’ve made a few singles, most recently the super catchy K-pop inflected “Invitation”, and they’ve even made a few Japanese vocal sample packs that you could use in your own production.
Selected works: Leon Top - Invitation, Leon Top - Would It
Mimi Marina - hip-hop, drill, trap
Originally part of DFT (Don’t Fxxxin Touch), Mimi has since gone solo as singer/songwriter/producer, continuing to create kinetic, hard-hitting beats incorporating elements of hip-hop, trap and bass. She’s produced for Yayoi Daimon and queer icon Aisho Nakajima, and recently she’s done commercial work for Nike Beats and the music for the movie “Red Shoes”. Her policy as an artist is “Underground Orientation” and she’s active as a DJ in the Tokyo club scene. In 2023 so far she’s released three instrumental songs, IZA, BABEL, and CINDER ELLA - if you’re a rapper or singer you should definitely reach out.
Selected works: Mimi Marina - CINDER ELLA, DFT - SCENTED Feat. PLUS, Cameo Adele, Young Lyxx
Ai Katimi - house, techno
Born of Japanese and Nigerian descent, Katimi spent her youth in her studies and found love in arts with influence from both of her parents - having a father managing a bar and a mother playing western radio shows at home. As DJ she’s performed in high profile Tokyo clubs such as WOMB, ageHa, Circus, Vision, and Vent Tokyo and she’s currently resident DJ for Brooklyn based radio station HALFMOON BK. While she has been mainly active as a DJ, she released a single “Take Me Back to 2019” for Floyd Lavine’s Afrikan Tales project, and is now the official beat maker for Japanese traditional crossover act YY. Featuring elements from her African heritage as well as house and techno genres, we keenly await more new releases from her in the near future.
Selected works: Ai Katimi - Take Me Back to 2019, YY - GENROKU HANAMI ODORI