Yo Zushi
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| Yo Zushi | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Yo Zushi |
| Born | 09/03/1981, Hiroshima, Japan |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genre(s) | Freak folk Alternative rock Country |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar Vocals |
| Years active | 2004 – present |
| Label(s) | Pointy Records |
| Website | www.yozushi.net |
Yo Zushi is a Japanese singer-songwriter, who rose to prominence in the UK freak folk scene with two albums released on London's Pointy Records. [1] He is also a book reviewer for the New Statesman magazine.[2]
[edit] Career
In 2004 Zushi was the winner (in the music category) of the Re:Creation Prize[3], run by Topshop and style magazine Dazed & Confused. This was followed by a short period in a folk rock band, Great Days of Sail, with gig support slots in the company of nu-folk icons Joanna Newsom[4], The Magic Numbers, Willy Mason[5], Micah P. Hinson and anti-folk founder Lach. The band dissolved after one self-titled EP.
In 2005 Zushi was signed to Pointy Records to release Songs From a Dazzling Drift.[6] A collection of country-infused pop songs drawn from rough home recordings, it was quickly picked up by the British music press as a minor classic. Q magazine gave it a four-star review (including it in the "Q Recommends" category), and enthused that "this could be the start of something major"[7]. Dazed & Confused called it a "masterclass in storytelling"[8]. An intermittent series of live appearances followed, supporting the likes of Scritti Politti and Patrick Wolf, as well as performing on the main town hall stage at the Oxford Folk Festival[9] with Bellowhead and Rachel Unthank and the Winterset.
After publishing a short story in Dazed & Confused and completing a Modern Culture MA at University College, London,[10] Yo Zushi released his second album, Notes for Holy Larceny[11] in 2007. It was produced by Greg Box and Daniel Lea of By the Fireside and features jazz musician Ana Silvera on piano. The album has been favorably compared with the music of Hank Williams, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Tom Waits [12].
[edit] References
- ^ Pointy Records website. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ New Statesman writers page. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ Daily Telegraph article, "Off the Campus and Into the Limelight", 03/20/2004. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ Sounds XP music review website. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ About Last Night listings archive. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ Pointy Records album page. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ Melody Cat European music promotions website. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ Melody Cat European music promotions website. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ Oxford Folk Festival artist page. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ Pi Magazine interview on UCL website. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ Pointy Records album page. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ Stylus Magazine album review. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
