haruka nakamura

JAPAN

From the misted mountains of Aomori to his recent life in Hokkaido, haruka nakamura’s music captures the feeling of landscapes that live both in memory and in sound. Raised in Aomori, nakamura grew up hearing melodies in the forests and fields around him, music that seemed to flow through him like water. His compositions bring these memories to life, channeling them onto the piano with unfiltered clarity, allowing each piece to resonate with a sense of place.

nakamura began his music career in Tokyo with the release of Afterglow (Schole, 2007), a split album with Akira Kosemura, followed by his first solo project grace (Schole, 2008). These early works paved the way for twilight (KITCHEN. LABEL, 2010), a dusky meditation on transitions, and 12 & 1 SONG (2011), a winter-themed collaboration with Janis Crunch. He then released MELODICA (hydeout productions, 2013) which introduced jazz-infused beats influenced by the spirit of Nujabes.

In 2010, he formed the haruka nakamura PIANO ENSEMBLE, guiding the group through reverent spaces across Japan and Asia, including Hiroshima’s Memorial Cathedral for World Peace and Tokyo’s St. Mary’s Cathedral. Their two-year tour culminated in a trilogy completed with Hikari in 2017, following Ongaku No Aru Fuukei (2014) and CURTAIN CALL (2016). The Japanese music community recognizes nakamura as a kindred spirit to Nujabes, sensing a shared depth in their approach to ambient and hip-hop music. His ensemble performances, regularly selling out venues across Japan, have cultivated a loyal following who appreciate both his homage to Nujabes’ legacy and his distinct, personal sound. Over time, nakamura has established himself as an enduring presence in the Japanese music scene.

After releasing his solo piano series Still Life on his own lighthouse label, nakamura returned to KITCHEN. LABEL in 2020 with the world, a collaboration with singer-songwriter LUCA. In 2021, he honored his late mentor with Nujabes Pray Reflections and worked with The North Face on Light Years, a project driven by beats and samplers — his original, distinctive sound — that revealed yet another facet of his artistry. His work continued to expand through celebrated collaborations with brands like minä perhonen and tribute projects for the late photographer Michio Hoshino.

In 2023, nakamura partnered with photographer Rinko Kawauchi to create AOIMORI, a 4 album ambient collection for TSUTAYA BOOKS that reconnects with the landscapes of his childhood. And in 2024, his score for Look Back — a one-shot manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, acclaimed creator of Chainsaw Man — marked a new chapter, blending his musical vision into Japan’s highest-grossing anime film of the year.

www.harukanakamura.com

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