Kishi Bashi, Bayonne

×

Expand

courtesy Kishi Bashi

A close-up of Kishi Bashi.

Kishi Bashi

media release: Approaching the 10-year anniversary of his critically acclaimed 2016 album Sonderlust, Kishi Bashi (aka Kaoru Ishibashi) shared his new single “Comin’ To You,” a minimalist yet vibrant B-side from his third album, in mid-October. To further celebrate, he also announced a 2026 headlining tour throughout which he’ll perform the album in full. The run begins in late March with performances at Boise ID’s Treefort and Knoxville, TN’s Big Ears prestigious festivals, and will take him across the country–including an April 3rd stop at Chicago, IL’s Thalia Hall and an April 11th show at New York, NY’s Irving Plaza–before ending in Atlanta, GA.

Renowned for its playful arrangements, whimsical production, and Ishibashi’s distinctive pop sensibilities, Sonderlust remains one of Kishi Bashi’s most personal and artistically adventurous works to date. While making Sonderlust, he ventured into new sonic territory by embracing more synths, sampling, and resampling; “Comin’ To You,” built around a frenetic looped sample and Kishi Bashi’s soaring, euphoric vocals, exemplifies this experimental and playful spirit. More news around the Sonderlust 10th anniversary will be announced soon.

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. He most recently released his fifth studio album, Kantos–a kaleidoscopic journey inspired by sci-fi, philosophy, and ancient ruins. His 2019 LP, Omoiyari (a Japanese word meaning compassion for others), and its accompanying documentary, A Song Film By Kishi Bashi: Omoiyari, explored themes of minority identity and the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans. The film premiered at 2022’s SXSW Film festival, where it was acquired by MTV Documentaries and later earned an Emmy nomination for ‘Outstanding Arts And Culture Documentary.’ It is now available on Paramount+.