On Wednesday, May 6th, Japanese folk singer-songwriter Ichiko Aoba brought her "Across The Oceans" world tour to the historic Paramount Theatre in Austin, TX. During her three-month musical journey through Asia, Europe, and now North America, Ichiko seeks to share her gift of music and bring joy to hearts around the world. Supporting Ichiko Aoba for the Canada and United States legs of the tour is Austin’s own singer-songwriter Charlie Martin, who is also one half of the indie-pop band Hovvdy.
The first time I heard of Ichiko Aoba was back in 2019 when the trailers dropped for the Nintendo Switch remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. The Japanese version features Ichiko performing a cover of “The Ballad of Wind Fish,” and her serene, almost haunting vocals drew me in. Shortly after, I checked out the rest of her music and fell in love with her songs about nature, dreams, and memories.
The songs “月の丘” (A Hill of the Moon) and "テリフリアメ" (The Rain from Light and Shadow) off of her “qp” album were a great comfort, although they may come across with a melancholic tone. Even if you don’t understand the language, her music inspires a sense of wonder and tranquility, transporting listeners into a world of escapism, such as running through a field of flowers, cloud-gazing, or sitting on the back porch bench listening to the rustle of leaves as a storm brews. Towards the end of this article, I'll attach a playlist of some songs I recommend to check out!
The day was finally here, and I was still in disbelief that out of all the cities in the huge state of Texas, I was only an hour and a half's drive away from witnessing a performance of a lifetime. The weather was cloudy with a chance of rain; however, that didn't stop fans from filling out the sold-out Paramount Theatre. I've never seen a line for merch snake around the venue, up the stairs, and around the mezzanine area before. Prior to the show beginning, the host thanked the theater’s supporters and asked everyone to put away their phones and refrain from taking photos or videos, reminding us that for the next two hours, nothing outside the theater was as important as what was about to happen on stage.
Paramount Theatre
Charlie Martin opened the evening with a warm, intimate acoustic set with originals and unplugged versions of a few Hovvdy songs. He shared that he had lived in Austin for twelve years and was honored to be touring with one of his favorite artists, Ichiko Aoba. Through songs about love, friends, vulnerability, and courage, he painted a portrait of his life and invited us all into his world. He didn't skip a beat introducing each song and what they were about, and one of the most moving moments came when Ichiko joined him onstage for a special duet of Hovvdy's song "Lifted." Her melodies paired with Charlie's brought tears from many in the crowd, myself included. I hope they collaborate and record a song together someday.
Before closing the evening out, he thanked everyone for their kindness and joked that he would be happy to sign records or "dap it up" at the merch table. He ended his set with a song called "Mr. Lee," which he teased that his mom thinks is about his dad, but he insists that it isn't. If you're looking for honest, heartfelt music that is perfect for a road trip, I highly recommend checking out Charlie Martin.
As the lights dimmed and the crimson red theater curtains parted, the sold-out crowd at the Paramount Theatre fell silent as a spotlight illuminated a warmly lit stage design. The set felt like walking into Ichiko’s own safe haven. Her electric and acoustic guitars were leaned against wooden furniture with intricate carvings, while her keyboard sat on top of an end table between a stained-glass lamp with dolphins on the panels and a bouquet of flowers. Seashells and globes were placed around the stage to add to the tour's ocean theme.
Ichiko Aoba took the stage with the sound of wind chimes blowing in the breeze, birds tweeting, and a harp softly playing. She eased into a performance of her song “Space Orphan,” creating a surreal atmosphere as if we were going into a deep savasana.
Through the evening, Ichiko Aoba took the audience on a cinematic and intimate musical journey. Along with complex, finger-picked guitar patterns, her enchanting voice felt like a mythical siren’s call, hypnotizing the crowd into her beautifully imagined world. She performed an assortment of songs off of her “Luminescent Creatures” and “Windswept Adan” albums, a cover of her favorite song “Koko” by Ryūichi Sakamoto, and left an unforgettable impression when she switched over to her electric guitar to deliver a powerful version of "FLAG."
Ichiko Aoba closed the “Across the Oceans” tour with “Bouquet,” which received a standing ovation and chants for an encore. She returned to the stage and delivered a playful performance of an unreleased track called “Sayonara Penguin.” Singing in a whimsical voice reminiscent of the characters from Animal Crossing, she had the entire theater laughing and smiling as the evening came to a joyful close.
After the final notes faded, many audience members made their way to the stage to say their farewells and take photos of the beautifully crafted stage design.
For anyone curious about Japanese alternative folk music, Ichiko Aoba is an extraordinary introduction. Her capacity to bridge the gap between dreams and imagination, as well as create characters and places you can only discover by listening, is something I hope everyone gets to experience.
As the ‘Across the Oceans’ tour comes to a close, Aoba continues to win hearts throughout the globe. The tour continues through Mexico over the next few days and wraps up on May 18th in Vancouver, Canada. She will also be performing at the Asian Pop Festival in Korea and the Rising Sun Rock Festival later on this year in Ishikari, Japan! Keep a look out for more touring dates in the US on her website and let us know what you think about her music in the comments below!
