Kishi Bashi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kishi Bashi
Kishi Bashi in 2012
Background information
Born	(1975-11-04) 4 November 1975 (age 49)
Origin	Seattle, Washington / Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
Genres	Indie pop indie rock psychedelic pop electronic experimental
Occupation(s)	Singer musician songwriter
Instruments	Guitar violin keyboards programming
Labels	Joyful Noise Recordings Universal D
Associated acts	of Montreal Jupiter One Regina Spektor

Kaoru Dill-Ishibashi (born November 4, 1975), known as Kishi Bashi, is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He plays many instruments and is also an Emmy-nominated filmmaker. He lives in Athens, Georgia.

Kishi Bashi was a founding member of the band Jupiter One. He also played with the band of Montreal for several years. In 2011, he started his solo music career. His first album, 151a, came out in 2012. It was released by Joyful Noise Recordings and quickly became very popular.

Who is Kishi Bashi?

Kishi Bashi was born in Seattle, Washington. He grew up in Norfolk, Virginia. His parents were both professors at Old Dominion University. His mother is from Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. His father is from Iga, Mie Prefecture, Japan.

After high school, he went to Cornell University College of Engineering. There, he helped start a band called Tamarisk. Later, he studied film music at Berklee College of Music. He then became a professional violinist.

Kishi Bashi's Musical Journey

In 2011, Kishi Bashi began his solo career. Before that, he was the singer for the band Jupiter One. He also toured internationally as a violinist. He played with artists like Regina Spektor and of Montreal. He even opened shows for artists like Sondre Lerche and Alexi Murdoch.

His first solo album, 151a, was released in 2012. NPR host Bob Boilen called Kishi Bashi his favorite new artist. He described his music as "a radiant, uplifting soundscape."

Kishi Bashi's Music in Pop Culture

Kishi Bashi's songs have been used in many commercials and TV shows. In 2012, Microsoft used his song "Bright Whites" for a Windows 8 commercial. Sony also used "It All Began With A Burst" for their Xperia Tablet S. The car company Smart used "Chester's Burst Over The Hamptons" for their cars.

He has played at big music festivals like SXSW and Austin City Limits. He has also toured across the United States, Canada, Europe, and the UK.

His music appears in films like Banana Split. It is also in TV shows such as The Babysitter's Club, God Friended Me, and Atypical. He wrote the theme song for the TV series Shrill. He also composed the music for the Apple TV+ series Stillwater. In 2021, his song "I Am the Antichrist to You" was in an episode of Rick and Morty.

In 2014, Kishi Bashi even launched his own coffee line. It was called Royal Daark Blend. Each coffee purchase came with a special song download.

Kishi Bashi's Music Albums

Kishi Bashi has released several albums throughout his career.

Studio Albums

Live Albums

Other Releases

• Compilation Album: "7" Box Set" (2013) – This set included cover songs by artists like Talking Heads and ELO.
• Extended Plays (EPs):
  • Room for Dream EP (2011, 2017)
  • Philosophize! Chemicalize! EP (2013)
  • Emigrant EP (2021)
• Soundtracks:
  • Stillwater: Vol. I (Apple TV+ Original Series Soundtrack) (2020)
  • The Fourth Phase (2016)

Special Projects and Music Style

Kishi Bashi's first EP, Room For Dream, came out in 2011. It had four songs, including a duet with Kevin Barnes. You could buy it from music download sites.

His live shows are unique. He performs alone, using a violin and his voice to create loops. He also uses beat boxing sounds. People often compare his style to artists like Andrew Bird.

Meaning Behind the Music

His first full album, 151a, was released in 2012. The title "151a" sounds like the Japanese phrase 一期一会. This phrase means "once in a lifetime." It suggests that every moment is special and will not happen again.

His second album, Lighght, came out in 2014. The title is a one-word poem by Aram Saroyan. His third album, Sonderlust, was released in 2016.

The Omoiyari Film and Album

In 2017, Kishi Bashi started a crowdfunding project for a documentary film. It was called Omoiyari: A Songfilm by Kishi Bashi. This film explores the challenges faced by Japanese Americans who were held in camps during World War II. The film was released in 2023 on Paramount+.

An album of songs created for the film, also called Omoiyari, was released in 2019. This was his fourth studio album.

How Kishi Bashi Records Music

Kishi Bashi works with different producers to record his music. They use special setups to get the right sound. For example, they might use sound baffles to make a quiet space for vocals. Or they might use a smaller room to make the violin sound more focused.

Kishi Bashi often uses looped violin music and vocals in his songs. He builds melodies from small parts and puts them together in creative ways. He uses computer software like Logic to arrange his music. Even with just a few pieces of equipment, he creates a unique sound.

For recording, they use specific microphones. An RCA 77 ribbon microphone is used for vocals. A Royer 122V ribbon mic is used for the acoustic violin. They also use special sound processors to make the music sound clear and full.

Sometimes, Kishi Bashi starts with a complete song. Other times, he begins with small ideas or loops. This way of working is challenging but helps him create very unique and detailed music. It truly shows off his special musical style.