"Take Off"
Yoko K.
Destination: A Calm Place

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About the Artist:
Born in Nagano, Japan, Yoko began the classical study of piano at the age of three. Having moved to more than ten places across Japan, Yoko studied the clarinet, saxophone, drums, and voice, and eventually started to sing in jazz venues and clubs at the age of sixteen. After moving to the United States on her own, Yoko has collaborated with producers worldwide such as T-Kolai in Sudan/US (Asahra Music), Light 4 Lines in Japan (KhaiMar Music), Holmes Ives in US (Ova Records), and Dalminjo in Norway (Deeplay Music), and performed in venues such as Club Five, Bar Nun, and DC9, and several art galleries.

In February 2005, Yoko faced the sudden loss of an important person in her life. It was this shock, ironically, which seems to have unlocked her innate potential as a composer and a producer. Ever since, she continues to write music everyday. Nicolas Laget, the founder of Asahra Music, once described Yoko as a "healer." "The definition of a healer," Nicolas says, "is such that ¡V only through healing others, she is able to heal herself."

Yoko is also keen on utilizing her music as a way of raising awareness of cross-cultural understanding and tolerance. Her ongoing projects include the community art project "Amahoro.net" which features the narrative of 1994 Rwanda Genocide, and collaboration with Gigi McKendric "Call for Conscience" for the crisis in Darfur. Yoko currently lives in Washington DC, USA.

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