Tiny Desk Contest 2019!
I’ve been writing songs since I was very little and though my first language is Japanese and I grew up in Japan, I always wrote songs in English. And my childhood dream was to live in New York and to sing like Billie Holiday. After some of my dreams coming true (I do live in New York and have been for sometime) my mother came to visit me and saw me perform for the first time. She didn’t say much afterwards except one thing, “you should try writing a song in Japanese.” Her words lingered with me, as mothers' words want to do, and I eventually wrote one. My first and my only Japanese song. As I contemplated the two countries I call home, I realized that I didn't think of the consequence of leaving home. I was so determined to come to New York and too busy establishing my life here, I didn't even think about it. I got married here and started family here. It dawned on me then that I have truly left Japan. I've already passed the point of no return and didn't even realize it. My family line can be traced back to 1100s. It’s breadth taking to me that our family stayed in Japan for close to 1000 years and that I’m going to end it. At the same time also it's thrilling to see that the family line will continue in America. Hence “the end is near” and “it’s just a beginning.” So although it is a song written in Japanese, I think in a way, it is a love song to America. Hope you enjoy.