Japanese R&B/Soul Artist Nao Yoshioka Unveils New Album: self

Japanese R&B/Soul artist Nao Yoshioka releases her most personal album yet, self, a 12-track journey of identity, acceptance and emotional honesty.

Blending neo-soul, indie R&B, Afrobeats, house and spiritual jazz, self brings together a global cast of collaborators from across the US, Europe and Asia, including Grammy-winning artist Bilal and Grammy-winning producers Khari Mareen and Peter CottonTale.

Yoshioka reflects on the album’s themes of identity, acceptance and emotional honesty:

“This album is the sound of me finally facing and accepting every part of myself—the hopeful side that chased the light and the hidden side that felt weak or never enough. It is about turning that honesty and gratitude toward the people who carried me here into music, without holding anything back.”

Standout tracks include the empowering, “Safe Place” with Chicago multi-hyphenate singer and poet Jamila Woods, produced by Peter CottonTale (Chance the Rapper), the psychedelic, soul duet “Shadow” with neo-soul pioneer Bilal, produced by Corey Bernhard (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert), the upbeat “Heartbeat,” produced by Khari Mateen (The Roots, Jill Scott), the emotional “You Got to Feel It,” featuring saxophonist Braxton Cook and Dutch producer Bnnyhunna, and the 90s inspired R&B exchange “Pieces of Me” ft. Vietnamese artist Mỹ Anh.

To celebrate the release of self, Yoshioka is currently on a world tour featuring performances in major cultural hubs including New York, London, Paris and Tokyo. A full list of dates is included below.

In addition to self, Yoshioka will continue her immersion into Philadelphia’s neo-soul community with the upcoming third installment of her live performance series Philly Soul Sessions Vol. 3, where she partners with Philly musicians to reimagine her catalog. Set for release later this year, the project continues Yoshioka’s global, collaborative approach to soul music while exploring themes of introspection and resilience.

self tracklist

1) Changes ft. Devin Morrison

2) You Got to Feel It ft. Bnnyhunna and Braxton Cook

3) Safe Place ft. Jamila Woods

4) Pieces of Me ft. Mỹ Anh

5) In the Rain ft. MXXWLL

6) All I Wish

7) Inner Universe ft. Misha, Jussi Halme & Chien Chien Lu

8) Shadow ft. Bilal

9) Heartbeat ft. Khari Mateen

10) Side of You

11) Yet to Come ft. Keyon Harrold

12) Shelter ft. Sam Wills

self Tour Dates:

• May 28 - Annapolis, MD
• May 29 - New York, NY
• May 30 - Germantown, MD
• Sept 18 - London, UK
• Sept 20 - Barcelona, ES
• Sept 23 - Milan, IT
• Sept 25 - Paris, FR
• Sept 26 - Gdansk, PL
• Oct 18 - Fukuoka, JP
• Oct 21 - Tokyo, JP
• Oct 22 - Osaka, JP
• Oct 23 - Hokkaido - JP

About Nao Yoshioka:

Nao Yoshioka is a rare and authentic soul singer whose work has reached audiences around the world. Born and raised in Japan, a country shaped by a strong monocultural identity, she has developed a voice that moves beyond those borders and stands out as an exceptional presence through international performances, festival appearances and collaborations that have reinforced her reputation as a global ambassador for modern soul. After moving alone to New York, she encountered the true depth of soul after Sam Cooke’s music resonated with her own inner world and she chose a path devoted to creating songs that touch the deepest parts of the human experience.

Her music has been praised by Rolling Stone (“impeccable neo-soul”), Billboard (“Fresh Pick Of The Week”), EARMILK (“one of the most exciting new talents”) and more. Her powerful and resonant voice carries the strength once heard in artists like Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston, while reflecting the sensibilities of contemporary soul. This artistry was captured in her Tokyo Funk Sessions at Blue Note Japan which has surpassed 5 million views on YouTube and became a viral moment and a testament to her natural command on the stage. In 2018, Yoshioka made history as the first Japanese artist to reach No. 32 on the Billboard Urban Adult Contemporary chart.

Beyond being named SoulTracks Female Vocalist of the Year, Yoshioka has continued to build momentum on the world stage with international performances including the Apollo Theatre and headline shows at Blue Note New York, London Jazz Cafe, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club and Blue Note Tokyo. She’s also appeared at major events such as New York Winter Jazz Festival and Capital Jazz Fest.

Her discography features a world-class list of collaborators including Jon Batiste, James Poyser (The Roots) and Nathan East as well as Grammy-nominated producer Khari Mateen and Grammy-nominated singer Eric Roberson. Currently, she is working on her next project self and continuing to shape a new chapter in today’s soul music.