Clips from last month's gig @ Made in Brazil

Clips from gig @ Hoxton Underbelly

Clips from the last gig at Korsan Bar

Next gig: Friday the 29th April @ Korsan Bar

Me and my band are playing at the Korsan Bar on the 29th April. We are supporting an African band called Kasai Masai. They are a really good band and I'm excited to perform.

Click here for the facebook event page. Cheers

Photos from last gig @ The Bowery

Gig this sunday

I will be performing with my band this Sunday. It's a fund-raising event for Japan earthquake.

I will be on stage at around 9:30p.m. Do come down if you're free : )

New Song!

I just uploaded a new song called "Teacup" on my SoundCloud page. Please check it out!!
http://soundcloud.com/ken-kobayashi/tracks

Busking documentary

I was featured on a short documentary about busking in London

 

 

Me, Steve Mason and the Beta Band

Currently, I am writing and recording new songs at home.  I'm aiming to get the next album done in next spring. It's already been one and a half year since I released my first album, "My Big Foot Over the Sky". It's true, 'time flies'.

 One album I've been listening to over and over is "Boys Outside" by Steve Mason, the latest work form the former front man of the Beta Band. The Beta Band and Steve Mason are the biggest influence to my music. The beta band's song "Dry the rain" made a big impression and I took up the guitar soon afterwards. In the way, it is not a surprise to see the same world they created in their 1st album "Hot Shots Ⅱ" in my first album.

My Beta Band collection

Like his past works, Mason skillfully mixes various styles such as folk, electronica and dub in "Boys Outside". The catchy melodies in each song demonstrate his talent as a song-writer. I also like the way electro beats interwoven with live drums in the songs like  "I am Just a Man" or "The Letter".

Steve Mason's new album "Boys Outside"

Back from Germany!

Songs and Whispers tour with Astrid's Farm and Kid Decker is over. Initially I prepared an acoustic/electric set with my guitarist, Bish, combining laptops sounds with live instruments. Towards the end of the tour, musicians from Astrid's Farm and Kid Decker joined me on stage to perform songs together. It was a great experience to play shows in Germany, and visit cities like Hamburg, Bremen, Bremerhaven and Gottingen. Thanks everyone who came to the shows!

*Photos & Movies taken by Craig Saunders, Heiko Grein and Walter Thielsch

Germany Tour

I will be playing in the following cities between late August and early September. I'm planning to perform using my laptop and with my guitarist Bish. Come along if you live near by!

Mon 30 Aug - Achim - Katakomben - 8pm
Tues 31 Aug - Hamburg - Astra Stube - 9pm
Wed 1 Sep - Hamburg - Freundlich Kompetent - 8pm
Thur 2 Sep - Hannover - Kulturpalast Linden - 8pm
Fri 3 Sep Bremerhaven - Passage Kino - 8pm
Sat 4 Sep Osterholz Scharmbeck - Gut Sandbeck - 7:45pm
Sun 5 Sep Bremen - Club Moments - 7pm

Recording

I have been recording and mixing new songs at home. This is my usual work flow: Once I composed a new song on the guitar, I program or record a drum pattern that suits the song, and then record the bass line.

After that, I record other instruments with a trial and error method. When I want to add an electric guitar, I record it again and again, until I obtain a satisfying result. This is the fun bit, but it can sometimes take a long time and be frustrating.

Hopefully I can upload some new songs soon!

Visit to Finland

Last month, I was invited by a friend in Finland to perform at a party in a countryside. It was refreshing to stay in a Finnish villege, so different from the hectic life in london. I also visited Helsinki, the capital of Finland. I wish I could visit the country in the winter too.
 

Hello

Welcome to my new blog.
I will post news and updates about my music on this page.
See you soon!