Mika Yamaoka
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Artist Profile
Mika YamaokaMika Yamaoka - Jazz Vocalist
Born in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
From a young age, Mika studied vocal music. While in school, she was discovered by scouts for her talent in guitar and singing, which led to a potential career as a professional musician. However, she temporarily stepped away from music to explore her own direction. Her love for singing eventually brought her back to the music world.
Mika trained under the renowned vocalist Ramona, developing into a deeply expressive jazz vocalist. She gained widespread attention when she was chosen as the first vocalist for the JAZZ LIVE series at Starbucks Coffee, which brought authentic live performances from the U.S. to Japan. Her powerful voice earned high praise.
For three consecutive years, she ranked in the top tier of the Jazz Singers category on the popular portal site JAZZPAGE. She has collaborated with jazz icons such as George Kawaguchi, Yuzuru Sera, and Shinichi Yanagisawa, and has also performed with artists across genres like Tetsuya Hataya from EGO-WRAPPIN and reggae musician Moomin.
Mika released two albums: her debut duo album Chambre, recorded with Akira Ono, a guitarist known for his work with artists like Hiromi Go, TVXQ, Milia Kato, and Thelma Aoyama; and Paint Box, featuring members of Jake Shimabukuro touring band.
Her English version of Kyu Sakamoto iconic song Look Up at the Stars at Night, featured on her first album Chambre, gained widespread attention on YouTube, where her voice continues to resonate with audiences across borders.
Mika is also a successful podcast host of the show Mika Favorites, where her unique blend of talk and music earned her fifth place in the overall music category. She further showcased her versatility by serving as a radio personality for Radio Shonan, where her original jingle, created with voice and percussion, became a hit.
Currently, Mika regularly performs at top jazz clubs like Motion Blue Yokohama, operated by Blue Note Tokyo, and JZ Brat. She continues to appear at events, concert halls, lounges, cafes, and jazz clubs around the Tokyo metropolitan area. Expanding her horizons, she also performs at cultural venues such as BankArt1929 and other museums and cultural institutions across Japan.
Genre: JAZZActive Area: Japan,Tokyo