Best Young Guitarists 40ish & Under: Naia Izumi
Age: 40
Bands: Naia Izumi
Essential Albums: A Residency in the Los Angeles Area by Naia Izumi
There is no one else like Naia Izumi. He is so unique and creative that it seems almost otherworldly. But his music is still incredibly catchy and relatable. His style is so unique it’s almost hard to describe. I have often thought of great guitarists as painters. And I think that’s kind of what Naia is doing with his guitar playing. He is painting intricate, haunting, and beautiful soundscapes of some imaginary world that only exists in his brain, but he’s trying to channel into existence through his guitar.
I first heard about him through Tiny Desk Concerts. He won a tiny desk contest in 2018. The administrators of the contest choose his audition tape out of nearly 5,000 submissions. Since then, he signed a record deal and created a solo album. I"m not a huge fan of his singing, though he has a unique voice and a very broad vocal range. But it is quite amazing that he can sing while simultaneously playing such intricate lines on the guitar. He is a true talent.
HERE is his Tiny Desk concert after winning the contest in 2018.
HERE is the video for his best song (in my humble opinion), "Soft Spoken Person"
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