Naia Izumi

Naia Izumi is an American virtuoso guitarist and singer songwriter from Columbus, Georgia.^[1]

Izumi busking on the streets of Los Angeles in 2017

Early life

Izumi received his first guitar by age 10. He learned how to play the instrument in a closet, hiding from his father, who disapproved of his interest in creating music.^[2] His mother is a choir director.^[3]

At the age of 16, Izumi was diagnosed with autism. He is open about being autistic, and describes it as "not a problem but instead a unique brain chemistry one can use to accomplish the unexpected".^[4][5]

Career

Izumi began his music career busking on the streets of Los Angeles.^[1] Filmmaker Suzuya Bobo met Izumi in LA and offered to create a music video for him. She suggested he submit a song to the NPR Tiny Desk Contest.^[2]

In 2018, at age 34, Izumi won the fourth annual NPR Music Tiny Desk Contest with his song "Soft Spoken".^[6][7][8] According to the series' creator, Bob Boilen, Izumi "impressed the judges with his intricate, complex guitar playing and his sweet, emotive voice."^[9] The competition was judged by Boilen, Tarriona "Tank" Ball, Sylvan Esso, and Gaby Moreno.^[10] Izumi was surprised to learn he had won, because he forgot he had entered the contest.^[11] Following his win, he played a 10-city national tour.^[10]

In 2019, Izumi signed to Sony Masterworks.^[12] He is sponsored by Fender.^[13][14]

On July 30, 2021, Sony Masterworks released Izumi's debut album, A Residency in the Los Angeles Area. On the album, he played vocals, guitar, bass, drums, Japanese Koto, mandolin, and cittern. Izumi was influenced by King Crimson, Musiq Soulchild, and Shakti.^[15] American Songwriter wrote, "it's amazing to see an artist like Izumi make a bold, exciting new sound out of the cherished, ol' six-string. That's raw, unabashed creativity."^[16]

In 2022, Izumi played a concert in Bushwick to raise money for abortion access.^[2]

Releases

Albums

• A Residency in the Los Angeles Area (2021)^[17]

Singles

• "Soft Spoken"^[18] (2018)^[19]
• "Our Gravity"^[20] (2019)^[21]

Shows

• Naia Izumi: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert^[22] (2018)

Personal life

Izumi resides in Los Angeles, California.^[1] He identified as genderfluid, then as a transgender woman for seven years, but now identifies as a cisgender man.^[3][11] The song that won the Tiny Desk Concert was originally titled "Soft Spoken Woman", and was written about his experiences as a woman.^[23]