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Nikki Matsumoto spent 15 years in LA, playing and recording original rock
music. His hard rock band Gargoyle and Negro East appeared on a couple
of compilation CD's released in the mid 90's in US.
He used to play electric guitars just like any other musicians in LA. After Coming back to the native land Japan, he has been writing songs for many Japanese artists such as Eizo Sakamoto and Arkstorm.
Apart from song writing work, musically Nikki had been inspired by his
roots, the sound of Asian music. |
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| In Tokyo, Oct.10, 2010 |
Bollyhood Cafe in San Francisco
Apr.1, 2010 |
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He had formed a folk unit called Fallin' Leaf which released 1album in
2006. In 2008, Nikki made a solo album featuring Erhu, the Chinese violin.
And in 2009, his 3 men unit (Asian Folk Rock) played extensively throughout
the first half of the year, highlighted by Tokyo-Osaka tour with a Tasmanian
folk duo, The Sign in June and July.
After the tour, he had
developed his project to a full band. Nikki Matsumoto’s Rock Of Asia
was born. The band leased its debut CD in March 2011. The album
features an unlikely combination of European and Oriental
instruments such as Koto, Shamisen, Erhu and Violin.
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Rock Of Asia is his project. When the band performs, it features different
musicians in a variety of formation. The band played 3 shows in North California
during the spring of 2010. The formation included a Shamisen player and
a violinist, plus a drummer and bassist. But the rest of shows in Japan
that year included Erhu, Sho, Koto and Shamisen players in different formation
from time to time.
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Promo shot, August 2010
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| In Tokyo, Jul. 25, 2010 |
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Cairo Daily News, November 2012 |
The year 2012 was a new chapter for Rock Of Asia. After releasing the 2nd
album on Oct.13th, the band toured in the Middle East, namely Egypt, Israel
and Palestine.
Even though the tour was a success and Rock Of Asia was welcome everywhere
from Cairo to Jerusalem, as soon as they arrived in Palestine, Israel started
bombing Gaza.
They did finish the tour without any issues, but this was a turning point
for the band. The 2nd album was very political. And now Rock Of Asia is
also an activist.
The project released its 3rd album in 2018. Then another Middle East tour
follwed in 2019.
The best album entitled "Asian Anthology" was released in April 2021.And it has received positive reviews throughout the world. The song "Lal Dhaga" won the hearts of music lovers all around the world and rose to No. 25 on Spotify's “Indie Stream Chart”.
And the 4th album TAMI came out in June 2023. Then the South Eastern Asia
tour followed, visting Singapore and Indonesia. |
REVIEWS
Rock of Asia takes a deliciously refreshing, if not outright novel, approach
to songwriting on 2021’s Asian Anthology. Most of the songs are characterized
by intense, perhaps even desultory progressions or movements that defy
expectations, providing an intense listening experience. -Breaking And Entering Milwaukee-
Wholly original and superior, Asian Anthology fuses captivating textures of folk-rock, jazz, and traces of pop into complex washes of music. -INK AND MUSIC-
The instruments and vocals and amazing, swirling, vibrant melodies are
a testament to the creativity and the ingenuity of Nikki Matsumoto and
his band of intrepid and dedicated musicians. -NOHO Arts District-
As an overview, the album has a lot to offer, as the musicianship of all involved is first rate. It introduces a real mix of instruments that I rarely get to listen to and fuses the west with the east in a seamless manner. The songs change direction and take you on an uplifting journey with them. -Rock The Joint Magazine-
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