Yosuke Shimonaka - SHIMONAKA - Japan Vinyl LP Record

Credits:

Yosuke Shimonaka

Description:

This summer’s hottest release yet, as his debut single “PrivateJet” is already starting to gain attention overseas. DYGL’s Yosuke Shimonaka’s debut album *SHIMONAKA* is finally coming out on vinyl! In 2026, it’ll be summer all year round with this guitar. Tropical sounds arriving from beyond the horizon. A groove that makes you want to keep driving down the highway forever. “SHIMONAKA,” the debut album marking guitarist Yosuke Shimonaka’s metamorphosis, debuted at No. 1 (according to Eternally Summer)?! Yosuke Shimonaka has traveled the globe as the guitarist for the indie rock band DYGL and captivated audiences with his twin-guitar duets alongside Takuro Okada in neveryoungbeach. This summer, as the mesmerizing guitar hero “SHIMONAKA,” he sets sail on a new sonic cruise. J-Fusion and crossover—genres that evolved uniquely in Japan during the ’70s and ’80s—have in recent years crossed the seas, once again garnering enthusiastic support from young listeners around the world. While this album inherits that legacy, it is far more than just a nostalgic throwback. Midsummer light, city nightscapes, tropical humidity, and the melancholy and exhilaration flowing from the car stereo. It is a new-generation tropical instrumental album that updates “the future of that era” with a 2026 sensibility. “SHIMONAKA’s” guitar brings summer with it. Having been played not in the jazz scene but on the front lines of rock bands, Shimona’s guitar sound is light yet somehow rugged. “There are as many melodies as there are waves.” Centered around this guitar sound, the performances of talented musicians—including Yu Taniguchi (Key, Syn), toyo (Ba), Hayate Ebihara (Dr), and Kazuhiko Masumura (Per)—intertwine to create a supreme “coconut groove.” Furthermore, the Amazons—who have long graced the Japanese pop scene with their vibrant vocal harmonies—contribute to three tracks. Their harmonies, like a breeze blowing through palm trees, envelop the entire album in a dazzling glow. Whether it’s a drive for two or a night spent alone, this sound has you covered. Let’s be clear. We’ve been waiting for “music that makes us smile” just like this. The mixing was handled by Takuro Okada, the musician whose album *Konoma*—released on the LA-based label *TemporalDrift*—has been generating buzz among music fans worldwide. Mastering was handled by Dave Cooley, also based in LA. This release comes from the independent label *Thaian Records*, run by Yuma Abe, whom both Shimonaka and Tomoyuki deeply admire. Seaside tuning complete. This pulsating sound represents a new form of “Japanese Modern Music” that resonates with the global reappraisal of Japanese music. The vinyl edition is a strictly limited release, set to drop in September while the lingering echoes of summer still hang in the air. However, summer isn’t the only season this sound is suited for. It’s music that rides the waves year-round, transcending the seasons.

Tracklisting:

1.Private Jet
2.Coconut Groovin'
3.Rainy Harbor
4.Synthesized Reality
5.Sucker Punch
6.Aquarium Memory
7.Don't Be (too) Sad
8.Jojo's Heaven