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Musical collective Rock of Asia returns with an illuminating new album “TAMI”

By Kath Galasso on September 25, 2023

Nikki Matsumoto and his boundary-smashing musical collective Rock of Asia have returned with an illuminating, magisterial new album entitled “TAMI”, released June 16th on digital platforms. The prolific multi-instrumentalist composer and his esteemed bandmates have further evolved their original vision on this release to create something bold and revolutionary. “TAMI” is meaning-infused Japanese Folk Rock which transcends cultural and political boundaries, creating a truly soul-rattling experience.

Rock Of Asia’s unique musical fusion blends Western instruments like the guitar and violin with Eastern instruments like the koto, shamisen, sho, and erhu. In other words, this music has rock at it’s core, but it carries an ancient, traditional power that is undeniable on first listen.

The band have recently undergone a brief tour of Asia, performing some of the previously unreleased songs for Singaporean and Indonesian audiences.

Adventurous listeners will find refuge and monolithic spirits pervading this epic new offering from Rock Of Asia. “TAMI” is the band’s 4th album. The album is accompanied by a music video for the title track.

Listen or purchase “TAMI” on Bandcamp.
Stream “TAMI” on Spotify.

Watch the official music video for the title track.

Musician Names/Instruments:
Nikki Matsumoto (Vocals, Biwa, Sanshin, Guitars, Bass, Programming & Percussions)
Yasuhisa Murase (Acoustic Guitar）
Kizen Ohyama (Shakuhachi)
Yuki Ishii (Violin)
Producer Name(s): Nikki Matsumoto

Tracklist:
1. TAMI (4:39)
2. Four-Legged Requiem (4:53)
3. Sunbright (4:00)
4. Capital In Your Vein (4:30)
5. Eastern Eyes (4:33)
6. El Condor Pasa (4:33)
7. Keep yourself Alive (3:34)
8. Stranger In The Homeland (5:41)
9. Tomorrow (3:00)

Websites:
Official Website: rockofasia.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rockofasia
Spotify
Bandcamp: https://rockofasia.bandcamp.com
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCiur_M5Drs3h9-jDfxCvckw

Artist Biography:

Nikki Matsumoto, who played rock music professionally for 15 years in America, founded the group project known as ROCK OF ASIA. ROCK OF ASIA is a musical genre that blends Western instruments like the guitar and violin with Eastern instruments like the koto, shamisen, sho, and erhu.

ROCK OF ASIA plays traditional Japanese music in addition to its original and cover songs. Since the group’s founding in the winter of 2010, live performances have been ongoing. When ROCK OF ASIA arrived in Northern California in April 2010 for 3 performances in the Bay Area, American music fans welcomed them with open arms.

The group’s self-titled debut record was made available on March 11, 2011. Nikki Matsumoto postponed all of his tour plans because this date fell on the same day as the Japan massive earthquake and tsunami and spent the next 6 months volunteering to help the disaster stricken victims.

ROCK OF ASIA paid homage to the Arab Spring movement in 2012 by touring the Middle East and releasing their second album, “Virtual Colony.” The band performed 8 concerts in the Middle East, including appearances at the Cairo Opera House, the Embassy of Japan in Cairo, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the Holy Square of the Nativity Church in Bethlehem.

Nikki Matsumoto worked on his solo project “Palestine On My Mind,” which is dedicated to Palestine, for the following 4 years while touring primarily in Palestine, which included the Bet Lahem Live Festival in 2015 and 2016.

2019 saw the release of ROCK OF ASIA’s third album, “The Ancient,” and the band returned to the Middle East to perform as the headliner at the Opera House in Cairo. In order to mark the tenth anniversary of its debut album, it created the finest collection album entitled, “Asian Anthology,” in 2021. 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”.

The first half of 2023 has been used to create a fresh, enlightening studio album called “TAMI” and go on a brief tour of Asia, performing some of the previously unreleased songs for Singaporean and Indonesian audiences.