“…he comes off as effortless, even cool. And it takes a special kind of cool to borrow so many familiar and loaded styles without looking like you're merely dabbling.” – Pitchfork

There is something futuristic and epic about the music of Shugo Tokumaru. With guitar, melodica, wood blocks, banjo, echoey vocals, dream lyrics and the occasional keys, shamisen, flute, toy piano, drums and found instruments such as forks and ashtrays, he creates melodies that wriggle and skip through hazy echoes of 60s folk-rock, chamber pop, psychedelia, traditional Japanese music and electro-pop-rock into an otherworld of genius and dreams.

Unbelievably, Tokyo-based musician Shugo Tokumaru makes almost all of his recorded music in his bedroom with his Mac, a few microphones, many musical instruments (supposedly about 100) and everyday objects played, sampled and mixed by himself.

Yet his music is unlike any other bedroom Pro-Tooler’s you’ve probably ever heard before; his deceptively simple songs are melodic and tightly-crafted. But neither is each album a collection of catchy, well-made ditties; every one presents a world cohesive and rich with wonder, colour and ideas.

Within each are gems that linger long after the music’s stopped… the propulsive, finger-picked Parachute, the bell-bleeps-and-glockenspiel-laden Rum Hee, Green Rain with its clanging percussion and mad melodica refrain, the psychedelic Clocca, the carnivalesque Future Umbrella, the profoundly poignant instrumental Metrion… Everything Shugo creates is a genius blend of mischief and thought, melody and dissonance, the acoustic and electronic, tradition and innovation, lunacy and lucidity.

So far, Shugo has had five much-raved-about releases, played with Animal Collective, DeerHoof, Iron & Wine, Jim O'Rourke, The Magnetic Fields, M.Ward, Jens Lekman, Xiu Xiu, Braxton(Battles), No Age  and Tristeza, performed consecutive sold-out concerts and become an indie sensation in Japan, Europe and the USA.

For this Mosaic concert, he will be performing in a five-man band in which he will play the guitar and sing. This live set will certainly be different from his recordings (which he cannot replicate as he played and multi-tracked each instrument) but if the reviews of his live performances are anything to go by, you’ll be ridiculously happy you went.

Supported by

You are strongly advised to be seated 15 minutes before the performance start time.
No admission will be allowed into the venue once the performance has commenced.
Exceptions may be made at Esplanade's discretion depending on the nature of the performance.

Tickets sold through SISTIC Website, Hotline and Outlets.

IMPORTANT NOTICE
For the enjoyment of all audience members, all events start promptly at the time printed on the ticket. Please be seated 15 minutes before the performance start-time. Entry for latecomers and re-admission will not be permitted until the first appropriate pause in the programme or intermission, if any.

Patrons are advised that with effect from 12 March 2004, an administrative fee of $5 per ticket is payable for all Replacement Tickets issued.

Please note the following conditions:
- Replacement Tickets can only be issued for performances with reserved seating
- No Replacement Ticket will be issued for general admission or 'free seating' performances.
- Replacement Tickets are issued subject to verification of patron's details against our transaction records.
- Esplanade reserves the right to not issue a Replacement Ticket if we are not able to verify the claim.