Nao Yoshioka is a rare and authentic soul singer whose work has reached audiences around the world. Born and raised in Japan, a country shaped by a strong monocultural identity, she has developed a voice that moves beyond those borders and stands out as an exceptional presence in global soul music.

After moving alone to New York, she encountered the true depth of soul. The moment Sam Cooke’s music resonated with her own inner world, she chose a path devoted to creating songs that touch the deepest parts of the human experience.

Her powerful and resonant voice carries the strength once heard in artists like Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston, while reflecting the sensibilities of contemporary soul. Her live performance, which has surpassed 5 million views on YouTube, became a viral moment and revealed her natural command as a live artist.

She has headlined at Blue Note New York and London Jazz Cafe, and performed at international festivals including Java Jazz Festival and Capital Jazz Fest. Nao also became the first Japanese artist to reach No. 32 on the Billboard UAC chart, drawing listeners across cultures and regions.

In 2024, she released her fifth album Flow and completed a world tour that covered eleven countries across Asia, Europe, and the United States.

She is currently working on her next project, shaping a new chapter in today’s soul music.

With a voice that resonates deeply and beautifully, Nao Yoshioka continues to make a meaningful and lasting mark on the global soul scene.

NOTABLES

Shows:

Blue Note Tokyo (2014), Summer Sonic Tokyo (2015), Hideaway Streatham UK (2016), Kawasaki Jazz Festival with guest appearance by Eric Roberson (2017), opened for Les Nubians at the Highline Ballroom, NY “Celebrating 20+ years as Les Nubians!!” (2018), Circle of Sisters sponsored by WBLS (2019), San Jose Jazz Summer Fest (2019), Joe’s Pub NYC (2019), Blue Note Tokyo (2020), JAZZ AUDITORIA ONLINE 2021 (2021), Nao Yoshioka Coming Home Live 2021 (Billboard Live OSAKA) (2021), Nao Yoshioka Japan Tour 2021 -Rising After the Fall- (Beat Station Fukuoka, cube Garden Sapporo, WWW X Shibuya, Banana Hall Osaka (2021), Nao Yoshioka Tokyo Funk Sessions 2022 (Blue Note Tokyo) (2022), Blue Note Tokyo All-star Jazz Orchestra Directed by Eric Miyashiro with Special Guest Nao Yoshioka & Michael Kaneko (Blue Note Tokyo) (2022), Nao Yoshioka Osaka Funk Sessions 2022 (Billboard Live Osaka) (2022), Nao Yoshioka Tokyo 2020 Release Party At OPRCT Tokyo (2022), PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho), London (2022), Java Jazz Festival (JJF), Jakarta (2023), New Morning, Paris (2023), Jazz Cafe, London (2023), TivoliVredenburg Club9, Netherlands (2023), Music Matters Live, Singapore (2024), Omeara, London (2024), Gretchen, Berlin (2024), Jazz Weekender 2024, New Delhi (2024), SXSW Sydney, Sydney (2024), NYC Winter Jazz Festival, New York (2025), City Winery Philadelphia, Philadelphia (2025), Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis (2025), Blue Note Beijing and Blue Note Shanghai (2025), 2025 Northern International Audio & Visual Show, Penang (2025), Missy Lane’s Block Party, Durham NC (2025).

Releases:

Released first single ‘Make the Change’ (2012), released debut album ‘The Light’ (2013), debut album ‘The Light’ North America release (2015), released 2nd album ‘Rising’ (2015), released 3rd album ‘The Truth’ (Japan 2016/US 2018), released 4th album ‘Undeniable’ (2019), released 5th album ‘Flow’ (2024), released ‘Flow (Deluxe Edition)’ (2025).

Awards & Competitions:

Reached final stage McDonald’s Gospelfest (2010), runner-up Apollo Theater Amateur Night (2011), named SoulTracks’ 2015 Readers’ Choice Awards “New Artist of the Year” (2015), named to SoulTrain.com’s 2016 R&B Freshman Class (2016), became Grammy Awards Voting Member (2016), Winner 2018 UK Bright Star Award for “Best International Artist” (2018), nominated SoulTracks’ 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards “Female Vocalist of the Year” (2019), nominated SoulTracks’ 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards “Female Vocalist of the Year” (2024).

Click Here For Promo