SHOTA

Melodic singer/songwriter SHoTA, pronounced 'show-ta', is a throwback, influenced by 60s-era rootsy rock with an undeniable southern California style. You can hear the hints of Jack Johnson and John Mayer blended with a  decidedly more hypnotic sensual intensity.
Never influenced by convention, the 21-year-old vegan is not only unique, but sophisticated and defiant. SHoTA has made music all his life. It was his escape and his joy, especially when he was a kid. A longing to connect and an absolute disdain for convention led to his dropping out of school at 16 to pursue his passion. Making music is and has always been about 'flying towards the future' which is exactly what his name means in Japanese. 
This 'flight' of life began before he took his first breath. Conceived in Hawaii and born in Las Vegas to a Japanese mother and and Italian-American father, SHoTA had the fortune of seeing the world long before he arrived in Tokyo at the age of 17. Now he lives in Los Angeles immersed in music scene and lifestyle, an accomplished clarinetist and piano player.
SHoTA's sheer musicality manifested after moving to Japan. He bought a guitar, taught himself how to play and started writing. The initial focus was hip-hop but his sound evolved into something multi-faceted including songs about unrequited love, infatuation, bliss, and heartbreak. His music boasts a rap like lyrical feel with a classical attention to structure, with poignant pop hooks that shine through the pain and polarity.
"I just want people to feel the way other artists make me feel. That powerful connection. When I was playing classical music, I was covering Bach and Mozart. Now that I write my own music, everyone can see who I am, and that is so much more rewarding."