Tomokiyo

TOMOKIYO consists of 3 of the most exciting musicians performing in the United Kingdom today. They are Daniel Moriyama, vocalist/bassist; Robert Updegraff III, guitarist; and Pat Levett, drummer. They grew up playing music from a young age in various parts of England and met at college in London, which has been their home since.

Tomokiyo are an alt rock band wielding a dirty blues-laden rhythmic assault, a bitterly romantic underbelly and devastatingly handsome melodies.

Prior to and alongside forming TOMOKIYO in 2008, Dan, Rob and Pat have all been involved with various other musical projects, including collaborations with members of Mercury Prize-nominated band The Invisible, American blues legend Earl Thomas, and co-founder/drummer of iconic New Orleans band The Meters, Zigaboo Modeliste.

Dan was a BBC Young Musician piano finalist at the age of 15 and later one of London's busiest piano/keyboard players, taking up the bass in 2006 when his band at the time needed a bassist, and playing his first gig 6 days later on a borrowed instrument. He is half Japanese and lends the middle name that he inherited from his Grandfather to the band.

Nicknamed 'The Generator', Anglo-American Rob was a guitar prodigy, performing at top international Blues festivals from the age of 14. Now with critically acclaimed collaborations to his name, including Twelves - The Adding Machine, he is renowned throughout the British music scene for his relentless groove and powerful, inventive solos.

Pat is considered as one of the country's outstanding musicians and has performed at major venues and festivals across Europe, Russia and the US with artists such as Bernard Purdie, Tim Minchin & Will Grove-White (Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain).

A mutual love of the blues is the cornerstone of the music that the three musicians bring to TOMOKIYO, and there is great reverence for the original Delta bluesmen as well as the towering American and British artists and bands of the '60s and '70s who they inspired. However, the music of TOMOKIYO is also informed by a huge panoply of other influences which may be less obvious, from folk rock to Motown to the cream of '80s and '90s music from both sides of the Atlantic.

In late 2010, TOMOKIYO checked into a studio in Brixton to record these sounds for the first time, co-producing their debut EP 'TOMOKIYO' with DA27 Productions. Mastered by acclaimed engineer Mandy Parnell (White Stripes, Franz Ferdinand, The Kills), the EP is a 4-track taster of their growing repertoire of alt rock songs with a melodic twist. The group consider themselves a live act first and foremost and the EP reflects that approach, recorded with 'live' performances in the studio and relatively minimal overdubs.

TOMOKIYO's debut EP will receive a summer digital release through the band's website, with fans choosing if/how much they wish to pay. This will be accompanied by a limited run of collectible CD editions to be sold at gigs. Please check Tomokiyo's website for an announcement on the EP launch date and for upcoming UK show dates.

TOMOKIYO are represented by Uma Thaker for Cue Artist Management.