Rei

Rei is a Japanese singer-songwriter and guitarist known for her blend of blues, rock, pop, and jazz music. Born in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, she spent part of her childhood in New York City, where she began studying classical guitar at age four and discovered blues music shortly after. Her upbringing in both Japan and the United States heavily influenced her technique and her bilingual songwriting in English and Japanese.

Rei launched her professional solo career in Japan, releasing her debut mini-album BLU in 2015, co-produced by Ryosuke Nagaoka. Over the following years, she built a reputation for her high-level guitar playing and live energy, leading to appearances at major international music events including the SXSW Music Festival, Java Jazz Festival, and Les Eurockeennes. In 2017, she became the first Japanese musician to perform a live music set at TED NYC.

Her self-titled debut full-length studio album, REI, was later released internationally through the Verve Forecast label. In 2022, she released the collaborative album QUILT, which featured guest performances from notable artists such as Haruomi Hosono, Masayoshi Yamazaki, and Cory Wong. Beyond her recorded catalog, Rei has engaged in high-profile brand collaborations, including entering a partnership with Fender in 2023.

Rei continues to record, tour, and participate in cross-genre musical collaborations. Her body of work spans multiple mini-albums, collaborative releases, and major live performance appearances across Japan and internationally.