Singer-songwriter Yuuri uses simple melodies and heartfelt lyrics to create relatable numbers on his first full-length album, Ichi. That approach to music stemmed from the Chiba-born artist’s early musical endeavours. Yuuri originally served as the lead vocalist for classic-rock-indebted band The Bugzy. After that group broke up in 2019, Yuuri turned to busking on Tokyo streets. He switched to an acoustic guitar and quickly caught attention for lively solo performances across the capital. He gained a larger following by launching his online channel in 2020, uploading intimate videos of him playing original songs. This sense of closeness, born out of street performances and online uploads, informs the sound of 2022’s Ichi. Yuuri builds the tracks around acoustic guitar. He often adds percussion to give numbers such as “Kachofugetsu” and “Hikousen”, inspired by childhood favourites like Mr.Children and Spitz, extra energy. He even dabbles in slinky electronics on the unnerving strut of “Smapho Wars”. His evocative voice remains at the centre of each track. Yuuri’s knack for writing love songs built around simple chord progressions turned him into a Japanese star in the build-up to Ichi. The strongest works on his first full-length release are the ballads, like the breakout single, “Dried Flower”. Reflecting on a relationship ending, Yuuri captures the bittersweetness of the moment with piano and acoustic guitar. The song became a massive online hit, topping the most-played charts. “Dried Flower” ushered in a new era of sonic authenticity for J-pop, with more and more artists playing stripped-down cuts. Yuuri set the slower pace, and Ichi offers a blueprint for this 2020s’ ethos, with songs as effective in the karaoke booth as they are heard solo in front of a laptop.