With her effortlessly smooth vocals and a vibrant, grooving sound world, Japanese singer-songwriter iri cuts a distinctive path through the kaleidoscopic J-pop scene. After kickstarting her career by winning a competition for rising talent in 2014, she immediately set out her stall with an artsy take on R&B in 2016’s Groove it, replete with retro beats and sultry tones. And she’s continued to innovate, often playing with elements of funk, hip-hop and jazz across her extensive body of work.