Shota Shimizu first found his affinity for R&B while in high school in Osaka. Since making his major label debut in 2008, he’s shifted between serving brisk rap couplets and showcasing a crisp, crystalline falsetto in more soulful moods. Drawn to minimalist beats and layered, velvety rhythms, his honeyed vocals sweeten this palette of achingly nostalgic cuts beyond the hits.