First Step

Artist Profile

• Kent Nishimura

  Born on March 1, 2003 in Osaka, Japan. At his age 5, Kent began to play (acoustic) guitar which was given as a Christmas gift, as he told his parents that he wants to get his own guitar.
 He sings with guitar for the first one year and his repertoire was Japanese rock and pops hit songs. At his age, he listen to an acoustic guitar instrumental tune by Kotaro Oshio and it changed Kent's life. 
 At the time, Kent actually declared to his family "I will go as an acoustic guitarist from now on!!", although Kent doesn't remember that at all. Watching Kotaro's videos on YouTube, he has been copying many original songs of Kotaro as perfectly which surprised Kotaro himself. 
 Kent was copying many repertoires by many foreign fingerstyle solo guitarists, such as Michael Hedges, Don Ross, Andy McKee, Antoine Dufour, and Tommy Emmanuel to name a few. At about the age of 10, people heard that there is a kid who can play acoustic solo guitar very well in Osaka and Kent was offered for many music events in the Osaka area. 

At the age 12, he released his debut album entitled "FIRST STEP" on an independent label in Kyoto, Slice of Life Records. 

Kotaro Oshio invited Kent as a special guest for his popular radio music program right after the album was out. April 2017, at the age of 14, Kent attended for the first time the National Fingerstyle guitar competition's final national tournament in Japan, the 17th annual FINGERPICKING DAY 2017, and won in the competition as the youngest grand champion in history. His first album FIRST STEP moved not only many pro's pro musicians such as Tommy Emmanuel and Andy McKee but George Lowden who is a legendary luthier of Lowden Guitars. Mr. Lowden built up a brand new guitar for Kent after he asked Kent about his favorite woods for the top, side, and back of the guitar. As a result, 6 months later, Kent got a Lowden F-35 with an inlay of the letter KENT on the 12 frets as a gift from Mr. Lowden. In May 2017, Kent released a second solo album entitled "2" with 13 songs of his original arrangements and 1 original composition "Desert Island". His solo guitar play on those original arrangements for fingerstyle guitar with no overdub surprised many pro musicians, music media, and (of course) music fans. In August 2017, Kent was invited to a dressing room of Tommy Emmanuel between his 1st and 2nd show. Kent asked Tommy to his guitar in the room and played his original arrangement of "Drive My Car", the Beatles' song from their "Rubber Soul" album. After he finished the song, Tommy requested him to play the song for his 2nd show. Tommy introduced Kent as a special guest at the end of the 2nd show and Kent played the song for the capacity audience that night. In September 2017, Al McKay invited Kent to a show his band AL McKAY ALLSTARS at a venue in Osaka. Kent brought his guitar with him to play a full version of "September" for him in his dressing room. He requested Kent to play the song at their encore. Kent did a very good job in a front of houseful audience. Trying to be compatible with study as a high school student and musical actions as an artist, he has been performing more than 2-hour solo concerts all over Japan.

  Artist page

  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 

  ---

  Kent Nishimuraの他のリリース

  • 

    Kent Nishimura 2 Kent Nishimura
  • 

    My Favorite Songs Kent Nishimura
  • 

    Just Once Kent Nishimura
  • 

    Hello (Cover) Kent Nishimura