Japanese Soul Artist Nao Yoshioka New Single “Pieces of Me” + Announces New Album self
Japanese Soul Artist Nao Yoshioka
New Single “Pieces of Me”
Celebrates Self-Love
Featuring Vietnamese R&B Sensation Mỹ Anh
Announces New Album self
Featuring a Global Collective of R&B/Soul Artists
Available July 17
New York and DMV Performances This Week
Stream “Pieces of Me” HERE
“Pieces of Me” Music Visual HERE
Pre-Save Album HERE
Photo Credit: SWEET SOUL RECORDS
Japanese R&B/soul artist Nao Yoshioka releases her new single, “Pieces of Me,” a cross-cultural collaboration with Vietnamese R&B artist Mỹ Anh centered on self-love and self-acceptance. Produced by Shuko (Ella Mai, Kanye West), the track brings together two of Asia’s most prominent soul voices, both of whom have built global careers singing R&B and soul in English while navigating questions of identity and belonging. Listen to the song and watch the music video filmed during the recording session [Listen/Watch].
“When Mỹ Anh and I first met, we talked about what kind of emotions we could share as we wanted the song to come naturally from what we had in common,” says Yoshioka. “I was born and raised in Japan, but singing R&B and soul in English often left me feeling uncertain about where I belonged. Mỹ Anh shared similar feelings as she builds her career globally from Vietnam and we immediately connected on that level.”
“Pieces of Me” follows previously released single “Shadow,” a psychedelic, soul duet with neo-soul pioneer Bilal, produced by Corey Bernhard (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert), as well as “You Got to Feel It,” an assured exploration of emotional honesty featuring saxophonist Braxton Cook and Dutch producer Bnnyhunna, and the meditative, nature-inspired anthem “In The Rain.”
The new music arrives alongside the announcement of Yoshioka’s new studio album self arriving July 17. [Pre-Save Here]. The project is a “World Soul Collective,” featuring collaborators from Philadelphia, Chicago, Amsterdam, Hanoi, Helsinki, Tokyo and Taipei with sounds spanning neo-soul, indie, R&B, Afrobeats and spiritual jazz. Guests include Bilal, Jamila Woods, Khari Mateen, Keyon Harrold, Peter CottonTale, Devin Morrison, Raphael Devante, MXXWLL, Sam Wills, Bnnyhunna, Mỹ Anh, Misha and Chien Chien Lu.
self is a deeply personal body of work exploring identity, acceptance and emotional honesty. Yoshioka explains, “This album is the sound of me finally facing and accepting every part of myself—the hopeful side that chased the light and the hidden side that felt weak or ‘never enough. It is about turning that honesty and gratitude toward the people who carried me here into music, without holding anything back.”
In 2025, Yoshioka released Philly Soul Sessions Vol. 2, the second installment of her neo-soul live-session style series recorded with local musicians reimagining her catalog. It followed her 2024 studio album, Flow, which featured collaborations with Takuya Kuroda, Melanie Charles, Reuben James, Jarreau Vandal and MXXWLL, and a world tour spanning eleven countries.
Next month, she continues her immersion into Philadelphia’s soul community as she begins work on Philly Soul Sessions Vol. 3, further expanding her global, collaborative approach to soul music while continuing to explore themes of introspection and resilience.
UPCOMING SHOWS:
May 28 – Rams Head On Stage – Annapolis, MD
May 29 – Nublu – New York, NY
May 30 – BlackRock Center for the Arts – Germantown, MD
self TRACKLIST:
1) Changes ft. Devin Morrison
2) You Got to Feel It ft. Bnnyhunna and Braxton Cook
3) Safe Place ft. Jamila Woods
4) Pieces of Me ft. Mỹ Anh
5) In the Rain ft. MXXWLL
6) All I Wish
7) Inner Universe
8) Shadow ft. Bilal
9) Heartbeat ft. Khari Mateen
10) Side of You
11) Yet to Come ft. Keyon Harrold
12) Shelter ft. Sam Wills
About Nao Yoshioka:
Nao Yoshioka is a rare and authentic soul singer whose work has reached audiences around the world. Born and raised in Japan, a country shaped by a strong monocultural identity, she has developed a voice that moves beyond those borders and stands out as an exceptional presence through international performances, festival appearances and collaborations that have reinforced her reputation as a global ambassador for modern soul. After moving alone to New York, she encountered the true depth of soul after Sam Cooke’s music resonated with her own inner world and she chose a path devoted to creating songs that touch the deepest parts of the human experience.
Her music has been praised by Rolling Stone (“impeccable neo-soul”), Billboard (“Fresh Pick Of The Week”), EARMILK (“one of the most exciting new talents”) and more. Her powerful and resonant voice carries the strength once heard in artists like Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston, while reflecting the sensibilities of contemporary soul. This artistry was captured in her Tokyo Funk Sessions at Blue Note Japan which has surpassed 5 million views on YouTube and became a viral moment and a testament to her natural command on the stage. In 2018, Yoshioka made history as the first Japanese artist to reach No. 32 on the Billboard Urban Adult Contemporary chart.
Beyond being named SoulTracks Female Vocalist of the Year, Yoshioka has continued to build momentum on the world stage with international performances including the Apollo Theatre and headline shows at Blue Note New York, London Jazz Cafe, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club and Blue Note Tokyo. She’s also appeared at major events such as New York Winter Jazz Festival and Capital Jazz Fest.
Her discography features a world-class list of collaborators including Jon Batiste, James Poyser(The Roots) and Nathan East as well as Grammy-nominated producer Khari Mateen and Grammy-nominated singer Eric Roberson. Currently, she is working on her next project self and continuing to shape a new chapter in today’s soul music.
CONNECT WITH NAO YOSHIOKA: