About Chiaki Yoshihara & Ghost

BORN: January 25, 1968; Nagasaki, Japan

Chiaki Yoshihara is Japan's answer to Patti Smith, a woman who is seriously interested in bringing together high art and low three-chord rock & roll. Heavily influenced by Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, the Velvet Underground, Patti Smith, early (30s-50s) Blues, Jazz, R&B, Rock 'n' Roll and beatnik poets of the 60s, Chiaki as found her own style of music which lies somewhere between could be typically labeled punk, or avant garde rock, but in truth Yoshihara's music is it's own genre, earmarked by poetry, passion, keyboards, violin, piano, and guitars used to create an entity that stands apart.

Yoshihara sang in various bands, and even a gospel choir, before learning the guitar and venturing forth to make her own statement in her band Ghost. She is politically charged and socially conscientious, and as a poet, Yoshihara's writings can be abstract and difficult to connect with, but when formed into song, the spirit and passion behind them is evident making the listener understand what she wants to communicate, and the vitality of her message, even when sung in her native language.

Her voice wails and shrieks throughout her recordings and live performances (sometimes dark and chaotic) with a dominating primal growl, but a soft vibrato makes itself know during quieter songs, showing her artistic and intellectual depth. ~ Ted Sterns, 13th Street Entertainment