Nikki Matsumoto's Rock Of Asia
Projects
Nikki Matsumoto spent 15 years in LA, playing and recording original rock music. His hard rock band Gargoyle and Negro East appeared on a couple of compilation CD's released in the mid 90's in US.

He used to play electric guitars just like any other musicians in LA. After Coming back to the native land Japan, he has been writing songs for many Japanese artists such as Eizo Sakamoto and Arkstorm.

Apart from song writing work, musically Nikki had been inspired by his roots, the sound of Asian music.
In Tokyo, Oct.10, 2010



Bollyhood Cafe in San Francisco Apr.1, 2010
      He had formed a folk unit called Fallin' Leaf which released 1album in 2006. In 2008, Nikki made a solo album featuring Erhu, the Chinese violin. And in 2009, his 3 men unit (Asian Folk Rock) played extensively throughout the first half of the year, highlighted by Tokyo-Osaka tour with a Tasmanian folk duo, The Sign in June and July.

After the tour, he had developed his project to a full band. Nikki Matsumoto’s Rock Of Asia was born. The band leased its debut CD in March 2011. The album features an unlikely combination of European and Oriental instruments such as Koto, Shamisen, Erhu and Violin.


Rock Of Asia is his project. When the band performs, it features different musicians in a variety of formation. The band played 3 shows in North California during the spring of 2010. The formation included a Shamisen player and a violinist, plus a drummer and bassist. But the rest of shows in Japan that year included Erhu, Sho, Koto and Shamisen players in different formation from time to time.



Promo shot, August 2010
In Tokyo, Jul. 25, 2010  



Cairo Daily News, November 2012
The year 2012 was a new chapter for Rock Of Asia. After releasing the 2nd album on Oct.13th, the band toured in the Middle East, namely Egypt, Israel and Palestine.

Even though the tour was a success and Rock Of Asia was welcome everywhere from Cairo to Jerusalem, as soon as they arrived in Palestine, Israel started bombing Gaza.

They did finish the tour without any issues, but this was a turning point for the band. The 2nd album was very political. And now Rock Of Asia is also an activist.

The project released its 3rd album in 2018. Then another Middle East tour follwed in 2019.

Rock Of Asi's latest CD is the best album entitled "Asian Anthology" released in April 2021.And it has received positive reviews throughout the world.

REVIEWS

Rock of Asia takes a deliciously refreshing, if not outright novel, approach to songwriting on 2021’s Asian Anthology. Most of the songs are characterized by intense, perhaps even desultory progressions or movements that defy expectations, providing an intense listening experience. -Breaking And Entering Milwaukee-

Wholly original and superior, Asian Anthology fuses captivating textures of folk-rock, jazz, and traces of pop into complex washes of music. -INK AND MUSIC-

The instruments and vocals and amazing, swirling, vibrant melodies are a testament to the creativity and the ingenuity of Nikki Matsumoto and his band of intrepid and dedicated musicians. -NOHO Arts District-

Independent Music Promotions  2021/7/26 Ink And Music 2021/8/15
Breaking And Entering Milwaukee 2021/8/15 NOHO Arts District 2021/08/23
Living Life Fearless 2021/8/31 Vinyl Chapters 2021/9/1
Tatoo.com 2021/9/1 With Guitars 2021/9/2
Metropolis  2021/05/14 Movie Boozer  2021/9/3
NewsBreak.com   2021/Sep antiMusic  2021/Sep
Raised By Cassettes  2021/9/15 Headstuff  2021/9/20
NOW HEAR THIS  2021/9/30 ARTpublika Magazine  2021/10/11
artpublika_mag Blog  2021/10/17 Interveiw by NOHO ArtDistrict  2022/2/14



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