Rising Stars: Meet Kiko of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kiko.

Hi Kiko, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve loved singing for as long as I can remember. Growing up in Los Angeles with Japanese roots, I was surrounded by different cultures and styles of music. Over time, jazz became an especially important part of my musical foundation.

My experiences at the Stanford Jazz Workshop have had a huge impact on me. I’ve learned so much about improvisation, storytelling through music, and finding my own voice. In 2025, I received Faculty Recognition, and in 2026, I was honored to receive a scholarship and an Outstanding Musician Award.

More recently, I’ve been developing as a singer/songwriter, writing and creating original music while continuing to grow as a performer. I’ve also had opportunities to connect with people in the music industry in Japan, which has opened up a new chapter for me as I think about where I want to take my music next.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. I suffered from severe childhood asthma until I was about 12, and there were times when even breathing was difficult. But I never wanted to give up singing.

When I was 13, I began working with my vocal coach, Anny Lieberman. Because taking a deep breath was difficult for me, she started by teaching me something very basic but incredibly important—how to breathe properly. From there, I gradually learned how to use and control my breath as a singer. I still study with Anny today, and she continues to be an important part of my growth as a vocalist.

As I continued singing and grew older, my asthma symptoms improved. I never could have imagined that the little girl who once struggled to breathe would one day place second in an international music competition and have the opportunity to sing at Carnegie Hall.

Because of that, singing has always meant much more to me than simply doing something I love. Through music, I’ve learned not to give up on something that truly matters to me just because it may seem difficult or even impossible.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a singer/songwriter, I’m writing original music, performing, and continuing to explore my own artistic voice. I started songwriting when I was 14, and since then, writing has become an increasingly important part of how I express myself through music. Jazz has taught me to improvise, listen, take risks, and tell a story through music, and those ideas influence both the way I sing and the way I write.

Music has been part of my life beyond singing, too. I studied classical piano from age four to 15, started playing flute when I was 10, and picked up guitar at 15. Learning different instruments has helped me experience music from different perspectives and has influenced the way I approach singing and songwriting.

My musical influences are pretty wide-ranging. I listen to music from the 1950s all the way through today, and I draw inspiration from jazz, bossa nova, rock, contemporary music, pop, anime and Studio Ghibli music, K-pop, and J-pop. I especially admire Michael Jackson and Laufey as artists.

Growing up in Los Angeles with Japanese roots has also given me influences from both cultures. Rather than fitting myself into one style or category, I’m interested in taking all of those influences and discovering how they can naturally become part of my own sound.

I’m really grateful for the experiences and honors I’ve received, but what stays with me most is the connection that happens through music—when something I sing reaches someone else in a way that words alone sometimes can’t. That connection is what makes me want to keep creating.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Right now, I’m building my catalog of original music through songwriting, collaboration, performing, and continued study.

I’m still only 16, and I think one of the most exciting things about being an artist at this stage of my life is that I’m still discovering what my sound can become. I want to keep challenging myself, creating, and exploring where jazz, contemporary music, and my Japanese-American influences naturally meet.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yanagi_kiko
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@yanagi_kiko

Image Credits
Yuki Yanagi