Ichiko Aoba - "SONAR"

Photo by Yuichiro Noda

Ichiko Aoba's latest single might be the single most beautiful song we've ever brought you. "SONAR" is a stripped down and lush track that merges classical guitar with pop music. Rarely is a song this minimalist while still sounding as full as Aoba has managed here. The true secret of "SONAR" is how painfully quiet it is. Most songs demand your attention with noise and volume. This one does it by how quiet it is. If you want to listen (and you truly do want to), you'll need to drop virtually everything to focus on this one. By giving "SONAR" your full attention, the listener is heartily rewarded with a stunning piece of art.

You can watch the video for "SONAR" below. Luminescent Creatures is due out February 28 on hermine/Psychic Hotline, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Ichiko Aoba, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video and include a May 12 date at Berklee Performance Center.

Mon. Feb. 24 - Hong Kong, CN @ Xi Qu Centre, Grand Theatre [with Musicians from HK Phil] Wed. Feb. 26 - Seoul, KR @ Sky Arts Hall (SOLD OUT) Thu. Feb 27 - Seoul, KR @ Sky Arts Hall Thu. March 6 - Taipei, TW @ Zhongshan Hall (SOLD OUT) Mon. March 10 - Barcelona, ES @ Paral.lel 62 Tue. March 11 - Valencia, ES @ Teatro Rambleta Thu. March 13 - Milan, IT @ Auditorium San Fedele (SOLD OUT) Sat. March 15 - Zurich, CH @ Mascotte Tue. March 18 - Hamburg, DE @ Laiszhalle Wed. March 19 - Berlin, DE @ Urania (Humboldtsaal) Fri. March 21 - Utrecht, NL @ TivoliVredenburg (Grote Zaal) (SOLD OUT) Sun. March 23 - Groningen, NL @ Oosterpoort Tue. March 25 - Antwerp, BE @ De Roma Thu. March 27 - Paris, FR @ La Trianon (SOLD OUT) Mon. March 31 - London, UK @ Barbican [with 12 Ensemble] (SOLD OUT) Wed. April 2 - Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall (SOLD OUT) Fri. April 4 - Gateshead, UK @ The Glasshouse Sat. April 5 - Glasgow, UK @ City Halls Thu. April 17 - Honolulu, HI @ Hawaii Theatre Sat. April 19 - Vancouver, BC @ Chan Centre (SOLD OUT) Sun. April 20 - Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall Mon. April 21 - Seattle, WA @ The Moore Wed. April 23 - Oakland, CA @ Fox Oakland Sat. April 26 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern [with Wordless Music Quintet] Sun. April 27 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern [with Wordless Music Quintet] Tue. April 29 - Scottsdale, AZ @ Scottsdale Center Thu. May 1 - Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre Sat. May 3 - St. Paul, MN @ Fitzgerald Theatre (SOLD OUT) Sun. May 4- St Paul, MN @ Fitzgerald Theatre Tue. May 6 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall Wed. May 7 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall Fri. May 9 - Detroit, MI @ Masonic Cathedral Theatre Sat. May 10 - Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theatre Mon. May 12 - Boston, MA @ Berklee Performance Center Wed. May 14 - New York, NY @ Kings Theatre [with Wordless Music Quintet] Sat. May 17 - Philadelphia, PA @ Miller Theatre Sun. May 18 - Washington, DC @ Warner Theatre Thu. May 22 - Mexico City, MX @ Teatro Metropolitan