Introducing Nao Yoshioka the Japanese soul singer who advanced to the “Top Dog”round at The Apollo Theater, and Japan’s Soul Music Representative Japanese progressive soul singer Nao Yoshioka combines a powerful voice and NewYork-powered form of delivery to create a modern taste still deeply rooted in the history of soul. In the two and a half years from 2009 that she spent in New York, Nao reached the Apollo Theater Amateur Night “Top Dog” round and also made it to the final stage of the McDonald’s Gospelfest from amongst 40,000 other contestants.
Since her single “Make the Change” was released by SWEET SOUL RECORDS in  2012, she has been dubbed the Japanese Alicia Keys while also receiving praise from Grammy-winning artist Gordon Chambers. In November 2013 when her debut album “The Light” was released, the single “Spend My Life” was featured in a TV commercial that garnered national attention. The album title song “TheLight” also saw heavy rotation on one of the largest radio stations in the Kansai region (Osaka) FM802.
In May 2014 Nao and Brian Owens, who is also the producer of “Spend My Life,”made their Blue Note Tokyo debut, taking their place amongst the many talented artists from around the world who have graced that sacred stage, and exception all yearly in her young career… only 6 months after her debut album release.
In addition, in August of the same year she was invited to perform at the 14,000 capacity summer festival “MEET THE WORLD BEAT” hosted by FM802, while already having her sights set on the upcoming Make the Change Tour 2014 in theUSA and Europe, performing together with other Make the Change Project members, Brian Owens (US), Quentin Moore (US), and Shirma Rouse (NL).
The stage has been set for this talented young soul singer — Japan’s soul music representative — to spread her wings and take flight.

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