Yuko Mabuchi On 5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career in The Music Industry
An Interview With Susan Johnston
I have always liked the idea if singing and so I try to perform one or two vocals during my sets. There is a big difference between Japanese and American audiences. When I sung in front of Japanese audience, they did not take me seriously. Because my vocals were not perfect, I was told that maybe I should not sing. When I perform in America people enjoy my accent, they don’t expect me to sing perfect English.
As a part of our series about creating a successful career in the music industry, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Yuko Mabuchi.
In the world of music, there are artists who follow trends and those who create them. Yuko Mabuchi firmly belongs in the latter category. Hailing from Japan, she is currently taking the global music scene by storm, showcasing her awe-inspiring talent as a pianist while staying true to her roots.
At the tender age of four, Yuko found her rhythm in the world of classical piano in her hometown of Fukui. However, she didn’t stay confined to just one genre. Growing up, she was drawn towards American R&B, Hip-Hop, and Blues, but it was jazz that struck a chord deep within her.
In fact, jazz captivated her so much that she dedicated her post-high school years to studying jazz piano. This early initiation into a multitude of genres fueled her music into an exotic mix, making it as unique as the artist herself.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
I was born in a small Japanese town and my mother was a classical piano teacher. When I was four, instead of giving me lessons, she took me to a friend to teach me music. I learned really quickly and did many serious competitions as a child. I also received additional lessons from a visiting teacher from Osaka. In Jr High School I began traveling to Osaka for private lessons. I was also on the track team but continued my music. In high school my motivation slowed down and I was less interested in classical and more interested in other genres.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
I listened to American popular music and Latin music that my father, who was a dancer, played constantly at home and in his car. I continued listening to American R&B and Funk and enjoyed the sounds and rhythms. One day I tried to play a popular jazz tune, Just The Two of Us, by ear, but I couldn’t figure it out. I decided to learn jazz and I began going to Jazz concerts. I fell in love with improvisation and the freedom that it gives a musician. The rhythmic music, with the many grooves and tempos was exciting to me.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
I met jazz pianist, Billy Mitchell, when I came to the US to study Jazz. He was teaching at the music academy in LA when I decided to come there instead of Berkeley in Boston. The scholarship that I had received from Berkeley was not enough to allow me to live in such an expensive city. At the Music Performance Academy, we learned a lot about being an artist. Billy invited students to jam sessions where we had the chance to play with professionals. He produced a demo CD on me and some of my music, and has been working with me ever since.
Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that occurred to you in the course of your career?
I have always liked the idea if singing and so I try to perform one or two vocals during my sets. There is a big difference between Japanese and American audiences. When I sung in front of Japanese audience, they did not take me seriously. Because my vocals were not perfect, I was told that maybe I should not sing. When I perform in America people enjoy my accent, they don’t expect me to sing perfect English.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I can’t say that I’ve made any big mistakes. If I were alone trying to get through to the music business, I’m sure I would make many mistakes. But I have been fortunate to have people producing and managing me that have helped me avoid mistakes.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
I think that music genres are closer than people realize, and that classical and jazz have similar roots. I’m working on a project that blends the two together. It’s a tribute to Mozart because I believe that if Mozart was born today, I think he’d be a jazz musician. I also love Latin music and Caribbean music and I’m working on a project with Brazilian influences. I’m playing classic Brazilian music in my own style. This follows my last project that captured the flavors of Caribbean music mixes with jazz and blues. I have not had experience in these countries so I could only try to imitate their music. But I could honor their music by playing it the way I hear it, and playing it from my heart (inside).
You have been blessed with success in a career path that can be challenging. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?
You have to have a real love and respect for music. If you do not, when all the problems come you may not feel strong and you may want to quit. But if you have a real love of music, you will never quit. You will always continue, no matter what.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in the music industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
Don’t do just one thing. Try different styles and genres. When you don’t enjoy doing what you’re doing, do something else! You can even take a break from music when the problems seem too big to handle. If you have real love for music, you will always come back to it!
5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career in The Music Industry” and why? If you can, please share a story or example for each.
1) personality — if you have a bad personality, and people don’t like you, things can get rough. 2) strong mentality — you have to be able to focus on your goal and not be distracted 3) perseverance — being a positive person helps you not to quit 4) practice — to perform well and be confident you have to practice 5) communication — I try to communicate with my audience regularly
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
I would provide more opportunity music education. I volunteer with a music program in Watts, a very poor area of Los Angeles. We provide free music lessons to disadvantaged youngsters. There are music programs around the world, but we need so many more. Especially for families who can’t afford private lessons.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
Already answered!
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
Life is short means that we should take advantage of every opportunity because it may not come again.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
Already answered
You are a person of great influence. If you could spread an idea that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can prompt. :-)
Already answered
We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? They might just see this if we tag them.
I’d like have lunch with Toshiko Akiyoshi, one of the first successful Japanese jazz pianists in America. I would love to hear her experiences and learn what she did to live in this business.
How can our readers further follow you online?
My website: www.yukomabuchi.com
About The Interviewer: Susan Johnston is a Media Futurist, Columnist as well as Founder and Director at New Media Film Festival®. The New Media Film Festival® — honoring stories worth telling since 2009, is an Award-winning, inclusive, and boundary-pushing catalyst for storytelling and technology. Susan was knighted in Rome in 2017 for her work in Arts & Humanity.
