Kanako (Kanako Omae. 17) is a Japanese fusion drummer living and flourishing in New York City. There she is immediately recognizable because she is both Asian and very young. She has earned a good reputation in the NY music scene because when she plays the drums she infuses her performance with something unique and often absent from a lot of drummer’s playing: cheerfulness. Most drummers do not manage to capture this elusive quality. Her band, an instrumental four-piece, will release her first album “Welcome to New York” from her website in February. Japanese people will also be able to purchase her CD in Japan by going to her website.

“Her drumming is not excessively showy, but she has a terrific grasp of accuracy and feel. The first time most audiences see her, they often doubt that she can play. Indeed, they are skeptical that she is the drummer at all because she is such a small, young girl. However, by the end of the show, she has always won them over” (reported by a Japanese Journalist in NY)

Kanako is a notable Japanese artist (with her own edge on performers like Utada Hikaru who are still trying futilely to gain some acclaim from U.S. audiences). Kanako first became interested in rock music in junior high where she put together her first band. At the time she chose drums because “drums were capable of externalizing the rough rock n’ roll spirit” she felt inside. She resolved to quit high school in order to pursue this vision. Because Kanako is a very determined person, she overcame the opposition of her father, relatives and friends. She came to New York to pursue her dreams of music only 2 days before September 11th, 2001.

This event had a big effect on her: “After this I became a tender drummer who tried to drum in order to make the audience feel happier and more cheerful. I had seen the people of New York do their best to overcome the shock from 9.11. and wanted to focus my music more on invoking that spirit.” 9.11 also affected her and she changed her whole style of playing to accommodate this new approach, moving away from rock towards more of a funk and jazz-based style.

“Asian musicians can gain acceptance as jazz or classical musicians, but it is very hard in popular music. From the beginning I had to overcome some pretty severe racial discrimination.” These experiences were painful and disheartening, but still Kanako persisted and this year she completed her first album. At this time she has no current connection with Japanese record labels so she is planning on promoting her music through her energizing live shows and by her internet website: www.kanakodrums.com.

Once you see her distinctive playing and smile you will never believe it’s a 17 year old girl!