Kanako Omae Songwriter/Drummer/Producer

Music has always been in her life... 

On September 9^th, 2001, Kanako found a new place to call home in Brooklyn, New York. A native of Tokyo, Japan, urban life was nothing new for this now-24 year old songwriter and drummer.

Two days later, the tragic events of 9/11 unfurled, and suddenly cast Kanako as a stranger in an even stranger and chaotic land. Since then, Kanako, like many others, has learned to adjust to these unpredictable times and proceeded to carry out the goals she has set forth for herself in coming to the United States; to compose and perform her music.

At three years old, Kanako began her musical passage. Through piano instruction and eventually flute lessons, she has evolved as a well rounded composition writer, arranger, and performer of her own original works. While still in high school, Kanako developed a passion for percussion and when she was 16, she decided to leave Japan for a musical career in New York City - the city of Entertainment.

Kanako’s drive and ambition to be a premier drummer has led her to travel and perform all over the map with various acts such as Betty Ford, The Nick Vivid Band, Quagmire, Plan B, her own project Fake ID, Selah Band, Broken Trees, Boy Wonder. Also she went on Southeast tours with The Christopher Dean Band in April/May, 2008, and January/February, 2009. She enjoys the flexibility and freedom of collaborating with different musicians, allowing her to develop her own style.

Kanako formed a project called "Fake ID" in 2004. Kanako and Fake ID is an eclectic blend of jazz mixed with funk and fusion. Having written and arranged all of the selections on her first independent release, Welcome To New York, Kanako has placed herself into a category all her own as one of the few Asian female jazz drummers in the genre today. 

She moved from Brooklyn to attend The University of the Arts in Philadelphia in 2004, and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Music. While she was in UArts, she studied with great drummers, Marc Dicciani and Jim Paxson, and continuing writing and performing her works.

Her main focus of playing and writing music is to make people happy. She understands dedication and wants to be recognized for her ability and passion to produce quality music.

Now she has been writing new music, playing with many different musicians, and playing out with Fake ID as a Neo-soul/R&B band in Philadelphia area.