Berlin-based, Tokyo-born Chris Yohei Tokunaga aka C.Y.T premieres debut single ‘You And I feat. Nina Rotner’ on Complex
Although he decided he wanted to become a musician at the age of 14, it wasn’t until more recent years that electronic music composer Tokunaga fully immersed himself in the realm of electronic music.
C.Y.T’s psychotropic productions are brimming with the detail and precision technology allows, bringing together synthetic textures and arresting melodies with help from a regular cast of guest vocalists – including Nina Rotner and Laura Corallini – whilst his poet mother, Christine Tokunaga is the main lyricist for the project.
C.Y.T’s sonic identity has also been shaped by a distinct jazz influence: his aunt and uncle were lyricists for pianist and bandleader, Cedar Walton – and he developed a further taste for jazz under the guidance of Guilherme Castro (Jazz Institute Berlin). As for the more technical aspects of his work, C.Y.T was mentored by electronic producer Jon Dark (My Haus Records, Evvol), who helped bring his sound design and mixing skills up to par with his already accomplished sense of musicality.
In creating structured songs and juxtaposing modern production techniques with more traditional elements, C.Y.T offers moods ranging from the melancholy and epic to the captivating and serene. The four songs on his debut EP, Nights For Days, flirt with the sounds of Arca and Hyperdub as well as Ella Fitzgerald and Blue Note – and it’s this familiar yet forward-thinking approach that’s already luring in a whole host of new listeners.