Kentö enjoys making friends
Singer-songwriter-producer Kentö said that growing up in Japan, Canada, Brazil and the United States with his multicultural family (Japanese, French, Canadian, Brazilian) had a positive impact on his music.
“I get a lot of inspiration from both Brazilian and Japanese drum beats as well as traditional instruments,” said the “Silhouette” singer, who is based out of New York City. “You can hear these influences a lot in my music wrapped up in a little pop bow, of course. I grew up listening to singers from all over the world, like Freddie Mercury, Ivete Sangalo, Ayumi Hamasaki and Sylvie Vartan. (They’re) very different artists, but all iconic voices that I tried to emulate growing up and, in my own way, shaped the style and tone of my voice today.”
Kentö stays in touch with fans on Instagram (https://www.instagram. com/kentoofficial/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/kentoofficial) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/kentoofficial).
Q: What was it like growing up in Japan?
A: Japan is an extremely safe place for children. I feel like you really feel a sense of community all around you. I feel really lucky to have had a major part of my life there. As an artistic child, being surrounded by festivals, beautiful landscape, architecture, fashion, art and, of course, food was inspiring every single day.
Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?
A: I spent a month in Taipei (Taiwan), and it quickly became one of my favorite places in the world. There are so many interesting shops and people there. I went there to visit the only person I knew there. Within days, I made so many new friends from just exploring and talking to people. I speak Mandarin on a conversational level, so it was nice to be able to communicate in both English and Mandarin. Don’t leave without going to the night markets and visiting some beautiful temples.
Q: What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from your travels?
A: We’re all just people. No matter where you are, there are going to be people with similar interests, tastes and dreams. It’s always nice to visit cultural sites like museums or monuments, but the next time you take a trip, don’t be afraid to try to make some new friends. They know where all the hidden treasures are, and you’ll
learn so many new things. Go to a movie theater and watch something in the language of the country you’re visiting. Explore nightlife. Go off the tourist guidebook and wander. Try to speak the language as much as you can if you are not a native speaker. And be respectful of the land you are on.
Q: What are your five favorite cities?
A: Maringá (Brazil), Kyoto, Saint-Tropez, Taipei and New York City, baby!
Q: What is your guilty pleasure when you’re on the road?
A: We always ate homecooked meals at home, so I would have to say I’m a sucker for fast food when I’m on the road, because even to this day, I rarely eat it. I’m talking local chain fast food, not the big conglomerates. Like First Kitchen in Japan or Bob’s Burgers in Brazil. It’s always interesting to see culturally what people eat when they are wanting a quick meal.