https://akirakosemura.com/
Akira Kosemura (he/him) is a composer and pianist hailing from Tokyo, Japan. He is a prolific artist, constantly releasing solo albums and composing music for films, TV drama, games, stage, and commercial music.

Akira founded his own label Schole Records early on after his solo album It’s on Everything released in 2007 while he was still in school. In 2017 and 2018 Akira’s music was ranked in Spotify’s “Most Played Japanese Artists/Songs Top 10”, and his works have been highly acclaimed on media around the world, including US music media Pitchfork, Australian newspaper THE AGE, French public broadcast FIP, and Canadian public broadcast Ici Musique.

Akira’s major score works include Fragments of The Last Will by Takahisa Zeze, the Cannes 2020 featured film True Mothers (Asa Ga Kuru) directed by Naomi Kawase, Hollywood produced drama series Love Is__, the Nintendo Switch game Jack Jeanne produced by Sui Ishida, the TBS drama series Chugakusei Nikki, the contemporary ballet piece MANON, and the Japan Pavilion in Milano EXPO. His music pieces were also featured in the Amazon original movie Jonas Brothers’ CHASING HAPPINESS, the Venice Film Festival Golden Lion awarded director Audrey Diwan’s debut film Mais vous etes fous (Losing It), and the Toho movie Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare.

In recent years, he has worked on projects in different media such as SK-II STUDIO’s documentary The Center Lane (featuring Rikako Ikee), directed by Hirokazu Koreeda, the runway music for a collection from apparel brand TAKAHIROMIYASHITA The Soloist., as well as music for LA MER BLUE HEART, LAND ROVER, and L’OCCITANE. Akira has also co-produced a song with American musician Devendra Banhart.

In addition to his versatility and diverse portfolio, Akira has been working on a world scale. In 2022 he signed a contract with prestigious Decca Records, and the EP Pause (almost equal to) Play was released worldwide. Akira’s music was also sampled in John Legend’s song “The Other Ones feat. Rhapsody” included in his new album Legend Act I & II. And Akira’s first major album SEASONS was released on Decca Records (UMG) on June 30, 2023.

Includes recordings of the Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band between 2009-2019, Carlton Main Frickley and most recently, the Fairey Band.

Baritone Horn player.

8 Man Drum’n’Brass Street Funk

With an explosive mix of toe-tapping New Orleans grooves, blazing musicianship and all-out good vibes, it hasn’t taken long for the Edinburgh-based Horndog Brass Band to establish themselves as the festival party band of choice. Weaving infectious original tunes with some old favourites, this eight-piece drum’n’brass sensation has ignited dance floors across the UK – from Glastonbury to Belladrum and everywhere in between. Bring those dancing shoes... in fact bring two pairs because in the words of Sir Sean Connery himself “I’ve never known musicians with such stamina!”

Influenced by New Orleans style heavyweights Youngblood Brass Band and Rebirth Brass Band, the old school grooves of The Blackbyrds and The Meters and the modern funk of Lefties Soul Connection and Galactic, Horndog Brass Band aim above all to get hips swinging and feet moving. Alongside originals by musical directors Tom Donaldson and Tom Pickles, the band pay equal homage to their New Orleans street-band heroes and funk artists both new and old, throwing in brassed-up Red Hot Chili Peppers, Aerosmith and Fatboy Slim covers for good measure! Staying true to their street band roots guarantees that the Horndog Brass Band can kick up a storm both unplugged and on the biggest of stages.

This winning formula has seen Horndog Brass Band entertain crowds at Glastonbury, T in the Park, Bestival, Belladrum, Insider Festival (Aviemore), Kelburn Garden Party (Largs), Eden Festival (Dumfries) and Knockengorroch (Dumfries). They have made Edinburgh Festival appearances with Dresden Dolls front woman Amanda Palmer (2009 and 2011), comedian Stephen K. Amos, as well their own headline shows at the Famous Speigeltent. The band were invited to play at the opening of the 2010 Edinburgh International Film Festival, where they gained a new fan in the Sir Sean Connery. Many club nights have also been graced by the band, including Edinburgh’s highly respected Departure Lounge ‘Hogmanay Carnival’, Oxford’s Bossaphonik (a set described one of the most mental ever at the club by curator Dan Ofer), Leed’s long running Sunday Joint at the HiFi Club and a Steampunk Halloween Ball Special hosted by White Mischief at London’s Scala.
With an album (recorded at Scotland’s premier studio Castlesound) due in 2012, expect to be hearing a lot more from the Horndog Brass Band!

“Fat, sizzling licks” – The Scotsman
“encouraged the crowd to swing dance and 'pogo' in equal measures - a mark of success that's surely unique” - Guardian
“Great stuff, I’ve never known musicians with such... stamina!” – Sir Sean Connery
“Excellent, and very loud!” – Tilda Swinton

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