Artists

畠山美由紀 (Hatakeyama Miyuki)

Biography

[畠山美由紀 (Hatakeyama Miyuki)]

Citing influences ranging from Carmen McRae, Carole King, Joni Mitchell and Ella Fitzgerald, Hatakeyama Miyuki says she's been singing since she was 4 years old.

Her voice, however, most resembles another one of her favorite artists -- Tracey Thorn of Everything But the Girl. Like Thorn, Hatakeyama's expressive voice could occupy any musical space, but it's most comfortable in front of jazz-influenced pop.

Hatakeyama started writing songs when she was 20. The singer currently pulls double duty with two creatively divergent groups: the duo Port of Notes and the 8-piece roots ensemble Double Famous.

In 2001, she forged out on her own as a solo artist, performing much of the same kind of jazz-pop of Port of Notes. Hatakeyama's solo debut, Diving Into Your Mind, was released in March 2002.