Introducing the members of the 20th anniversary project

This time I’d like to introduce Kumiko Hasegawa a.k.a. “8(Hachi),” who is known for “Ginza NAGANO talk & live. Kumiko’s voice is sometimes relaxing and comforting, at other times it’s powerful and emotional. She always brings out the best in the singers she works with. It was more than 10 years ago when I met 8 for the first time. At that time I often joined the female singer-songwriter event called “flower voice” at FAB Omotesando. 8 was playing the keyboard for Ayako Ikeda, and I was shocked by how beautifully she plays the keyboard and the harmony with the vocal. After the live show, I went to introduce myself to her. In 2011, I reunited with her for the production of a compilation album “On/Off” released by TAKUMI NOTE. Since then I got to work with her every year for the compilation album. Her voice and arrangement kept attracting me, and I gradually thought that I wanted to work with her for my album. The dream came true when I produced my 15th anniversary album, “I’m home.” She co-composed and arranged a song called “Let’s party at my home!!” with Ayako Ikeda. The recording was really fun like a girls’ party. For several years after I had opportunities to work with her for shows such as Ginza NAGANO series, Hoshizora concert at Utsukushigahara in Nagano, etc. At every live performance she played some of my songs and some cover songs with me. Knowing my musical style, she wrote me this song called “Merry go round.” It’s a jazzy, cute song but when I sang it, it was fun but difficult to sing! Every time I sing it at live shows, I execute it differently, and now the song became an essential song at my live shows. I distributed this song sung and recorded at my birthday show this year, but this time I’m going to record it and put it on a CD album for the first time. You wonder how the arrangement will be? please look forward to it!! Eiko Matsumoto