Artist biography
Seiji Igusa is an acoustic guitarist/composer in Japan. He was born on November 9, 1988 and got close to a hymn and gospel from the childhood period. He began playing the piano at the age of 4 and playing the drum at the age of 11. He started playing an acoustic guitar at the age of 15 and is affected by guitarists such as Martin Taylor,Doyle Dykes. He won the second prize of "Fingerpicking contest" that was held in Osaka in December, 2006. In July, 2007, he got a grand prize of SonyMusic audition called "Tobi-labo" in Osaka. Then, In August, 2007, I won the second prize of SonyMusic audition called "Tobi-labo" in Tokyo. In April, 2009, he participated in national convention of the acoustic guitar, "FINGER PICKING DAY 2009". He won a grand prize and a prize for original arrangement at that convention. In October, 2009, he played as an opening act in "Tommy Emanuel JAPAN TOUR". In November, 2009, he released his first album "Introduction". This CD made his debut as a professional and he started music activities in many areas. He participate in global guitar contest held in U.S. Kansas in September, 2010, "39th Walnut Valley Festival". He participated in "International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship" as a representative from Japan and was chosen as Top5. In October, 2010, did an opening act for "JOE ROBINSON JAPAN TOUR" In April, 2012, he released his 2nd album "kokoro". In February, 2013, he moved the headquarters in Tokyo from Osaka and have begun to appear to TV program and a radio. In March, 2013, he also began working on guitar duo "SOULGAUGE". They adopt a taste of "R & B" into "finger-style" and become the topic in the music scene of Japan. In 2014,December, he released session album "Room 193" (This is a collaboration album between four Japanese guitarist; Akitoshi Kiroda, Takayuki Nishiyama, Satoshi Gogo, Yuki Matsui) In July, 2015, he released his 3rd album "Welcome Home". "Light Waves" of this album becomes the ranking first place in video sharing site of Japan and becomes the topic mainly on the internet.牧師家庭に生まれ幼少より讃美歌、ゴスペルに親しむ。 11歳でドラム、15歳よりギターを始める。 2009年 アコースティックギターの全国大会 FINGER PICKING DAY2009に出場 「最優秀賞」「オリジナルアレンジ賞」を受賞。 20歳でギタリストとして活動を始めファーストミニアルバム 「introduction」リリース。 2009年 Tommy Emmanuel ジャパンツアーで オープニングアクトを努める。 2010年 米カンザス州で開催された世界規模のギターコンテスト、 39th Walnut Valley Festival に日本代表で出場。 Top5に選ばれる。 2014年にギターデュオ『SOUL GAUGE』で KADOKAWAメディアファクトリーよりデビュー。 雑誌「Acoustic Guitar Book Presents Solo Guitar Special」では、アコギ・シーンを牽引する若手ソロギタリスト４人の１人として紹介される。 2015年から韓国や中国など海外での演奏活動を開始。2019年 中国ツアーでは1ヶ月、全15都市を巡るツアーを開催。 多様なテクニックを取り入れた緻密なフィンガーピッキング奏法の 楽曲、演奏スタイルで国内外で高い評価を受けている。 YouTubeのチャンネル再生回数は500万回を超え、 インスタグラムのフォロワーは20万人を突破。
