Maki Asakwa moved to Tokyo from the small town of Mikawa, kickstarting her singing career performing for American soldiers at cabarets and military bases. Drawing influences from legendary blues women like Mahalia Jackson, she developed a unique vocal style halfway between Japanese enka (the type of music she originally sang) and American jazz. After meeting multidisciplinary artist Shuji Terayama, they became close collaborators. He encouraged her to fully embrace the blues and co-wrote a majority of tracks on Asakawa Maki no Sekai, setting her on the path where she would ultimately find her voice. She sings an American standard in English, the slavery era spiritual “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child,” channeling the chilling delivery of Billie Holiday on “Strange Fruit” as she wails without accompaniment. Her delivery already sounds like little else on her debut album, matching the haunting cover image of her mysterious frame cloaked in shadow, illuminated only by a dim glow.