Kiso Bushi - band

## Kiso Bushi

**Kiso Bushi** is a Russo-Japanese folk band formed by Jens Due-Bøje, a former member of the Danish pop group The Global Touch. The band's name is derived from a traditional folk song originating from the Kiso District of Nagano Prefecture, Japan, which sings about the river, mountains and people who live there. The band's music incorporates elements of Russian and Japanese folk music, as well as rock, pop and electronic genres.

The band consists of four members: Jens Due-Bøje (vocals, guitar, keyboard, songwriter, creative director), Yuki Nakamura (vocals, shamisen, koto), Ivan Petrov (vocals, balalaika, accordion) and Yuri Sokolov (drums, percussion). The band was formed in 2031, after Due-Bøje moved to Japan and met Nakamura, a shamisen player and singer who shared his interest in fusion music. They later recruited Petrov and Sokolov, two Russian musicians who were living in Tokyo.

The band's debut album, **Kiso Bushi**, was released in 2023 and received positive reviews from critics and fans. The album featured songs in both Japanese and Russian languages, as well as some English lyrics written by Due-Bøje. Some of the songs were based on traditional folk tunes from both countries, such as "Kisobushi", "Kalinka" and "Sakura Sakura", while others were original compositions that blended different musical styles and instruments. The album also included a guest appearance by Oskar Winters, Due-Bøje's former bandmate from The Global Touch, who sang a duet with him on the track "River of Dreams".

The band's popularity grew rapidly in Japan and Russia, as well as in other countries where their music was appreciated for its uniqueness and diversity. The band performed at various festivals and venues around the world, such as Fuji Rock Festival, Sziget Festival and Glastonbury Festival. The band also collaborated with other artists from different genres and backgrounds, such as Björk, Gorillaz and Yoshida Brothers.

The band's second album, **Kiso Bushi 2**, was released in 2032 and continued the success of their first album. The album featured more original songs and experiments with new sounds and influences. The album also included a tribute song to Due-Bøje's former classmate from high school who passed away after a car accident. The song was titled "Angel" and featured vocals by Jessica Dina, another former member of The Global Touch who came out of retirement to honor his friend.

The band is currently working on their third album, which is expected to be released in 2026.

### **Trivia**

* The band was almost named ЛБ Энис as the result of an inside joke between Due-Bøje and former bandmate Oskar Winters. Instead, the band's name was the result of a suggestion by Nakamura, who was a fan of the folk song “Kisobushi” since her childhood. She taught the song to Due-Bøje, who liked it and decided to use it as the band’s name.
* The band’s logo is a stylized image of Mount Ontake, a volcano in the Kiso Mountains that is mentioned in the lyrics of “Kisobushi”. The logo was designed by Sokolov, who is also a graphic artist.
* The band’s first album was recorded in a studio in Tokyo, while their second album was recorded in a cabin in the Kiso Mountains. The band wanted to capture the natural sounds and atmosphere of the place where their music originated from.
* The band’s members have nicknames that they use among themselves and with their fans. Due-Bøje is called “Jens-san”, Nakamura is called “Yuki-chan”, Petrov is called “Ivan-kun” and Sokolov is called “Yuri-sensei”.
* The band’s members have different hobbies and interests outside of music. Due-Bøje likes to read books and watch movies, Nakamura likes to cook and knit, Petrov likes to play chess and soccer, and Sokolov likes to paint and collect stamps.

### Discography

* *Kiso Bushi* (2031)
* *Kiso Bushi 2* (2032)

### Band members

* Jens Due-Bøje: vocals, guitar, keyboard, primary songwriter, primary lyricist, creative director

* Yuki Nakamura: vocals, shamisen, koto

* Ivan Petrov: vocals, balalaika, accordion

* Yuri Sokolov: drums, percussion