Kento Masuda

Kento Masuda (増田 顕人, Masuda Kento, born 29 June 1973, in Katori, Chiba, Japan) is an award-winning Japanese composer and recording artist. He is a member of The Recording Academy,[1] and his work has been described as "one of this world's artistic treasures."[2] As an exclusive player for KAWAI pianos, Masuda is the sole player of the one million dollar Crystal Grand Piano.

Kento Masuda
増田顕人
Kento Masuda at the 57th Grammy Awards Ceremony 2015
Background information
Birth nameMasuda Kento
Also known asKENT, Kent Masuda
Born (1973-06-29) 29 June 1973
OriginKatori, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
GenresInstrumental, piano, new-age, classical, pop, electronica
Occupation(s)Composer, Pianist, songwriter, record producer, film producer, actor, fashion model
InstrumentsPiano, MIDI master keyboard, Logic Pro, Pro Tools
Years active1990–present
LabelsJPMC Records, Kento Masuda Music, LLC, Kent on Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
Websitekentomasuda.com

Biography

Early life

Kento Masuda began playing keyboards at the age of 5. While preferring to compose his own music instead of playing standard repertoires, Masuda took part in a variety of contests for talented young musicians. By the age of 10, he began winning competitions including the Junior Original Competition of Yamaha Music Foundation.[3]

Early music career

From 1990, Masuda began conducting professional public performances as YAMAHA's employed musician at age of 17, while playing classical and modern compositions for events, ceremony halls and Yamaha shop on 5th Ave in New York. Just a year later Masuda released his original first album "Wheel of Fortune".[3] Between 1993 and 1995, Masuda lived in New York where he worked in the area of music production. His success at such a young age set the foundation for a lifetime of performances, composing, and music production.[4]

During this time, Masuda worked on several musical projects and jobs, including radio, game, and TV/CM music offerings in Tokyo.[4] These were written (both music and lyrics), arranged, and performed on keyboards by Masuda. Masuda also produced his original solo album entitled "MYOJYOW" (a non-standard transliteration of 明星 (myōjō), the Japanese word for "Morning Star" or Venus) on 19 June 1998. Since then he has used the alias "Kent Masuda". "MYOJYOW" was audio mastered by Bobby Hata. On 26 October 1999, Masuda released "MEMORIES". Both albums were submitted in the U.S. which resulted in Masuda receiving positive feedback from major companies, including Steve Vai's management office of Sepetys Entertainment Group in Santa Monica. CEO Ruta Sepetys (who is also a music producer) suggested that Masuda join forces with recording artist Steve Vai, but Masuda chose to remain a solo artist.[5]

2000s

In 2000, Masuda established his own publishing company and label, Kent on Music, Inc. (ASCAP) as well as producing and recording studio "Externalnet" in Tokyo.[5] The 6th album "HANDS" released on August 26, 2003, was mixed with a producer Tadashi Namba and mastered by Bobby Hata in Los Angeles CA. Masuda used the alias "KENT" on the 1st edition of this album. The album was promoted to MIDEM in Cannes, France. It then entered the European music market, particularly among German audiences, which led to Masuda's interview with Klassik Radio Hamburg. Additionally, program sponsor Galerie ATTA's owner Ruth Atta along with artist Delphine Charat, who painted Masuda's portrait, showed the connection of music to painting to masterpiece.[6][7][8]

In 2005, Masuda signed with JPMC Records,[9] a Swiss label based in New York and became a member of the ASCAP. Since then, he has used no alias and only uses his real name of "Kento Masuda". His 7th album, "GlobeSounds," was released on 13 June 2006, and mixed with Grammy-nominated producer Charles Eller and Lane Gibson. "GlobeSounds" was mastered by Bobby Hata. During the recording of "GlobeSounds", Hon. Ambassador Madeleine M. Kunin visited at Eller's music studio in Charlotte, Vermont, US.[10]

In 2007, Masuda's music has enjoyed continued growth from Myspace and Last.FM along with recent airplay on radio stations internationally. His catalog of compositions and recordings has been featured on MTV, NME Magazine, and BBC Music.[11][12][13] In 2009, Masuda created several music videos: "So We Are" "Shine On" a documentary film "Down to Earth" which describe his album "GlobeSounds" and "Musical Notation and Concrete Poetry" (featuring the author Diana Macs and the Portuguese poet, Luís Adriano Carlos).[8]

2010s
Kento Masuda being given a certificate of commendation by the Knights of the Order of St. Sylvester
Kento Masuda being accoladed by the Knights of the Order of Sovereign Military Order of Malta

Masuda's 8th album "Light Speed+" was released on 11 September 2010. With a strong emphasis and weight on composition, Masuda also showcased his unique style with a full-length synthesis album. After that, Masuda received honorable mention in the "International Songwriting Competition", with "Tree" (from the album "GlobeSounds") in the instrumental category.[14] This was followed by achieving an honorable mention in 2012 in the same category.[15]

In 2011, Masuda composed music for renowned designer Yohji Yamamoto's Femme Autumn Winter 2011–2012 Paris Fashion Week fashion show which featured his compositions "Hands" and "Little Tokyo Poetry".[16] They continued to collaborate on Masuda's creative short music film "Godsend Rondo" directed by Tomo Oya in Hokkaido. In this film Masuda dressed in Yamamoto's Ready-to-wear collection.[17] The film "Godsend Rondo" has already been viewed worldwide by over 100,000 on YouTube and this work has won numerous awards.[8][18]

On 26 September 2012, Masuda's first piano solo album and piano book "All in the Silence" was released, followed by two live performances "Force in the Silence" and "Force in the Silence 2" at Musicasa Acoustic Concert Hall in Tokyo, Japan.[19] His performances featured classic pieces that highlighted his career thus far, with themes that touch upon the many feelings of life along with those unspoken but shared thoughts that transcend all borders.[20]

On 16 April 2014, Kento Masuda released his 10th album "Loved One," which was produced by Masuda and multiple award-winning Miami producer Gary Vandy.[21][22] "Loved One" was recorded at Gary Vandy's Studio Center in Miami, which has produced recordings that have won 8 Grammy awards along with multiple platinum albums. "Loved One" features musicians Paul Messina (Flashpoint) and Kevin Marcus Sylvester (Black Violin) and utilizes the HQCD process for superior sound quality.[1]

On 14 November 2014, Masuda, along with Japanese singer/songwriter Hiroko Tsuji, Italian harpist Fabius Constable (Celtic Harp Orchestra), soprano Donatella Bortone, and Lebanese and Arab lutist Ghazi Makhoul, performed in the dynamic and multi-cultural concert "5 ELEMENTS LIVE" at CASA DEI DIRITTI in Milan, Italy.[23][24][25][26] This unique evening of music connected the sounds and voices of the east and west, while producers and collaborators Masuda and Constable shared their vision that music is both absolute and life affirming.[27]

On 6December 2014, Masuda performed at the "Associazione dei Cavalieri di San Silvestro" celebration of Monumentalis Ecclesiae Sancti Silvestri Societas in Tivoli, Italy.[28]

On 8 February 2015, Kento Masuda attended the prestigious 57th GRAMMY Awards Ceremony in Los Angeles. Kento had four official submissions for this year's GRAMMY consideration from his latest album, "Loved One", produced by Kento and Gary Vandy.[29][30] 2015 continued to be a landmark year for Kento, as he was nominated to the Hollywood Music in Media Awards for his 2002 composition "Tree," a classic piece in Kento's repertoire.[31] He also received global recognition of the Global Music Awards and was honored as a winner with a silver medal for "Addicted" (featuring Paul Messina) from his latest release "Loved One" (2014).[32]

On 5 July 2017, Kento Masuda received an Artisan World Festival Peace International Initiative "Music, Performance & Humanitarian" Award at the United Nations in New York. This selection is based on his continued engagement with the performing arts and commitment to humanitarian projects that promote cultural diversity, cultural preservation, and world peace in addition to your innovative contribution in music. This group is a part of New Generation In Action an organization supported by the United Nations with Special Consultative Status with the United Nations for Economic and Social Development.[33][34]

Style and influence

Masuda's composing style is characterized by intricate keyboard lines with obvious melodies, deep percussion grooves, and layers of rhythm and sound that draw the listener into a whole new world with each note. From his interview, Masuda says that he was influenced by both Johann Sebastian Bach; "His music theory has a major impact on everything, even today". And Alan Menken; "The music of Disney films has so much magic in himself and always promises a happy ending".[3]

Discography

Studio albums
Title Release date
1st Wheel of Fortune December 24, 1992
2nd Fouren February 14, 1995
3rd MYOJYOW June 19, 1998
4th MEMORIES October 26, 1999
5th Music Magic October 18, 2000
6th HANDS August 26, 2003
7th GlobeSounds June 13, 2006
8th Light Speed+ September 11, 2010
9th All in the Silence September 26, 2012
10th Loved One April 16, 2014

Music film
Title Release date
1st Godsend Rondo November 11, 2011

Bibliography

Piano book
Title Release date
1st Hands : solo piano (2003)[35] 2003
2nd All in the Silence (2012)[36] September 26, 2012

Credit works

Album
YearTitleArtistCredit
2016Free YourselfHiroko Tsuji (musician)Executive produce[37]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Nominated Work Category Result
2010 International Songwriting Competition[14] "Tree" Instrumental Won
2012 International Songwriting Competition[15][38] "Externalnet" Instrumental Nominated
"Tree" Instrumental Won
2013 International Songwriting Competition[38] "Tree" Instrumental Nominated
2014 International Songwriting Competition[15][38] "Oath Path" Instrumental Won
"Addicted" Instrumental Nominated
"Tree" Instrumental Nominated
2015 Hollywood Music in Media Awards[31] "Tree" World Nominated
2015 Global Music Awards[32] "Addicted" Composition Won
"Loved One" Album Won
2016 American Songwriting Awards[39] "Oath Path" Instrumental Nominated
"Tree" World Nominated
2016 Hollywood Music in Media Awards[40] "Addicted" Jazz Nominated
2017 Accolade Global Film Competition[41] "Godsend Rondo" Arts / Cultural / Performance / Plays Won
2017 Best Shorts Competition[42] "Godsend Rondo" Arts / Cultural / Performance / Plays Won
2017 Los Angeles Film Awards[43] "Godsend Rondo" Music Video Won
2017 Festigious International Film Festival[44] "Godsend Rondo" Music Video Won
2017 Top Shorts Film Festival[45] "Godsend Rondo" Music Video Won
2017 New York Film Awards[46] "Godsend Rondo" Music Video Won
2017 Hollywood Music in Media Awards[47] "Little Tokyo Poetry" Instrumental Nominated
2017 Actors Awards Los Angeles[48] "Godsend Rondo" Music Video Won

Honorary titles
  • 2014 Title "Knight" and "Maestro". Honored by Monsignor Luigi Casolini, awarded to the Knights of the Order of St. Sylvester.[28]
  • 2016 Title "Knight". Honored by Don. Basilio Cali, awarded to the Order of Knights of Malta.[49]
  • 2016 Title "Count". Honored by H.R. & I.H. Grand Prince Hans Máximo Cabrera Lochaber Rurikovich, awarded to the Order of Rurik dynasty.[50][51]
  • 2017 Title "Knight Commander". Honored by Michele Maria Biallo, awarded to the Noble Order of Saint George of Rougemont (Confrèrie de Rougemont).[52]
  • 2018 Title "Grand Cross". Honored by Brazilian government, awarded to the Order of Merit of Education and Integration.[53][34]
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References
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