FOR YOUR GRAMMY® CONSIDERATION
Best Global Music Album
Tales of Shinobue
Cinematic instrumental music, through the voice of the shinobue (Japanese bamboo flute)
Eight stories told through breath, presence, and emotion
Best Immersive Audio Album
Tales of Shinobue — Immersive Edition
A Dolby Atmos experience of shinobue, spacious sound, and cinematic atmosphere
What does an ancient Japanese bamboo flute sound like in an immersive world of sound?
Best Instrumental Composition
The Calling
An original composition that chronicles a solitary journey of self-discovery, finding purpose in life, and ultimately discovering connection with community.
Listen to the Album
Total listening time: 33 minutes
Press and Recognition
Featured on The World Show with Nicky B — Kaya 959, Johannesburg, South Africa
Two tracks from Tales of Shinobue, “Even If I Fall” and “Zen Awakened,” were featured on Nicky B’s playlists on The World Show in August 2026, marking two consecutive weeks of international radio exposure.
Nicky Blumenfeld (Nicky B) is an award-winning broadcaster, DJ, producer, and curator who has produced and presented The World Show for 28 years. The internationally focused world-music program has a loyal global listenership, with people around the world tuning in to discover music from across continents and genres.
Featured on Global Village — PBS-FM, Melbourne, Australia
“Unshaken” from Tales of Shinobue was selected for Roger Holdsworth’s Global Village on PBS-FM in Melbourne, Australia, airing September 13, 2026.
Global Village is a weekly world-music program featuring new and recent releases from around the world, along with music from local Australian artists. The September 13 program included an extended selection of music from Japan, with “Unshaken” featured alongside music by Minyo Crusaders and Remon Nakanishi.
"A more masterful flute offering you will not find."
- Steve Sheppard, One World Music Radio (Full Review)
“…she brings this traditional Japanese instrument into a contemporary setting while preserving the character and voice that make the Shinobue unique.”
- Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck, Founder of New Age Music Reviews (Full Review)
"Beautiful, marvelous playing of the shinobue."
- Doug Gertner, KGNU Denver
Awards & Media
🏆 Steve Sheppard Award for Best Album — One World Music Radio Awards, May 2026
🎙 KGNU Denver Radio Interview — February 2026
📈 Appeared on the August 2026 One World Music Radio Top 100 Album Chart. View the full chart
🎼 Colorado Business Organization Songwriting Contest
Honorable Mention — The Calling
Honorable Mention — Unshaken
Podcast Interview - The Final on Vinyl
How did I end up playing the shinobue at 54—and creating an album at 60?
In this conversation with Keith Hannaleck, I talk about my musical journey, how I came to the shinobue at 54, the making of Tales of Shinobue, and the story behind the music.
The Vision Behind Tales of Shinobue
The shinobue has one of the most expressive voices I have ever known.
More than an instrument that plays notes, it carries emotion—the quiet ache of longing, the warmth of joy, and the strength found through adversity. It breathes. It tells stories.
The shinobue is a traditional Japanese bamboo flute with roots in festivals, folk traditions, and the soundscape of Japan.
Growing up in Yokohama, Japan, I was surrounded by the beauty, rhythms, and cultural expressions of my homeland, but I did not begin playing the shinobue until much later in life.
I discovered this instrument at the age of 54, after a lifelong journey in Western classical music as a pianist, singer, and composer. At first, I was simply fascinated by its unique voice. But the more I played, the more I realized something profound:
This instrument could express what words could not.
That is why I named this album Tales of Shinobue.
Each piece is a story. Eight in total. Eight moments, emotions, and inner journeys expressed through the voice of the Japanese bamboo flute.
When I began this journey, I never imagined where the shinobue would lead me. But over time, I felt a quiet yet persistent calling:
I cannot leave this earth with these stories untold.
And so this album became my way of sharing them—honoring the heritage of the shinobue while creating a new voice for this ancient instrument.
As you listen, I hope this music offers more than sound. I hope it invites you to reflect on your own stories—the moments, emotions, and dreams that are still waiting to be expressed.
What is your story?
The Stories Behind the Music
1. Zen Awakened
(2026 Remaster)
A stately, meditative opening that prepares the listener for an inward journey—an invitation to reconnect with the authentic self.
2. Ryugujo
(Undersea Palace)
Inspired by the Japanese folktale Urashima Taro, this piece evokes the mystical underwater palace of Ryugujo, where time flows differently from the human world. Through wonder and quiet mystery, it reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the passage of time.
3. Even If I Fall
A blend of sadness, hope, and quiet determination. Life’s challenges can feel like battles—but even in falling, there is strength to rise again. Within sorrow lives resilience and the courage to continue.
4. Red Moon
Rooted in traditional Japanese melodic language and enriched by the voice of the koto, this piece reflects the timeless beauty of Japan's musical heritage. Originally titled Red Moon Over Kyoto.
5. Stardust
Under a sky filled with stars, the universe stretches beyond comprehension, and I am reminded of my own smallness. In that vastness, the ego softens into humility and wonder.
6. Unshaken
A quiet reflection on resilience and inner stability. Even when the world shifts around us, there is strength in remaining grounded and true to one's path.
7. Midnight Lotus
In the stillness of night, when the mind becomes quiet, clarity emerges. Like a lotus blooming in darkness, calmness and insight arise from within.
8. The Calling
The piece begins with the sound of ocean waves, as if standing alone on a cliff facing uncertainty. A dark undercurrent reflects inner doubt, until a single suzu bell cuts through and silence falls. This is the moment of calling. From there, the music transforms into a joyful ensemble of shinobue, koto, taiko, and suzu. The bells guide the rhythm, symbolizing purpose discovered through connection and shared expression. As the ocean returns at the end, the individual and the greater flow of life are brought into harmony.
My Journey
It’s never too late to dream. My journey is proof.
I am a shinobue artist creating cinematic Japanese bamboo flute music.
I was born and raised in Yokohama, Japan, and began studying piano at a young age. My journey led me to Western classical music and eventually to the United States, where I earned a master’s degree in opera performance.
Through the shinobue—the Japanese bamboo flute—I found my way back to my roots. In its sound, I rediscovered a connection to something timeless-an artistic lineage shaped over thousands of years. I began to see the beauty of Japanese tradition in a way I hadn’t recognized as a child.
I released my first single during my 60th birthday month after a lifetime of holding my music inside. During a quiet walk in Denver with my dog, Maple, I realized that I only have one life, and I didn’t want to leave this world with my music still untold.
My music blends Japanese and Western influences, past and present—cinematic, reflective, and deeply personal.
My hope is to honor my Japanese heritage while sharing the timeless voice of the shinobue to listeners around the world.
As you listen, I hope you feel not only the echoes of ancient Japan, but also a quiet reminder:
It’s never too late for you, either.