Risa Kumon
Risa Kumon (born 16 September) is a Japanese singer, songwriter, and media personality. She is the founder of R2 Recordz, a renowned production company, That produces music & Radio Shows such as R2 Radio & Risa’s Select. Kumon is best known for her collaborative work with the international recording artist, producer, and Media personality RORO.[1] She played an integral role as a musician and singer in his album Road To Success. Kumon specializes in numerous genres but mainly focuses on R&B, Jazz, Soul, and Pop.[2]
Kumon rose to popularity with the release of her Christmas covers album that was released in 2016. This album gained international popularity and was ranked number 1 in “all categories top songs” and in the top 20 in all categories top songs in the iTunes Store. Throughout her career, Kumon has worked alongside a number of prolific artists and interviewed famous personalities on her show. The Pharcyde, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Kirk Franklin, DJ Krush, Drum Tao, Brian Mcknight, Corinne Bailey Rae, Maxi Priest, and Take 6 to name a few.[3]
Education
Kumon graduated from the Seiwa Joshi Gakuin, a private school for girls. She then acquired a bachelor’s degree from the Fukuoka College of design and Technology. Upon moving to L.A. Kumon studied at the Poly Languages Institute in Los Angeles and at the California College of music.
Career
Kumon began working with foreign musicians and producers in the United States after graduating from college to develop her first Demo CD, Love Always. After returning to Japan, she played at a variety of events across the country, as well as at foreign events such as the FOX Japan’s Music Festival in Okinawa and other festivals on US military facilities in Japan.[4]
She was featured on the hit song "Doesn't Mean I'm Lost" from RORO's first album "Road To Success" in 2013, which received positive reviews and was even broadcast on the largest digital billboards in Tokyo, Japan. Later, as an opening act with RORO on the h-factor tour, she toured Kyushu alongside famed jazz trumpeter Terumasa Hino, DJ Honda, and Kenji Jino Hino. She was then chosen as one of the featured performers to play at the Fukuoka Asian Collection (one of west Japan’s largest fashion events), as well as touring and performing at other festivals such as the Nakasu Jazz Festival for two years in a row.[5]
Kumon was a co-host on Roro Radio, a show that broadcasts weekly on the prominent commercial radio station LoveFm76.1Mhz in Fukuoka. She went on to become a weekly radio host on R2 Radio at InterFM89.7Mhz, a well-known Tokyo radio station. With time, she was granted her own show on InterFM89.7 and R2 radio, RNB Selecta By Risa.[6] Her shows were well-received by the public, and she was able to interview a number of big international artists, Musicians and DJs.[7]
Kumon and her partner RORO recently teamed up with The Pharcyde, a US hip-hop group, to broadcast their show R2 RADIO from Tokyo to the rest of the world via the new network Pharcyde Tv. The stylistics, Ak69, Skip Martin, Chocomoo, Mr.Doodle,Yoshida Brothers, Eric benet, and many others have been interviewed on R2 Radio.[8] While continuing to broadcast on R2 Radio, she has launched her own show, "Risa's Select," in which she selects various themes and items from around the world that she enjoys.[9]
She is now working on her upcoming album while also playing across Japan. Risa Kumon not only wants to challenge herself, but she also wants to inspire others by utilizing her charming voice and story to show that anything is achievable with hard effort, love, and commitment.[10]
Discography
| S.No. | Title | Year | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christmas Covers | 2016 | Album (4 songs) |
Personal life
Kumon lost her vision as a toddler after contracting measles. Fortunately, she was able to regain her visual acuity. As a result, she developed an incurable illness known as retinitis pigmentosa. Kumon is fluent in Japanese and English.
References
- ↑ "RISA KUMON" (in en). https://soundcloud.com/risakumon. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ↑ "【中洲JAZZ特集vol.02】伝えたい想いは波動力となってハーモニーをうむバイリンガルシンガーRISA KUMONさん | Music Fact FUKUOKA". https://musicfact.jp/archives/interview/risakumon_nakasujazz2017. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ↑ "RISA KUMON | R2recordz". http://www.r2recordz.com/artists/risa-kumon. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ↑ "Meet The Host | R2 RADIO" (in en). https://www.r2radiojp.com/meet-the-host. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ↑ "R2 RADIO JAPAN on Apple Podcasts". https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r2-radio-japan/id1456234504. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ↑ "Risa Kumon on Apple Music". https://itunes.apple.com/artist/risa-kumon/269847281. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ↑ "R2 RADIO, From Japan to the World". https://news.yahoo.com/news/r2-radio-japan-world-134544382.html. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ↑ "Risa Kumon" (in en). https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCAJpFKPjPkRsN59-5C_yHaw. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ↑ "R2 RADIO". http://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/64437/2. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ↑ "r2-radio-from-japan-to-the-world". https://thehearup.com/r2-radio-from-japan-to-the-world/9593/. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
