Hello music lovers! I'm Shu Hakamada, a Japanese singer-songwriter born on 1959. I suffered hearing loss in 2006 and was forced to give up my career as a professional musician in my mid-40s. Since then, I was away from music for over 15 years, but in 2024 I returned with a new passion and a new album.

Music had been my inspiration and driving force since my teens. My musical journey has had its ups and downs, but now that I'm older, I'm amazed and grateful to find myself more filled with love and passion for music than ever before.

I created a new album entirely myself at home, playing, recording, and mixing everything. While it may not be professionally engineered, I poured my heart and soul into these songs. I'd be happy if people who listened to it could feel even a little more positive about life.

'Restart' represents my musical rebirth, featuring a journey through diverse melodies and harmonies - from upbeat anthems to soul-searching ballads.

Themes of love, grief, and hope resonate through these songs, drawing inspiration from the works of legendary musicians like The Beatles, the raw energy of classic old-school rock and roll, the gems of exquisite melodies as epitomized by Motown, and my own life experiences.

After a long hiatus from composing and performing, I even struggled to pick up a guitar again at first. However, fueled by a renewed passion, I invested over a year's worth of effort into crafting "Restart."

Creating 'Restart' was like rediscovering a part of myself I thought I'd lost. It's living proof that age is no barrier to pursuing new dreams. We were all born to run - to chase our passions, overcome challenges, and reinvent ourselves at any stage of life. I'm thrilled and filled with joy as I continue to share this rekindled spirit of adventure with you all!

The 12 songs, originally released on streaming platforms in February 2024, are now available as a complete album as of November 15. Each track has been meticulously remixed, with refined arrangements and reworked lyrics to perfectly convey their intended messages.

Listen to the full album

Also available on Japanese music service linkco.re

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