Summary: Japanese, Tokyo born Akiko Kiyama has been a prominent figure on the minimal techno scene since her first released productions in 2004. The first female minimal tech producer to have come out of Japan now lives and works from Berlin, Germany. Akiko grew up with an education dominated by music, a classically trained pianist and guitar player by the age of twelve, she went on to explore and teach herself how to fuse her classic skills with sounds created by electronic equipment. Over the years that followed Akiko fell deeper into dance music, eager to evolve and create electronically manipulated sounds and atmospheres, she began producing in 2002. Kiyama’s first works were released in 2004; her debut ep “Dimension” on London’s Sud Electronic received outstanding support from the industry and names such as Richie Hawtin, Sven Vath and Ricardo Villalobos. Inspired by such an overwhelming debut Akiko went straight back into the studio, the result of which was her “Like Ancient” track being licensed by M-nus Records and going on to appear on Richie Hawtin’s DE9 Transitions Compilation. Akiko’s sound is a complex pattern of sounds. Raw and industrial, dark and moody, her signature sits firmly within the minimal style, but with a melodic structure that gives shape and structure. It’s rare that a sound so minimal results in something so engrossing, something that sucks you in and keeps you listening intently on what’s going to happen next. Akiko’s tracks feel like stories, captivatingly told through her experimentation with sound. Now based in Berlin, Akiko holds a hefty 15 releases to her name on world renowned labels such as Contexterior, Thema, Lick My Deck and Safari Electronique amongst others. “7 Years”, Akiko’s first solo album, released in 2008 on District of Corruption is an eleven track showcase of this artists complex talent. Live performances in London’s Fabric, Berlin’s infamous Berghain and many more worldwide; Akiko Kiyama continues to develop, produce and release as well as pushing the boundaries of minimal techno with her live set’s performed around the world.
