Albums of the Year 2025: #69

To listen to Ichiko Aoba is to be drawn into a world as intimate as a warmly lit home, but cosmic in scale. The Japanese singer, songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist has taken a dedicated online fanbase built from TikTok sounds and critically acclaimed, and translated that into international tours spanning more than 20 countries.

She was well known in Japan—collaborating with artists like Haruomi Hosono, Cornelius, and the late Ryuichi Sakamoto—but Windswept Adan earned the adoration of fellow musicians like Japanese Breakfast, Pomme, and Weyes Blood.

Aoba’s latest album, Luminescent Creatures, is the culmination of her 15-year long career and finds her deftly melding the jazz-infused folk with the orchestral world building. Available exclusively on eco-vinyl, the eco-friendly packaging reflects Aoba's deep commitment to environmentalism.