Nonoka, who hails from the East has managed to carve out her own space in the competitive music scene of New York. She is a musician who was influenced by such artists as Joey DeFrancesco and Lee Morgan. Nonoka happened to catch DeFrancesco at the famous Blue Note in Manhattan. During that visit it motivated her to complete her studies in New York and expand her musical knowledge. Her parents were avid music fans which fueled her desire to attempt to start a career in the music industry.
She would go on and master two instruments, the trumpet and the Hammond organ. The latter was discontinued in 1970. While she was learning the trumpet she discovered jazz and was drawn to it. While she visited the club “Zatto Four” she had an opportunity to perform on a Hammon organ at the venue. Here is where her life would take an interesting turn. At the venue she met the CEO of YS Corporation, Osamu Yamamoto. Since then, Osamu has been a supportive hand for Nonoka with gigs and sound advice.
Nonoka would move to New York and managed to earn a scholarship to the New School, while also doing a mentorship with jazz legends Dr. Lonnie Smith and Tony Monaco. Besides the music part of her studies, she also took courses in film scoring and orchestration. Nonoka also collaborated with classical music students that broadened her musical canvas.
“The trumpet and organ are totally different instruments, and it’s hard to play different instruments at the same time. The keys and range of each instrument are different, too. So, in my head, I imagine two people doing their own thing. If I think of it as ‘I am playing two instruments,’ I sometimes get confused. So, I have my own band in my head.”
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So far, Nonoka has performed from Japan to Los Angeles. Some notable venues have been Grand Performance California Plaza, Reggae on The Mountain Music Festival, Broadway night LA place Theatre and many more. One of her more memorable performances was when she collaborated with Robert Vargas, the artist who painted the Shohei Ohtani mural in Little Tokyo. In addition, she performed with her favorite rapper Murs. Her talent was so appreciated that she was asked to join the Neighborhood Orchestra, by the leader Memo. At the Neighborhood Orchestra she also teaches composition, trumpet, and piano both in person (at the school) and online.
“My long-term goal as a musician is to become a versatile, multi-genre artist, and for audiences to immediately recognize my sound as Nonoka’s. Growing up, I only listened to jazz music, but recently, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to play and explore a wide variety of genres. This has opened my eyes to the endless possibilities in music, and I’m eager to continue experimenting and expanding my musical horizons. Since moving to LA, I’ve started connecting more deeply with hip-hop. It’s been an exciting journey of discovery, and I hope to collaborate with some of my favorite rappers one day, blending my influences with theirs to create something truly original. Ultimately, I want my music to transcend genres and speak to people on a global level.”