Aco Takenaka is a Tokyo-based singer-songwriter blending Alternative, Ambient, Experimental, Folk, and New Age elements with her captivating “seven-colored” shamanic voice. She revives traditional and indigenous songs from around the world through her original soundscapes and deeply expressive vocals. Her latest album, Ancient Seeds, and the award-winning song, “Oxum,” have gained global acclaim, celebrating the spiritual roots of music and the power of voice as prayer.

With Ancient Seeds out now, we took some time to hear from Aco Takenaka. Read below to learn more about Aco Takenaka, the story Ancient Seeds, and what’s to come.

Hi Aco Takenaka! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?

Hi! Thank you for these wonderful questions! My artist name is actually my real name. “Aco” carries the meaning of “Asian daughter,” and “Takenaka” means “in a bamboo forest.” Pretty Asian, right? Haha.

What city are you from, and where are you based now?

I was born in Tokyo. My ancestors come from the deep mountains and the wild ocean, but my parents fell in love in Tokyo — so that became the starting point of my life. After traveling around the world, I am now based in Tokyo again, while also spending a lot of time in the nearby mountains.

At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?

I have always loved singing and nature. But, I truly began my career after I left the company that I joined after university. I’m grateful for all the experiences that I had along the way, but at some point I realized that life only happens once, and our time is limited — so I felt I had to start pursuing what I love the most, without waiting any longer.

How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?
 
My songs are for connecting with the universe — both within you and around you. They are songs that invite you to reconnect with your true self, with nature, and with one another as human beings.

Your music places a strong emphasis on connection with nature. When did this become such a central part of your style?

I actually grew up in Tokyo, and like many people raised in big cities around the world, I first enjoyed pop, rock, folk…all kinds of contemporary music. There was even a time when I practiced guitar and bossa nova endlessly. Among them, I especially loved Carole King’s voice — that warm, heartfelt sound — so much that I even moved to the U.S. to study voice. There, I explored many different ways of using the voice: resonating more deeply in the chest than the typical Asian vocal style, receiving energy from the ground, and discovering how the body can become a channel for sound in various vocal traditions and cultures.

Those experiences were wonderful. But at some point, no matter what I sang, I began to feel as if I were imitating an outer form that didn’t truly come from me. Every genre has its own roots, history, and physicality – shaped by the land and culture it was born from. And I started to feel like I was standing outside of that lineage, borrowing someone else’s bones and voice. That made me ask deeper questions: “Why did my soul choose this body — this voice — to be born?” “What is the true sound that wants to come through me?” “What does the universe want to resonate by making me who I am?” Around that time, a friend invited me to a gathering, saying: “There’s someone coming who sings to call the deer — you should join.” When I heard that voice, tears poured out for reasons I couldn’t explain. Usually, I cried because of a beautiful melody or powerful lyrics. But this time, something far deeper — beyond meanings — was awakened. That moment marked the beginning of my journey to discover the root sound of my existence. And that path naturally led me into a world where our voices and nature are inseparable — where singing is a way of remembering who we are.

Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
 
I love traveling into nature, connecting with the lives there, discovering the gentle gradation of the seasons, playing with my Shiba dog, watching movies, and cooking…I really enjoy all the small, precious things in daily life. Oh, and meditation — definitely. And also some exercise…to make sure I don’t meditate too much. Haha.

Who are some of your main musical influences?
 
My first vocal teachers were birds and dogs — and whale songs. Among human artists: Enya, Clannad, Björk, The Bulgarian Voices, and also Carole King, Karla Bonoff, Sarah McLachlan, and Caetano Veloso. I am a huge fan of so many wonderful musicians. 

Do you have any dream collaborations?

Right now, I’m very excited about exploring improvisation in many forms. I also dream of creating voice retreats — gathering and honoring diverse traditional ways of singing as part of our collective human transformation.

What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?

When I performed in a large dome and everyone joined their voices with mine — singing together as one. That moment will echo inside me forever. Also, when I sing personally — telling my love to the trees, and when they answer and the birds join me — those moments also stay within me always.

Are there any places that you dream of performing?

Yes — I want to sing everywhere! The moon, Mars, even other planets…although I suppose I’d need air to make that happen! Haha.

What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?
 
That living itself is a singing lesson. Sometimes we must simply live – but as long as I believe that I have not stopped singing, life keeps teaching me how to sing. Everything is an experience of harmony. 

Now onto your release, Ancient Seeds. What inspired this album? 
 
I have been fortunate to learn sacred traditional songs directly from remarkable people around the world — songs that are living treasures of this planet. I always hoped that one day I could record these songs and help carry their spirit forward.

What is the overall theme of Ancient Seeds?

It is to remember — to remember that we are part of nature, part of one great life that connects all beings. These songs are not relics of the past, but living seeds of wisdom that can sprout again when we sing them with our voices today — and help us feel that wisdom alive within our own energy. I hope these songs can simply be enjoyed in everyday life — and maybe, gently remind us how we used to live with our environment, and connect each other.

What was the creative process like when making Ancient Seeds?

These are sacred songs rooted in their own traditions, so I didn’t want to merely imitate the form or casually place them together. Until the time felt right to record them, I kept singing with my whole body — again and again. Over the years, there were many moments when I suddenly realized, “Oh… that’s what this song truly means.” I focused on becoming close with the power-seeds inside each song — with the spirits that live within them. I tried to connect deeply and listen: How do they want to dance through me? How do they wish to come into the world? I simply followed their vibration with honesty, in gratitude, and in joy.

How long did it take to complete Ancient Seeds?

If I count the years since I first began encountering these songs, it has been almost 20 years. And from the moment I decided to record them, it took about three years to complete the album.

Is there a specific song on Ancient Seeds that speaks to you the most? If so, why?

All of the songs are precious to me — each one feels like a part of who I am. But if I had to choose one right now, it might be “Lokah.” The prayer within this song — “May all lives be safe, and may all be happy” — feels especially important in this moment. In a way, I feel that every other prayer song on the album is connected to this same wish.

What was the inspiration behind the cover artwork for Ancient Seeds?

The cover artwork is an etching by the artist Icuco Mizokami. The creatures she draws feel as if they could step right out of the print and begin to move — they are truly alive. For this album, I wanted the artwork to carry the breath of the beings who live in the ancient forest.
When you look at her work and fall asleep, these beings might wander into your dreams — I knew she was the perfect artist for this album.

What do you hope fans take away from Ancient Seeds and your music in general?

I hope listeners can travel into a more ancient way of feeling connected — to the sun, the earth, the water, the wind, the stars, and the ocean. To feel how our ancestors once lived in true unity with nature. These ancient songs carry the wisdom of a time when humans lived more closely with the cosmos. Just like ancient seeds found in ruins that sprout again when returned to soil and water, these songs can also blossom when sung with the human voice. Even if you don’t understand the literal meaning, if something in your heart responds — that song has already begun to bloom within you. I hope this music can be a small refuge where people can breathe, feel safe, and remember that we are never alone — we are beloved.

What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?

After spending so much time crafting every detail of Ancient Seeds,
now I feel drawn to play with improvisation — letting the voice move wherever it wants to go. Of course, I also hope to bring the album to the stage and recreate its full sound live. There are so many incredible musicians involved, so scheduling is a bit of a puzzle — but I’m determined to make it happen! Ancient Seeds includes three ancient Japanese prayer songs, and working with them has inspired me to go even deeper into that world. It has made me want to begin creating a new album that continues this journey. There are so many beautiful songs in the world that deserve to be found — and sung.

Where can we follow you on social media?
 
https://www.facebook.com/acotakenakasinger/
https://www.instagram.com/acolala/
Thank you for following!

Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!