The intellectual catchiness of Yuika's music will immediately draw the listener into her world. Yuika Abe (known professionally as YUIKA) is an acclaimed Japanese-American songwriter, singer, producer and keyboardist based in NY. Abe has carefully cultivated her sound and style over the last ten years, performing at venues across the globe and learning from/working with some of the top professionals in the industry.  

Her music plays with a blend of many genres such as pop, jazz, funk, experimental electronics and indie, drawing influences from artists ranging from Fiona Apple to James Blake.

Born in Tokyo and moving to the States at age four, the polarizing cultural background of her upbringing has impacted Abe’s sense of self and her music.  Her song, “Obento” (which translates to “Lunchbox” in Japanese) tackles her struggles with her identity and expands to a commentary on cultural assimilation, by telling a story about opening up her lunchbox, handmade by her mother, in the school cafeteria, using pungent imagery such as “dirt on rice” and “paper for lunch”.  

“I am inspired by seemingly insignificant details in everyday life” states Abe.  Her writing style focuses on using details of daily struggle that most may overlook as being laughably minute (such as luke-warm tea that needs to be microwaved in her song “Microwave Tea”)  to find intellectual yet  playful ways to talk about serious  topics such as mental health, self discovery/acceptance, cultural/racial barriers,  female empowerment, etc. 

She currently devotes most of her time to the studio — writing, recording and producing her debut EP.  She also works as a frequent co-writer, singer, and collaborator to multiple artists and clients. When she is not in the studio or at the piano humming a new tune, you can find her spending quality time with her friends and family, or doting on her fluffy and love-able pet corgi, Marlo.