Loop It Again, Kishi Bashi

Do you have something you want to experience over and over again, even if you’re not sure why?

For me, it’s Kishi Bashi’s concerts!

I don’t listen to his music every single day, but whenever I find out he’s playing nearby, I have to get tickets. This time, he had a show in Asheville, NC—where my family lives—so I went with them and we all joined the fun.

I’ve seen him live about five times now. Yes, I love his music. Yes, his tickets are reasonably priced. And yes, he tours often enough that it’s easy to catch a show. But more than anything, I go because I love witnessing that exact moment when the music comes to life piece by piece.

It’s the joy and awe of seeing a melody get built right in front of you, from loops to layers to full, soul-shaking harmony. I can’t help but want to see it happen again and again.

Listening to his music at home is lovely, but hearing it live feels completely different. It’s like watching a bartender mix different spirits, fruits, and herbs right in front of you—and then getting to savor the cocktail on the spot. Every ingredient blends together with just the right balance, and by the time you take a sip, the flavors have mixed so beautifully you can’t even tell where one ends and another begins. It’s a harmonious fusion, created before your eyes, and it tastes like magic.

The part that gets me every time is when he starts layering sounds live—recording a background melody on violin, looping it, then layering vocals with unfamiliar (sometimes even Japanese!) lyrics sung with such ease and stretch. While I’m still going, “Wait, which song is this?” in my head, he loops that chorus on fast-forward and BAM!—suddenly I hear the intro of a song I’ve known for ages. That moment when everything clicks together and the music bursts into full bloom.

During the show, he said something that really stuck with me: “People say AI will replace artists, but seeing all of you here tonight is what gives me hope.” And you know what? After that concert, I felt it too—there’s truly nothing like being there in person, seeing music happen with your own eyes.