Hiroshima-born, Montreal-based singer-songwriter and BADBADNOTGOOD & Mk. Gee collaborator Jonah Yano shifts nimbly between his freewheeling musicality and heart-tugging songwriting chops. Yano’s acclaimed 2023 album Portrait of a Dog meditated on faded memories and eroding family ties in a haunting fashion.

From 30-minute loop-based improvisations to a simple acoustic song that makes listeners spill their guts, Yano seeks out music not just for emotional catharsis, but to ask questions about heritage and identity, tracing back the Big Why’s of how a person comes to be who they are. As a result, his music always feels more than just a product, but a shapeshifting quest that reveals new insights through practice and experimentation.

“His voice lilts with every syllable, making the imagery feel crushing and poignant” – Pitchfork