i-nichi - i-nichi (2025)

i-nichi is Tokyo-based singer and songwriter Seiko Nemoto, with UK-based accomplished musicians Billy Shinbone, Philip Collings and Ben Scott Turner joining her to form a full band.

Seiko had previously come to the attention of UK audiences when her band Dai-Nichi supported The Chesterfields on tour in 2019, including a fantastic response at London's 100 Club, an experience Seiko could never have predicted when she started following The Chesterfields around the UK in the late 1980s when living in London.

Seiko’s unique take on songwriting, coupled with a love of Captain Beefheart, Gang of Four, Devo and early UK prog rock has manifested itself previously in a limited edition 7 inch single, titled ‘Mimiko’, with the help of Philip Collings in the studio, and Simon Barber (The Chesterfields) in observation mode.

Now with added Billy Shinbone (Neville Staples Band, The Sinclairs, etc) on guitar and vocals, Philip Collings on bass guitar and Ben Scott Turner on drums, Seiko’s i-nichi has formed into a full band, for gigs and further recordings. With more stints in the studio, a further eleven tracks have been recorded, including three written though Seiko’s previous band, and two covers, with Seiko taking up the biggest writing credit. Produced and engineered by Ben Scott Turner at Axe and Trap Studio in Wells, Somerset, whilst observed by Simon Barber (The Chesterfields), i-nichi’s debut album is bound to cause a stir.

Tracklist:
1-1 i-nichi - Why Am I In Helsinki? [2:21]
1-2 i-nichi - Is 20kg Heavy? [2:16]
1-3 i-nichi - Mimiko [2:02]
1-4 i-nichi - 66 [2:33]
1-5 i-nichi - Singer-Songwriter Horse [3:26]
1-6 i-nichi - Back In The Night [2:41]
1-7 i-nichi - OK Song [2:46]
1-8 i-nichi - Attention [2:59]
1-9 i-nichi - Richard Sinclair [1:42]
1-10 i-nichi - A Song For Portland (Dorset) [4:11]
1-11 i-nichi - Skyscape [1:44]
1-12 i-nichi - Arnold Layne [2:47]
1-13 i-nichi - Dear Mr. David Shrigley [1:42]
1-14 i-nichi - Iron & Zinc [2:26]