R&B/Soul Singer Nao Yoshioka to Release New Album “self” on July 17th, 2026 | LISTEN!
Japanese Soul Artist Nao Yoshioka
New Single “Pieces of Me”
Celebrates Self-Love
Featuring Vietnamese R&B Sensation Mỹ Anh
Announces New Album self
Featuring a Global Collective of R&B/Soul Artists
Available July 17
New York and DMV Performances This Week
Japanese R&B/soul artist Nao Yoshioka releases her new single, “Pieces of Me,” a cross-cultural collaboration with Vietnamese R&B artist Mỹ Anh centered on self-love and self-acceptance. Produced by Shuko (Ella Mai, Kanye West), the track brings together two of Asia’s most prominent soul voices, both of whom have built global careers singing R&B and soul in English while navigating questions of identity and belonging.
“When Mỹ Anh and I first met, we talked about what kind of emotions we could share as we wanted the song to come naturally from what we had in common,” says Yoshioka. “I was born and raised in Japan, but singing R&B and soul in English often left me feeling uncertain about where I belonged. Mỹ Anh shared similar feelings as she builds her career globally from Vietnam and we immediately connected on that level.”
“Pieces of Me” follows previously released single “Shadow,” a psychedelic, soul duet with neo-soul pioneer Bilal, produced by Corey Bernhard (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert), as well as “You Got to Feel It,” an assured exploration of emotional honesty featuring saxophonist Braxton Cook and Dutch producer Bnnyhunna, and the meditative, nature-inspired anthem “In The Rain.”
Pre-Save Album HERE
The new music arrives alongside the announcement of Yoshioka’s new studio album self arriving July 17. [Pre-Save Here]. The project is a “World Soul Collective,” featuring collaborators from Philadelphia, Chicago, Amsterdam, Hanoi, Helsinki, Tokyo and Taipei with sounds spanning neo-soul, indie, R&B, Afrobeats and spiritual jazz. Guests include Bilal, Jamila Woods, Khari Mateen, Keyon Harrold, Peter CottonTale, Devin Morrison, Raphael Devante, MXXWLL, Sam Wills, Bnnyhunna, Mỹ Anh, Misha and Chien Chien Lu.
self is a deeply personal body of work exploring identity, acceptance and emotional honesty. Yoshioka explains, “This album is the sound of me finally facing and accepting every part of myself—the hopeful side that chased the light and the hidden side that felt weak or ‘never enough. It is about turning that honesty and gratitude toward the people who carried me here into music, without holding anything back.”
In 2025, Yoshioka released Philly Soul Sessions Vol. 2, the second installment of her neo-soul live-session style series recorded with local musicians reimagining her catalog. It followed her 2024 studio album, Flow, which featured collaborations with Takuya Kuroda, Melanie Charles, Reuben James, Jarreau Vandal and MXXWLL, and a world tour spanning eleven countries.
Next month, she continues her immersion into Philadelphia’s soul community as she begins work on Philly Soul Sessions Vol. 3, further expanding her global, collaborative approach to soul music while continuing to explore themes of introspection and resilience.
Photo Credit: SWEET SOUL RECORDS
UPCOMING SHOWS:
May 28 – Rams Head On Stage – Annapolis, MD
May 29 – Nublu – New York, NY
May 30 – BlackRock Center for the Arts – Germantown, MD
CONNECT WITH NAO YOSHIOKA:
Facebook / Instagram / YouTube
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