We recently connected with Utako Toyama and have shared our conversation below.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Bio:
Utako Toyama is a multi-award-winning composer, the founder of SkyBridge, and the co-founder of Songs for World Peace. In 2022, she became the first recipient of the Hiroshima Award and was granted exceptional talent visas in both the U.S. and the UK. Currently based in London, UK, she dedicates her leadership and composing talents to promoting diversity, equality, and world peace through music, and collaborating with like-minded organizations.
While studying at Berklee College of Music with a scholarship, Utako founded SkyBridge, a global project band aimed at fostering diversity, equity, and world peace. SkyBridge fulfills this mission by collaborating with musicians from around the world and engaging the audience in their performances, creating unique and unforgettable moments.
Utako’s work has been showcased at prestigious events, including a film festival hosted by the UN Women SF chapter and the Asian American Mental Health Forum. She has traveled and worked extensively in the US, Japan, Kenya, Uganda, and Croatia, collaborating with musicians from more than 47 countries, including Grammy-awarded artists such as Victor Wooten and Mark Walker through SkyBridge. Additionally, she has worked with musicians from over 90 countries through Songs for World Peace.
Q. How you started my career of promoting humanity through music?
The founder, Utako Toyama (vocalist and composer), realized that “Music can be a bridge between people, and that connection can occur for anyone – not just musicians,” as she made friends from around the world through music.
The slogan of SkyBridge is “We look different, but we ALL smile the same,” and our goal is to create meaningful experiences for the audience. We achieve this by making music with them at our events, connecting people beyond any borders they might have.
Q. what you think sets you apart from others
SkyBridge is not just a band that creates original music; it’s a collective of individuals united by the same purpose: to catalyze social movements through music and inspire people. We stand out because we are determined to address significant social issues such as race, gender, and LGBT discrimination. By allowing audience members to experience the joy of singing, especially in large groups, we hope to make it clear to our audience that as humans, we are ONE – we ALL smile the same.
Q. What are you most proud of and what are the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you/your brand/your work/ etc.
My music has a special mission: to provide a means for people to raise their voices through music, whether they are musicians or not. It supports the message of humanity, diversity, equity, and world peace that everyone can convey through music, and the ability to inspire others. For instance, by singing together as an audience, one can raise their voice, and also, by downloading sheet music or karaoke tracks from SkyBridge’s website, individuals can become performers at their own events.
To enable this, my music is composed to connect people and unite them when many people sing together. The music is available for download with a “Name your price” approach, making it accessible to anyone, regardless of their financial background.
My songs have been performed in organizations, schools, and events where there is a shared understanding of these values. I invite you to connect with people around the world through music and inspire others together.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Through music, I find great fulfillment in creating extraordinary experiences and opening up possibilities for new, unfamiliar realities. For example, at SkyBridge concerts, we’ve had diverse audiences, ranging from wealthy individuals to those who have recently escaped homelessness, representing various cultural, racial, and religious backgrounds. The situations where people with vastly different life experiences, who might never have spoken otherwise, end up sitting next to each other, sharing smiles, shedding tears, singing together, and engaging in conversations afterward, represent the most rewarding moments for me as an artist.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
With the advent of the internet, we can instantly access information from the farthest corners of the globe. However, conflicts persist, and discrimination endures. We keep scrolling through international news – why does this happen? I believe we need to cultivate genuine empathy to catch up with our technological advancements. As a musician, my mission is to foster empathy through deeply meaningful personal experiences facilitated by music. Looking ahead, I aspire to create an online global choir where individuals from diverse backgrounds worldwide can unite in live concerts online. Through this platform, the prospect of forming friendships with people from other nations using the universal language of music, all from the comfort of one’s home, becomes a reality. My goal is that when people read international news, not merely scroll through headlines but I want them to think of someone familiar residing in that country. Creating this level of personal connection is what I strive for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.utakotoyama.com/
- Instagram: @utakomusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UtakoMusic
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/utakomusic/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/UtakoMusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SkyBridgemusic
- SkyBridge: https://www.skybridgemusic.org/
- Songs for World Peace: https://www.songsforworldpeace.org/
Image Credits
Each credit is provided on the pictures where it’s applicable.