Ayumu Imazu is one of the latest J-pop triple threats (singer, songwriter and dancer) on our rising artist radar. Known for his dynamic range in performances as well as his bilingual artistry, Ayumu has been climbing in popularity over the past year. Born in Osaka, Japan, he has now lived in the US for over 10 years, nurturing his growing music career. His unique sound of J-pop blended with R&B and smooth melodies stands out amongst the crowd — notably so in his recent hit “Obsessed” and “Thrifted.” With over half a million monthly listeners on Spotify alone, it’s safe to say he’s caught the attention of many worldwide.
Ayumu is just wrapped touring with MAX (appropriately so) across select dates in the US (Chicago, New York and LA). We caught up with him at The Troubadour in Los Angeles to check out a special acoustic set on night 1 of 3. I was able to meet Ayumu before the show briefly and take a few portraits. Sometimes you only meet people for a short moment, but you know when you’ve met a genuine person. He mentioned he was a little bit nervous as the show was an acoustic take — much different than his usual upbeat performances with choreography. As Rebby opened the night, I could hear Ayumu warming up in his dressing room and knew everyone was in for a treat.
Taking the stage casually, Ayumu introduced himself to an eager and supportive crowd. Right away, there was an immediate sense of humbleness and sincerity emitting from him as he spoke to the crowd about himself and his opportunity to be on the road supporting MAX. Ayumu’s voice is soulful and inviting — making it easy to listen and instantly take a liking to. Switching between a few different guitars, he posted up center stage on a stool telling short stories between songs, connecting with a very receptive audience.
The room lit up as he sang tracks like “Bandage” and “Superstar.” Naturally, the crowd was digging his mega-viral hit, “Obsessed” (which has 29 million streams on Spotify alone). My favorite song of the night was his recently released “Thrifted” along with a cover of Miki Matsubara’s “Stay With Me.” Ayumu performed all of his music stripped down acoustically, which sounded beautifully smooth. This was a changeup from his normal routine — though I’d really love to see a full-fledged performance in the future. There has been a lot of praise around Ayumu’s dance routines — so it would be great to take in the whole experience sometime.
Fans in Japan can catch Ayumu at a few upcoming shows in March and April — more info here. Until then, I urge you to take a listen — For fans of: MAX, Sirup, Jeremy Zucker, Ren, Let Me Know, Lauv and more.
GALLERY: AYUMU IMAZU AT THE TROUBADOUR IN LOS ANGELES (MARCH 8, 2025)
