Utako Toyama, peace award-winning songwriter :: Creative Humans
Interview with a composer, music-maker, and peace advocate in these trying times
Dear all,
The world is once-again in the midst of calamities testing our capacities to be human, our compassion and empathy, our trust in the sources we rely upon, and our resilience from a mental health perspective. All I will say on the subject through this platform, today, is that force is never the answer to anything. I hold out fervent hope for a return to diplomacy soon.
Welcome to Creative Humans, a feature of On Humanity to engage and inspire readers to create new things and share your own creative journeys. Last week I had the opportunity to email-interview Utako Toyama, whom I met this past August at an annual Hiroshima memorial event and peace walk in Boston. In this interview, Utako shares anecdotes from her various lived experiences and collaborations on several continents, reflections on what it means to be a musician in different cultural contexts and on promoting social cohesion, thoughts on leadership styles, advice for composing songs, and musings on personal transformations. I hope you enjoy reading, and feel free to reach out if you’d like to be connected!
If you’d like to be interviewed on anything you do for inspiration — or know someone who might — please reach out by emailing onhumanity@substack.com!
Utako Toyama, an award-winning composer and founder of SkyBridge and co-founder of Songs for World Peace, is based in London, UK. Recognized with prestigious awards like the Hiroshima Award in Music, she holds exceptional talent visas in the U.S. and the UK. Utako is dedicated to promoting diversity, equality, and world peace through her global project band, SkyBridge, collaborating with musicians from 47+ countries, including Grammy awardees Victor Wooten and Mark Walker, and working with musicians from 90+ countries in Songs for World Peace.
1. Was there a particular experience (or more) in early childhood that attracted you to music and, eventually, led you to take on music-making and songwriting?
I always had sounds playing in my mind from a young age, although I wasn't aware it was a unique ability. I recall my elementary school teacher urging me to be quiet during class when I unknowingly started singing the tunes in my head. It was a challenge to suppress this natural tendency. I also had a good sense for harmony and melody; I often found myself wanting to tweak existing songs to better resonate with my emotions.
My journey into songwriting truly began around the age of 9 when my dog went missing. Writing songs became my way of expressing and dealing with my emotions during that tough time. The realization that songwriting might be my strength struck me in high school. I remember someone wrote a song that, in my opinion, wasn't particularly remarkable—it felt like the kind of song anyone could compose without much effort. However, the reaction from others was surprising; they were either amazed by the song itself or the mere fact that someone had written it. It was then that I started to suspect that not everyone hears music constantly playing in their minds as I do in my daily life.
2. What did you find most inspiring during your time at Berklee College of Music? What galvanized you to found the global project band, SkyBridge?
For me, the most inspiring aspect of Berklee was undoubtedly its diverse community. Berklee felt like a version of the United Nations tailored for musicians. Whether they were teachers or students, everyone I met were passionate individuals from all over the world who loved music deeply. Through making music with these musicians from around the globe, music made friends for me.
Several experiences led to the creation of SkyBridge. One of them was the opportunity to have my song performed by a large audience. One of my goals at Berklee was to translate my cherished composition, "No Rain No Rainbow," into English and perform it with Berklee musicians. Surprisingly, my dream came true much sooner than I anticipated. In my first semester, "No Rain No Rainbow" was selected as one of the songs to be performed at the 9/11 Memorial Concert. With the help of my friends, I translated the song into English and performed it with Berklee musicians. This opened doors for me to perform the song at a middle school in Massachusetts. The students had already practiced the song, and when I arrived, they welcomed me with excitement, saying, "Are you the one who wrote this song? I love it!" We performed "No Rain No Rainbow" together, turning it into a shared anthem of hope.
This song, born from a challenging period in my life, became no longer just my song that day. Each person singing it carried their unique stories, all harmonizing for the same message of hope. Through this experience, my passion became writing songs that bring people together, uniting voices for a shared cause.
Another experience that fueled my motivation was the friendships I formed with musicians from around the world. Despite global conflicts, I often wondered, "If we can become friends through music, why do wars and discrimination persist in a world where information from across the globe is just a click away?" Reflecting on this, I realized that fostering genuine empathy through personal experiences could be the key to a better world. This realization led me to dedicate my strengths in leadership and composition to this cause, whether through SkyBridge or Songs for World Peace. This journey has become my passion, driving me to create meaningful connections and inspire positive change through music.
3. Several years after graduation, you moved to London, UK, and co-founded Songs For World Peace just as the pandemic began to ravage the globe. In this context, are there any striking personal memories from 2020 that you’d like to share?
After graduating from Berklee, I had been working in the United States on an O1 (exceptional talent) visa, which makes for a total of eight years in the US. In the fall of 2019 when I moved to London, I had plans to start SkyBridge there. However, the pandemic struck, making it impossible to make new friends or perform due to the lockdown situation.
During that time, a friend who knew about my SkyBridge project suggested the idea of co-founding Songs for World Peace (SWP) together. In a time when many musicians around me had idle time, I found myself busier than ever before the pandemic. SWP activities started under these circumstances and have been ongoing since.
Another significant change was my decision to quit all in-person teaching and transition entirely to online, allowing me to work from anywhere in the world. Thanks to this, I was able to organize SWP's music video project in Boston during the summer this year.
While 2020 was undoubtedly a challenging year, it also marked the beginning of SWP due to these changes. I feel that these transformations have created an environment where I can continue musical activities in various places around the world.
4. Have any differences or similarities in the cultures and lived experiences among your various “home bases” (Japan, US, UK) contributed to how you view humanity and human behavior?
Certainly. The most significant impact came from encountering various "standards" outside my home country. Different countries have different ways of showing respect. There's nothing that's universally "given" or understood, so the necessity of openly discussing mutual expectations and effective communication on how we convey our thoughts sincerely became apparent.
It's crucial to understand that nobody shares the same beliefs, and conflicts of opinion are natural. In Japan, there is a tendency to avoid expressing different opinions to prevent conflicts, but what's truly essential in building a healthy relationship is not personally taking the differences in opinions as opposition and learning how to convey your thoughts constructively. I am still learning the importance of non-verbal communication, such as body language, when conveying my thoughts to others.
5. You have also worked in Kenya and Uganda in recent years. Could you share with readers a little bit about the process and the fruits of collaborations with musicians in those countries?
Certainly. In Kenya, I had the opportunity to collaborate with close music colleagues, including members of SkyBridge, and have visited the country several times. During my first visit, I conducted a composition workshop at a music school in Nairobi. On the second visit, we performed at the Safaricom Jazz festival, and I had the privilege of having Grammy Award-winning artist Victor Wooten join us for a SkyBridge performance. This collaboration was part of the activities organized by the Global Youth Groove organization. That year, I had another program in Uganda, where I was appointed as the music director, so I couldn't participate in all the activities in Kenya. However, during my third visit, I conducted workshops on composition, music production, singing, and also performed.
In Uganda, I went there for a program called African Youth Leadership Experience. Through a music exercise called Spontaneous Composition, which we also do in SkyBridge concerts, I organized activities that promoted physical, emotional, and social growth. By creating a safe and positive environment, I emphasized the importance of making small mistakes to create something better, understanding the significance of how we express our opinions, recognizing individual roles, and practicing effective leadership.
The moment that brought me the most joy was when one student said, "I learned how to dive in even with the fear." When challenging something, completely eliminating fear is nearly impossible. I believe that continually avoiding fear and discomfort leads to missing opportunities for personal growth. Learning to coexist with fear and still bravely trying is a choice the students learned, and for me, this was the most fruitful outcome.
In Uganda, I also had discussions with the director of an organization combating human trafficking, exploring ways to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and support financially impoverished processes. Although the project couldn't take shape immediately due to the pandemic, I hope to contribute in some way during my future visits.
I feel that due to the way many media outlets portray Africa, there's a misconception that it's a place in constant need of help. While it's true that some students had to worry about having food for the next day, and, consequently, some couldn't continue attending school, there are numerous individuals with remarkable ideas and great humanity. Many students and adults are actively thinking about how they can contribute to their community and improve it. How many students in so-called "developed countries" are genuinely considering how they can contribute to their communities?
The reason I enjoy collaborations is because I believe in creating an environment where everyone is equal and can easily learn from one another. Nobody is on the giving or receiving end of help; instead, we learn from each other. I want to continue these activities and feel the need to increase my influence to make a greater contribution in the future.
6. How would you define your leadership style, and how do cultural differences influence your approach to leadership? Are there any roadblocks you had to overcome in the past as you led the various initiatives of SkyBridge and Songs For World Peace?
I would say my leadership style aligns most closely with the Servant Leadership style. Servant leadership is a philosophy where individuals aim to collaborate and empower others.
My approach to leadership has slightly varied depending on the nature of the project, the positions of myself and the participants in the project, as well as the cultural context. In Japan, I've had experiences leading a wind orchestra with over 80 members, a gospel choir with over 300 members, a choir with over 100 members for television, and a wedding musicians team for over 300 weddings annually.
In Japan, there was a relatively shared sense of purpose, and my role as a leader involved creating an environment where everyone could achieve the goals with ease, minimizing resistance in the project. It meant listening to a lot of opinions, finding common ground among everyone, resetting goals, and creating a team and environment with as little resistance as possible.
In the U.S., when it comes to leading, if I apply the same approach as in Japan, I often get asked, "Firstly, what do you want?" Especially in my own projects, it's essential to clearly communicate my vision and then inquire about individual opinions, making the process much smoother.
Effectively conveying my vision through words and actions is crucial. However, I never lead in a way where I am above others, giving orders. As a leader, I work harder than other members and encourage spontaneity in others. Everyone realizes their unique strengths, and I lead not because I'm "great" but because it's my role to do so.
Leadership is complex and inevitably comes with challenges, but I believe it's a lifelong learning process. Creating an environment where everyone can openly and constructively express their thoughts and acknowledge each other is something I value deeply.
7. What goes through your mind when you play a piece you are in the process of composing on the piano? Any particular examples?
When I compose, the main theme often comes to my mind first, and I tend to build the piece around that central idea. The initial inspiration can hit me suddenly, like a natural event. But when it comes to working on the rest of the composition, it requires mental strength, focus, and patience. I deeply involve myself in the music's world, trying to imagine what I can see, hear, and feel there, using all my senses to turn those sensations into sound.
It's a very focused process, like listening to falling snow. For example, with "No Rain No Rainbow," when I heard those words, the entire chorus came to me instantly, but for the verses, I waited patiently, tuning my senses like antennas, observing the rain, walking through it, until the phrases emerged.
Writing about the composition process might sound strange to readers. Although I don't follow any specific religious beliefs, when it comes to composing, I don't deny the feeling of 'hearing sound.' It's there, yet the process of not knowing where it comes from creates a sense of wonder.
8. What advice would you give to folks who are in the beginning stages of their composing (music-making) journeys as adults?
Have you ever hummed a tune reflecting your emotions during a joyful moment? Have you modified the lyrics of a familiar song to express what you truly feel? Have you spontaneously sung your feelings to a cheerful melody? If yes, you are already at the starting points of composing!
Composing is an extension of these experiences. There are many approaches, but why not start by humming your emotions and singing them out loud? There are no wrong answers, so enjoy the process!
Additionally, analyze in detail what makes your favorite songs so appealing to you. Dive deep, get specific, and pay close attention. If you can say, "It's the jump in the melody here," or "It's the harmony at this point," that's a breakthrough. Incorporate those elements into your own compositions and see where it takes you.
9. Outside of your professional life, based on what you share with your followers, you recently took on daily running (in nature) as a new hobby. How has it changed the way you experience your day-to-day so far?
Personally, I believe I've entered a transformative phase in my life, and my decision to take up running reflects my intention to embrace the changes I wish to make within myself.
For the longest time, I held this mysterious belief that I wasn't the "runner type." While I don't particularly dislike running, the idea of being someone who "runs in the morning" never resonated with me.
However, I'm driven to transform a part of myself, especially concerning my future career. I aspire to contribute more and give back based on my genuine passions, aiming for a more significant influence. In my previous endeavors, I prioritized motivation and the process over results. I collaborated with like-minded individuals, sharing common goals and working together to achieve them. I don't anticipate this mindset changing in the future. However, I've realized that by expanding my influence and gaining more visibility for my work, I can contribute even more to my colleagues, supporters, and the projects I'm currently engaged in.
In pursuit of this goal, I recognized the need to begin by shifting my mindset. Running has become symbolic of this change for me. I'm shedding the preconceived notions I had about my abilities. When I run, I can sense how easily my former beliefs, such as "I'm not cut out for running," can evolve. Admittedly, I might be the world's most low-key runner at the moment. Nevertheless, my focus lies in altering my perspective, and this journey begins here.
10. Are there any websites or other resources you’d like to share to let readers familiarize themselves with your work?
Certainly! You can find all my musical activities and projects on my website:
Feel free to listen to "No Rain No Rainbow" and download the song at your desired price. If you're inspired to sing it, go ahead and share your rendition. Don’t forget to tag me @utakomusic ;) For more details, you can visit SkyBridge Music.
Please leave a comment, react to this post, or reply directly: any feedback on Utako’s responses in this interview will be shared with her. I’m always happy to connect! -Pavel
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