S01: Communicating Through the Language of Music with Toshi Yanagi

Toshi Yanagi is an in-house band member of ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live", playing guitar as well as one of the characters in the show. He also plays a monthly performance with his band Shogun Warrior at The Baked Potato in Los Angeles. There is no better place to feel Toshi's standout guitar to its fullest than at this live venue!

Toshi grew up in a family of music. Something he would describe as a blessing, but also an environment of high pressure that was centered around Classical music. The problem was that Toshi never really cared for Classical music. As a young man growing up in Japan, he fell in love with rock music and moved to the U.S. to pursue that passion. He landed in San Fransisco and quickly learned the difficulties of having to deal with a language barrier. But while this was a struggle at times, the ability to be a musician was comforting for him and gave him a language that everybody could understand.

Toshi used the language of his guitar, and it lead him to LA where he went to school and eventually worked his way into a successful music career. The truth is that the music industry is tough, a professor even once told him that it would take 10 years to find stable work. Something that Toshi didn't pay much attention to back then, but looking back realizes how true those words may have been. It did take a long time, and it wasn't easy. But it was something he loved to do, and the journey was successful because of that fact. 

 

Find Toshi Online:

Website - http://www.toshiyanagimusic.net/

Facebook - @ToshiYanagiMusic

Instagram - @toshiyanagimusic

Twitter - @Toshi_Yanagi

 

Some Questions I Ask:

Do you think it’s important to teach kids music in a certain type of way? (04:00) Was there one gig that really got the ball rolling for your music career? (15:07) What is it like being on the Jimmy Kimmel show. How do you play? (18:47) What would you say to someone younger trying to pursue the music industry? (22:31) How have you brought music into your household with your daughters? (24:52)

 

In This Episode, You Will Learn About:

Being raised in a musical family with high expectations How the language barrier can be so hard to overcome The importance of being ready and taking advantage of an opportunity Why people say it usually takes 10 years to find a stable job in the music industry How much music can bring to your life, even when it’s not your career

 

Music Composed by John Zarcone