Chris Mosdell is the British lyricist, poet, author, composer, vocalist and illustrator best-known for his extensive work in Japanese pop and culture. Rising to prominence as the lyricist for one of Japan's biggest bands ever, Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO), Mosdell has penned hundreds of lyrics for hit songs around the globe. His lyrics for "Behind the Mask" are additionally notable as the basis for Michael Jackson's final single.
He has collaborated with an extensive array of musicians and artists, including long-term collaborator Ryuichi Sakamoto, Sarah Brightman, Boy George, and the West African kora player Toumani Diabaté. With YMO his lyrics helped craft a vision of a cyberpunk future that rose to global prominence when their pioneering technopop sound was paired as the opening act for Kraftwerk during their 1979 world tour. Mosdell additionally anticipated much of the New Romantic emergence with his look and style for his debut solo album, "Equasian," as well as his collaborations with Yukihiro Takahashi. His work covered by Eric Clapton also lended itself to another hit for that artist on his 1986 best-selling LP "August".
Mosdell's collaborations have carried his words into the theme songs of numerous anime motion pictures, in particular working with Yoko Kanno. He has also performed live with Japan's most famed calligraphy artist, Juichi Yoshikawa, as well as his performance ensemble, The Incendiary Orchestra, featuring koto player Michiyo Yagi. One of his musical releases is a unique fusion of sound and poetry with Japan's poet laureate, Shuntarō Tanikawa. He is also known for writing the verse dance drama "Amaterasu, the Resurrection of Radiance," performed with the City Ballet of London at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
His work is immortalized in a documentary film about his life entitled "Ink Music: In the Land of the Hundred-Tongued Lyricist" (2009), featuring interviews with many of his collaborators and shot in Japan and the USA. He is based in Tokyo, Japan, and New York City, United States.
He has collaborated with an extensive array of musicians and artists, including long-term collaborator Ryuichi Sakamoto, Sarah Brightman, Boy George, and the West African kora player Toumani Diabaté. With YMO his lyrics helped craft a vision of a cyberpunk future that rose to global prominence when their pioneering technopop sound was paired as the opening act for Kraftwerk during their 1979 world tour. Mosdell additionally anticipated much of the New Romantic emergence with his look and style for his debut solo album, "Equasian," as well as his collaborations with Yukihiro Takahashi. His work covered by Eric Clapton also lended itself to another hit for that artist on his 1986 best-selling LP "August".
Mosdell's collaborations have carried his words into the theme songs of numerous anime motion pictures, in particular working with Yoko Kanno. He has also performed live with Japan's most famed calligraphy artist, Juichi Yoshikawa, as well as his performance ensemble, The Incendiary Orchestra, featuring koto player Michiyo Yagi. One of his musical releases is a unique fusion of sound and poetry with Japan's poet laureate, Shuntarō Tanikawa. He is also known for writing the verse dance drama "Amaterasu, the Resurrection of Radiance," performed with the City Ballet of London at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
His work is immortalized in a documentary film about his life entitled "Ink Music: In the Land of the Hundred-Tongued Lyricist" (2009), featuring interviews with many of his collaborators and shot in Japan and the USA. He is based in Tokyo, Japan, and New York City, United States.
