Who Knew Japan Could Salsa Like This? Thank Nora Suzuki
Nora Suzuki is a Japanese woman born in Nakano-ku (Tokyo) who deeply appreciates and understands salsa music and Latine culture. She has been singing salsa music for decades and bringing the famed Latine music genre to audiences worldwide. Suzuki has been bringing salsa music to her home country of Japan since the 1980s. Her career continues to show her ability to transcend race and culture to immerse herself in the world of salsa.
Nora Suzuki just gets what it takes to make salsa music in a way that is culturally appreciative
In 1984, Orquesta de la Luz took over Japan. The salsa band was bringing Caribbean vibes to the Asian island nation. Led by vocalist Suzuki, the band got to work and started performing and recording in earnest in 1989. Through the 1990s, the band toured around the Americas, performing in countries like the United States, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, and the Dominican Republic.
Their sound and energy garnered a large and enthusiastic following among salsa music fans. Their first album, “Salsa Caliente del Japón,” was released in 1990 and reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Tropical/Caribbean charts, proving their prowess in creating Caribbean beats that resonated with music lovers.
Orquesta de la Luz enjoyed a lot of success. Then, they took a break before coming back
Orquesta de la Luz had an incredible run in the 1990s, releasing nine albums during their first run together. The band, usually comprised of 12 members, left their mark on the salsa world. The band was nominated for Best Tropical Latin Album for “La Aventura” at the 37th GRAMMYs in 1995.
By 1998, the band decided to split and pursue solo ventures, and Suzuki returned to singing a more traditional version of salsa. Their 1998 farewell concert was released as an album, and the band was done, marking the end of an amazing Japanese/Caribbean experience.
Suzuki maintained a solo career singing salsa until Orquesta de la Luz reunited in 2002. Then, they again began bringing their big band salsa vibes to the airwaves.
What makes Suzuki’s career something to admire is that singing was not her first choice. Initially, she wanted to be a professional dancer. According to International Salsa Magazine, Suzuki started to take ballet classes when she was 3 years old, but the world had other plans. Her vocal talents couldn’t slide by without people noticing. Before you knew it, she was paving a path for more artists to embrace Caribbean sounds and music who came from different cultures.
If you haven’t heard of this band yet, give them a listen. Their songs, all in Spanish, bring forth the whimsical and chaotic energy of any of the great salsa singers of our generation. It is something to celebrate seeing our culture exalted by people from other places, and Orquesta de la Luz is giving our culture so much love and appreciation.
