Tokyo-based singer Natccu is a study in contradictions. She often takes the stage wearing a stylish dress, but wields a beat-up Stratocaster. Her songs, which she writes herself, are highly melodic, bordering on pop, with poetic and highly personal lyrics, yet her live shows seethe raw energy. Her voice is silken, but her guitar hisses. And while Natccu is still doing the obligatory round of small venues around Tokyo, she has already achieved recognition overseas, touring the UK last year and winning a coveted spot at this year’s South by Southwest festival. This final irony may become a thing of the past, with an upcoming album that will expose her to a wider audience both at home and abroad.

Natccu at MySpace