Shunkan

Born on the Gemini-Taurus cusp and raised in a bicultural household, Marina Sakimoto has always felt the pull of duality — a sense of being both split and whole. This theme is the heartbeat of Shunkan, the Los Angeles-based rock project she leads with raw emotion and unflinching honesty.

In 2024, Shunkan signed to Rite Field Records and collaborated with Grammy-nominated producer Alex Newport (Death Cab for Cutie, At the Drive-In, Bloc Party) to craft a record that captures a pivotal moment in Sakimoto’s life. Written during one of her most challenging years, the album reflects on fleeting friendships that echoed her adolescence, coming to terms with an unwinding love, and wandering through the streets of LA in search of herself.

Shunkan’s sound melds angular, emotive guitar work with anthemic melodies, channeling the raw intensity of second-wave emo and the vibrant hooks of early-2000s alternative rock. It’s a dynamic style that has earned critical acclaim for her EP Honey, Milk and Blood and debut album The Pink Noise, praised by outlets such as The Guardian, NME, and Spin. In 2019, The Pink Noise was archived by the National Library of New Zealand for its cultural significance.

The upcoming album pays homage to the music that first inspired Sakimoto, exploring themes of connection, nostalgia, and transformation. With a foot in the past and an eye on the future, Shunkan continues to explore the beauty of being caught in a moment.