Audio Foundation Records is pleased to announce the release of an epic eight-album set by Motoko Kikkawa, in collaboration with a slew of Tāmaki-based musicians. We celebrate the release of this octet of works with a concert featuring Motoko performing with The Obfuscators, Anita Clark, Matthew Gunn, Rosie Langabeer, Neil Feather, Alice Sparrow, Kristian Larsen, and Ryan Tomov.
Motoko Kikkawa has spent two decades as one of Ōtepoti's most prolific and versatile artists, working fluidly across sound, drawing, painting, sculpture, textiles, and performance since arriving in Dunedin from Tokyo in 2004. On violin, vocals, and in improvised collaboration, she has built a reputation for deep listening - treating each performance as a live conversation with whoever she is performing with.
In April 2026, her instinct for collaboration became the engine of a new body of recorded work. Over a two-week residency at Auckland's Audio Foundation, Kikkawa worked with a shifting group of local musicians and improvisers. The project was made possible by the Asian Artists Fund, which enabled Motoko to be mentored by Audio Foundation director and AFR producer Jeff Henderson. Rather than a single record, the residency produced eight distinct volumes - duos, trios, and ensembles - each with its own character, shaped by whoever was in the room.
Motoko Kikkawa Residency Recordings are available at www.audiofoundation.bandcamp.com
