Tucked away in a corner of the Pilsen Historic District in Chicago, the doors of Thalia Hall opened May 7 and ushered in a line of college students and young adults wearing keychains, leg warmers and hair bows. After walking up a short flight of stairs, the concertgoers were met with a venue lit in dark blue colors with ambient keyboard and nature sounds in the background. Such a scene is fitting for an artist like Ichiko Aoba.

For those unfamiliar, Ichiko Aoba (Japanese: 青葉市子) is a Japanese singer-songwriter who specializes in folk music. Avid listeners would describe her music as dreamlike , due in part to her ethereal voice and minimalist acoustic style. The otherworldly soundscapes she creates have led to her massive growth in popularity over the past few years. After releasing

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