DJ KAWASAKI’s debut album Beautiful, originally released in 2006, is finally being issued on vinyl for the first time to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Blending jazz, crossover, soul, Brazilian music, and house with his unique sensibility, the album elevates these elements into a cohesive and beautifully crafted sonic world. As the starting point of DJ KAWASAKI’s career, Beautiful stands as an essential work—not only in his own discography, but also in the history of Japan’s crossover and house music scene.
Featuring an impressive lineup of acclaimed vocalists from Japan and abroad—including Lady Alma, Angela Johnson, Terrance Downs, Ernesto, Rasiyah, and Karin—the album’s tracks combine the energy of dance music with the warmth of soul. Even two decades after its release, the music remains timeless and continues to captivate listeners.
For this long-awaited vinyl edition, all tracks have been newly edited to suit the analog format. The flow and groove of the album have been carefully refined, resulting in a fresh listening experience—even for those familiar with the original release.
The cover features Rina Fujii, who would later become a top model, photographed by Yasumasa Yonehara, a renowned photographer who has vividly documented Tokyo’s cultural scene from the 1990s to the present. The artwork has been updated for this vinyl edition by designer Yusuke Yoshinaga (solla Inc.), who is also active as a DJ, while preserving the essence of the original design.
Overall production is overseen by Syuya Okino, known for his global work with KYOTO JAZZ MASSIVE and KYOTO JAZZ SEXTET. Alongside DJ KAWASAKI’s own production, the album captures the vibrant energy of the club scene of the time, combined with a refined musical aesthetic.
One of the key appeals of vinyl is the ability to fully experience the album’s flow, atmosphere, and the lingering resonance of each track—elements that cannot be fully conveyed through streaming alone. Twenty years after its release, Beautiful, born from the energy of club culture, transcends time and comes alive once again in a new format.
We invite you to experience the rich grooves and beautiful afterglow of this work on analog.
