Japanese songwriter and composer Ichiko Aoba has unveiled "FLAG", the second single from her forthcoming album Luminescent Creatures. After the more orchestral single "Luciférine", "FLAG" focuses on just voice and guitar.

Listen to "FLAG" below.

According to Aoba, the recordings on Luminescent Creatures were largely inspired by field research at Japan’s Ryukyu Archipelago, experiences that left her enchanted and engrossed by the known and unknown beauties of the sea. “I feel unable to resist the pull of the ocean,” she says, “but know how easy it would be for my small body to be swallowed by the sea.”

Preorder Luminescent Creatures – which comes out February 28th on hermine / Psychic Hotline – here.

Staying true to the oceanic theme, Aoba opens with "FLAG" in a goosebump-inducing live session at Dutch festival Into The Great Wide Open (which takes place on the island of Vlieland), recorded at a seaside sunset. Watch the video below:

Ichiko Aoba has recently announced a World Tour to support Luminescent Creatures, with some dates being joined by Wordless Music Quintet. Check out all the dates below:

02-24 — Hong Kong, CN - Xi Qu Centre, Grand Theatre [with Musicians from HK Phil]
02-26 — Seoul, KR - Sky Arts Hall
03-06 — Taipei, TW - Zhongshan Hall
03-10 — Barcelona, ES - Paral.lel 62
03-11 — Valencia, ES - Teatro Rambleta
03-13 — Milan, IT - Auditorium San Fedele
03-15 — Zurich, CH - Mascotte
03-18 — Hamburg, DE - Laiszhalle
03-19 — Berlin, DE - Urania (Humboldtsaal)
03-21 — Utrecht, NL - TivoliVredenburg (Grote Zaal)
03-23 — Groningen, NL - Oosterpoort
03-25 — Antwerp, BE - De Roma
03-27 — Paris, FR - La Trianon
03-31 — London, UK - Barbican [with 12 Ensemble]
04-02 — Manchester, UK - Albert Hall
04-04 — Gateshead, UK - The Glasshouse
04-05 — Glasgow, UK - City Halls
04-17 — Honolulu, HI - Hawaii Theatre
04-19 — Vancouver, BC - Chan Centre
04-20 — Portland, OR - Revolution Hall
04-21 — Seattle, WA - The Moore
04-23 — Oakland, CA - Fox Oakland
04-26 — Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern [with Wordless Music Quintet]
04-27 — Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern [with Wordless Music Quintet]
04-29 — Scottsdale, AZ - Scottsdale Center
05-01 — Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre
05-03 — St. Paul, MN - Fitzgerald Theatre
05-06 — Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall
05-07 — Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall
05-09 — Detroit, MI - Masonic Cathedral Theatre
05-10 — Cleveland, OH - Agora Theatre
05-12 — Boston, MA - Berklee Performance Center
05-14 — New York, NY - Kings Theatre [with Wordless Music Quintet]
05-17 — Philadelphia, PA - Miller Theatre
05-18 — Washington, DC - Warner Theatre
05-22 — Mexico City, MX - Teatreo Metropolitan

The Needle Drop may earn an affiliate commission via purchases on ticket links through this article.