Michi Kusa

Michi Kusa began as a solo recording project for vocalist Ryne Ziemba in order to do something creative during bouts of post-breakup insomnia. The band's name is a Japanese phrase that came about from a mushroom-fueled vision and roughly translates to "loitering on the way" in English. The debut album We Was Here initially began as an album of hip-hop instrumentals, but unexpectedly evolved into Ryne's first attempt at writing songs with vocals. The result is an album of nine sweet gems of indie pop.
Over the last year, Michi Kusa grew to a three-piece and is now currently a five-piece band consisting of Ryne Ziemba doing lead vocals and synths; Ai Isshiki on piano/synths and backup vocals; Nate Heller on guitar and backup vocals; Josh Riepe on drums and a rotating bass-synth player. They have already begun taking the Brooklyn music scene by storm playing to packed smaller venues. Michi Kusa's live show tries to take listeners on a journey of loitering toward musical excellence, even occasionally enticing the bartenders working at the venues to leave their posts to go watch the band.