Field Report: Ichiko Aoba with the Wordless Quintet at The Wiltern

After unveiling her latest album, Luminescent Creatures, Japanese musician Ichiko Aoba set off on her Luminescent Creatures World Tour. The folk singer wrapped up her European leg and made her way down the West Coast for her tour. As an extension of her exploration of the world, her two night performance at The Wiltern transformed the venue into an intimate invitation into her mind. Her set was so delicate and quiet that the venue told photographers to lower the shutter sound on their cameras as it might distract from the show. Unfortunately, that’s something only shutterless cameras can do, as any camera with a shutter will have a sound from the shutter flipping. 

Opener Owen Pallet, a Canadian indie-pop musician, gently warmed up the crowd with their violin and acoustic guitar. Their stripped down setup, understated but powerful melodies, and hauntingly beautiful vocals fit in well with the overall mood of the night. The introduction into Pallet’s discography caused listeners to silently scramble to find more about their music. According to Pallett, who voiced their thanks to Aoba for allowing them to be part of the tour, they were enamored by Aoba’s pure sound nearly eight years ago—an aspect that continues to draw new fans to her music. 

As the sets transitioned, a soft blue light doused the stage. Similar to the refractive cover of Luminescent Creatures, her stage production teleported The Wiltern to a place just underneath the surface of water. Alongside her were the Wordless Quintet, who enhanced the acoustic landscape with an orchestral sound. Aoba started with an extended intro to “Space Orphans,” playing on a keyboard as she began her set. Like her minimalist compositions, the stage setup included a large globe, a wooden chair, and a carpet, almost as if she was meant to perform in a living room.  

Thanking the crowd for coming to see her, she shifted into a vocal set of fan favorites from her earlier discography, holding off on playing songs from her latest album until the middle of her set. The softness of her concert was the quietest and one of the most powerful performances I’ve ever experienced at The Wiltern — so much so that even a cough or an audible sip could easily be heard over the music. Taking the crowd alongside a journey into her dreams, Aoba provided a momentary escape away from their busy lives and fully allowed them to be present in the moment. 

I found it difficult to tell time as she played through the album’s tracks, and I was caught off guard at how fast time had passed when the light in the globe on stage finally turned on during “Sonar.” She simply shared how thankful she was to be at The Wiltern before turning back to start the beginning notes of “Wakesei no Namida.” Everything from her voice to her accompanying band furnished the atmosphere with a meditative feeling. 

Closing out the main set with a deep cut, “Seabed Eden,” she offered a few words that felt like a soothing balm on the soul: “I hope music always protects us and is your light and your hope.” 

Setlist:

1. Space Orphans (extended intro)
2. meringue doll
3. amuletum
4. Sagu Palm’s Song
5. Asleep among endives
6. Adan no Shima no Tanjyosai
7. COLORATURA (extended intro)
8. 24° 3′ 27.0″ N, 123° 47′ 7.5″ E
9. mazamun
10. Tower
11. Aurora 
12. Flag
13. Cochlea
14. Luciférine
15. Pirsomnia
16. Sonar 
17. Wakesei no Namida 
18. Seabed Eden

Encore

1. Bouquet – globe was back on
2. Mazel tov

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Ichiko Aoba and the Wordless Quartet performed at the Wiltern on April 26, 2025. The photos used in this article were taken by Kalai Chik.

Luminescent Creatures is out now.

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