For immediate release:
April 22, 2022

QUEER ALT-POP ARTIST REI BROWN
RELEASES ETHEREAL SINGLE
"COULD I BE SOMEBODY"
ALONG WITH OFFICIAL VIDEO


CATCH REI BROWN LIVE THIS SUMMER
ACROSS NORTH AMERICA SUPPORTING KESHI
"Following the beautiful blend of a classic piano and lo-fi beats, rei brown’s voice brings life to the song and simultaneously perfecting the indie-pop sound."
"rei brown has a way of hypnotizing you into moody, musical wonderlands."
"Soft, slow-burning and sweet, these are the feelings that dance around rei brown’s style of captivatingly emotive lo-fi indie, whether it be on the echo-ey “Street Fighter” or R&B-infused “I Can’t See You In The Dark."
Photo credit: bbyclaude | Download hi-res
New York City-based Japanese producer and musician rei brown releases his ethereal first single today, "Could I Be Somebody" along with its mysterious, sci-fi-themed video set in a surreal dreamscape. At the center of the synth ballad lies rei's effortless ability to capture nuanced emotion, this time, the timid whispers of a new crush and the exploration of queer love and identity.

Alongside new music, rei brown will join fellow alt-pop musician keshi this Summer on a wide North American tour beginning on May 11th in Dallas, TX and concluding on June 24th in Houston, TX and includes two Los Angeles dates, two Atlanta dates and two New York City dates. Tickets are on sale now via reibrown.com.

"Could I Be Somebody" is an ode to the unique loneliness of the young queer experience. On the track, rei wonders, "Could I be somebody, could I be somebody you love?" as he navigates the strange secrecy and different realities that queer people often exist in. Rei explains the lyrics have roots in his time throughout middle school when he found himself feeling lonely and not engaging in the same relationships that his peers were. "In middle school, I was realizing I was queer, and navigating that loneliness. Other people were starting to have relationships and it felt like that world was cut off to me. I felt like someone must be out there for me, but I just couldn’t see them or feel them — as if they were in a different plane of reality." However, he began to realize that he could create his own reality– a secret one where he could be safe, and one that his heterosexual peers would never understand. Rei continues, "When another boy and I came out to each other and started dating it really felt like entering a parallel dimension. We got to form our own little secret world where we could be safe together."

Directed by Zachary Bailey and produced by Ava Doorley, the cinematic music video follows two kids as they wistfully run through a quiet, gleaming forest. The fleeting butterflies of a new crush begin to develop between the two, and they later chase each other into an empty, abandoned house. It concludes with a young rei reaching into a portal, bringing viewers into his sci-fi, queer fantasy world. Coated in a warm blanket of youth and nostalgia, the magical video captures the coy hint-dropping and games that come with having a new crush. It begins with nervous tension that surrounds a new feeling and a new understanding of oneself, then there's excitement and fear, but once it's found, there's a profound safety that rei gently grasps within the track and video.

Reflecting on the video, rei explains, "We wanted to convey a coming of age story that captured the innocence of youth in the video that was reflective of my own life navigating closeted relationships for the first time.”
After growing up in Kobe, Japan, rei found himself relocating to Boston in 2011 to study songwriting at Berklee College of Music. After graduating and moving to New York City, he released a slew of music on Soundcloud and later, his debut EP raybaboon which led to several successful singles and EPs that earned over 100 million collective streams. From there, rei made his touring debut on the 'Majestic Casual: World Tour' through North America in 2018, and the following year, joined Japanese-Australian artist Joji's 'BALLADS1 Tour'. 2020 brought four more successful singles including "Islands" premiered by Zane Lowe, and his "Honest" music video which premiered with NYLON. Rei also reunites with Joji on his 2020 album Nectar, making an appearance on "Normal People." Today, with a renewed sense of self, rei brings his most honest and refined sound with him into 2022, keeping much more in store for the months ahead.

"Could I Be Somebody," out everywhere now, offers a place of refuge for anyone who deviates from the norm. The track, combined with the video, build a safe world where queerness and individuality thrive as rei ponders if the idealistic love he feels could become reality. Thoughtful, touching lyricism combined with dreamy experimental electronic synths allow rei to immerse listeners into a world all his own, blending genres to blaze his own trail. Don't miss rei brown on tour with keshi this Summer across North America. Tickets are on-sale now here. Find more of rei brown on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube and stay tuned for much more from the rising musician.

rei brown On Tour Summer 2022
Supporting keshi

05/11 - The Echo Lounge - Dallas ,TX
05/12 - The Plaza Live - Orlando, FL
05/14 - Revolution Live - Fort Lauderdale, FL
05/17 - Center Stage Theater - Atlanta, GA
05/18 - Center Stage Theater - Atlanta, GA
05/19 - The Underground (Fillmore Charlotte) - Charlotte, NC
05/22 - Webster Hall - New York, NY
05/23 - Webster Hall - New York, NY
05/26 - Royale - Boston, MA
05/27 - Theatre of Living Arts - Philadelphia, PA
05/28 - Danforth Music Hall - Toronto, ON
05/29 - Théâtre Corona - Montréal, QC
05/31 - Saint Andrew’s Hall - Detroit, MI
06/01 - House of Blues Chicago - Chicago, IL
06/02 - Fine Line - Minneapolis, MN
06/04 - Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom - Denver, CO
06/07 - Vogue Theatre - Vancouver, BC
06/08 - Wonder Ballroom - Portland, OR
06/09 - Showbox SoDo - Seattle, WA
06/11 - The Regency Ballroom - San Francisco, CA
06/12 - The Regency Ballroom - San Francisco, CA
06/14 - The Fonda Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
06/15 - The Fonda Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
06/17 - The Observatory - Santa Ana, CA
06/18 - The Observatory North Park - San Diego, CA
06/19 - The Van Buren - Phoenix, AZ
06/22 - The Aztec Theatre - San Antonio, TX
06/23 - Scoot Inn - Austin, TX
06/24 - House of Blues Houston - Houston, TX
Photo credit: bbyclaude | Download hi-res
rei brown Bio

rei brown is a New York-based, Japanese producer and artist whose music edges on captivating indie pop, alternative electronic, and lo-fi R&B. Relocating from Kobe, Japan, to Boston in 2011 to study songwriting at Berklee College of Music, rei quickly started to make a name for himself with a slew of releases in the early days of the burgeoning SoundCloud movement. Upon graduation, he relocated to New York City and released his debut EP raybaboon which kicked off a string of successful singles and EPs garnering 100M+ collective streams in the process. From there, rei made his touring debut on the 'Majestic Casual: World Tour' through North America in 2018. From here he joined Japanese-Australian artist Joji's 'BALLADS1 Tour' in spring 2019. 

After the tours rei took a hiatus from music to spend time diving into literature and other art forms while traveling Europe in an effort to take his art to the next creative level. He returned to music with four singles in 2020 starting with quarantine-inspired “Bubble”. He followed that up with the Zane Lowe-premiered “Islands” and airy piano pop ballad “Honest” which featured his debut music video, premiering with NYLON. He wrapped up the year with “Forever” co-written by Joji and keshi, which released with his first self-directed and produced music video. He also found time in between to reunite with Joji on “Normal People” from Joji’s sophomore album, Nectar. After such an amazing year, rei brown spent 2021 in the studio working on his debut album slated to release this spring 2022, just in time to join keshi on his upcoming 'HELL / HEAVEN' North American Tour. Look out for rei this year, this is just the beginning for him!
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For all rei brown press inquiries, please contact:

Leigh Greaney / leigh@bighassle.com
Romy Bayhack / romy@bighassle.com