We recently had the chance to connect with Kazuri Arai and have shared our conversation below.
Kazuri, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Music. More specifically great music. Whether I’m producing/recording, playing, writing or simply listening.
As of late, my husband and I got on the bandwagon of collecting and owning our records in physical formats, vinyl and CDs again and we have been enjoying this ride very much.
Last year (2025), we bough SO MANY vinyls records, mainly the ones we’ve always loved and gone back to regardless of the listening formats. We put a record while we cook dinner or after dinner with a glass of wine and just enjoy every bit of it from getting a record out of its sleeve, put the needle down and flipping to the other side, then repeat.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Kazuri Arai (KAH-zoo-ree), and I am a record producer and engineer based in Nashville, TN. I have been in Nashville for over 20 years, doing everything I can to help artists realize their dreams. You can find my full discography on my website, but some of the artists I’ve been fortunate enough to work with include Jack White, The 5.6.7.8’s, Alicia Keys, Reba McEntire, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Subdudes, Drake White, and the Voyage’s regular feature, Charlsey Miller!
I am a musician myself, having started piano lessons at age 7, started writing music around age 10 and have been on and off on songwriting but as of late, writing music has become one of my main focus. Music has always been a part of my life, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. I often play keyboards on the records I produce to supplement the parts the artists need, which is always a highlight for me.
The latest addition to my career is my role as an educator; I have been teaching classes in the recording department at Berklee College of Music. Since I also graduated from Berklee’s Music Production and Engineering program, it is a true full-circle moment to return and work alongside some of the same professors I once learned under.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I owe it all to my parents, hands down. Although they aren’t musicians themselves, they recognized early on that I had a unique connection to music and sound. After consulting with their friends, they set me on the path I’m on today—from kindergarten music classes to starting formal piano lessons at age 7.
They love sharing stories from those early years. For instance, when neighborhood friends would start their children in music lessons, I would often pick up their instruments and play them fluently before they had even begun to learn. Another favorite memory is from a school performance where I was the only student playing the melodica without looking at the keys. A family friend even asked in disbelief, “Is her keyboard even connected to the tube?”
If they hadn’t recognized those “weird” traits in me as a child, I never would have picked up music as my second language.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
While quitting music isn’t in my vocabulary, I’d be lying if I said I never felt like packing it all up—especially in such an ever-changing industry.
With AI becoming part of our daily operations and tapping into creative fields, it’s hard to just sit back and relax. However, I believe that as creatives, we must constantly evolve and forge our own paths.
It can be a struggle, but the real battle isn’t AI vs. me; it’s me vs. me. It’s about staying the course and trusting in my own talent and ability
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
A couple of things that I would love to make fruitions of.
1) Equal opportunity for female and genderfluid producers, engineers and studio techs and have a safe place to work. This is one of my long-term goals where I become a provider. Right now I do not have space or means to support this fully so I take smalls steps and represent female empowerment by doing good work whether in the studios or in the classrooms.
2) Another project is more for me than anything else but I need to commit to make this music project happen. This is to be shared, hopefully, by the end of the year.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Drop some of my responsibility and truly spend all my energy to music creation AND spend as much time with my husband and our dog, Lewis.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://anythingkreativ.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anythingkreativ
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kazuri-arai-45550436/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/anythingkreativ
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@anythingkreativ
Image Credits
Adam Dalton (main)
Charlsey Miller (with her baby – face redacted)
