Singer and Songwriter Chizuko will be performing at the Juneteenth celebration in Milpitas on June 21.
Chizuko, who originally grew up in Milpitas, is thrilled to be a part of the annual event, which the community started hosting in 2023. Juneteenth is an annual celebration that commemorates the freedom of enslaved African Americans after the Civil War.
“I very much love this day and what it represents,” Chizuko told The Beat in an interview. “When I heard about the event, I wanted to be a part of it. Why not celebrate my culture but also celebrate it in a place I call home?”
Chizuko has been deeply involved in music for most of her life. As a child, she danced competitively for five years, focusing on ballet, jazz, and hip-hop.
“I also grew up playing piano,” said Chizuko. “And after a while, I told my mom I was interested in singing.”
Chizuko started singing at age 11. She was in a youth group and joined the choir at Jubilee Christian Center (now known as Redemption Church) in San Jose.
“Singing in church every week and preparing two to three songs to sing every week, leading everyone to worship…I didn’t realize it at the time, but it was a big part of me learning to really perform and being ready to show up and ready to go,” said Chizuko. “It’s why I got good at memorizing songs and lyrics.”
Up until 6th grade, Chizuko attended Milpitas Christian School. There, she was tested, along with other classmates, to see what other schools they could get into as they continued their education. At that time, Chizuko was performing at a basketball game, doing a routine that she had choreographed in its entirety. Someone suggested she go to Oakland School for the Arts.
“I went there and auditioned for piano and vocals and got accepted in both,” said Chizuko. “I’ve always excelled in music and theory.”
She started attending Oakland School for the Arts, riding the BART daily with her dad, who used to work in San Francisco. Her years at the school truly shaped and evolved Chizuko as a person and an artist.
“Though my origins are from Milpitas, I’m an East Bay girlie for the most part!” shared Chizuko.
Her music style is R&B Pop, and she feels that artists like Michael Jackson, Robert Glasper, and Jhené AIko, have deeply influenced her work.
Chizuko, who is both Black and Japanese American, was named after her Japanese grandmother, who passed away in 2022. Her name means “child of a thousand storms.”
“She was my twin, my best friend,” said Chizuko. “We were two peas in a pod. She taught me how to be brave and do what I love and keep moving forward. I miss her so much.”
Chizuko, who has been living in Los Angeles over the last few years, has a new single coming out called “Prototype.” It’s in both English and Japanese, and will be one of her first J-Pop songs.
She also recently worked on a movie, “Mid-City Dreamers,” which will be coming out this summer.
“I recorded music for the soundtrack,” said Chizuko. “I engineered it and recorded my vocals.”
Chizuko also has an organization called Chi to the Streets, which she will be launching soon in collaboration with Talent Hub Online. Chi to the Streets focuses on giving back to the community through music and entertainment.
“I’ll be going out with different organizations that give back to the community,” said Chizuko. “I’ll be performing with them and featuring other artists.”
Be sure to catch Chizuko performing at the Juneteenth event in Milpitas on June 21.
And follow Chizuko on Instagram here.
