Elle Shimada

Elle Shimada is a violinist, producer, curator, DJ and multi-instrumentalist from Tokyo based in Melbourne.

A unique combination of thickly layered string lines making tender love to heavy new-jazz influenced beats creates an emotive, cinematic and other-worldly atmosphere while keeping the dance floor pulsing with visionary and edgy production.

A director to the multidisciplinary performance group CO-DREAMERS, Shimada fuses a choir section and choreography with kinetic succession of dance beats and abstract compositions to create an unforgettable live performance experience.

In 2022, Shimada released her debut album ‘HOME ≠ LOCATION’ on The Jazz Diaries. The self produced and performed work is introspective political commentary mixed with electronic music, Shimada journeys through spiritual jazz and drum’n’bass in search of a home beyond the geographical touring in Australia, UK, EU, USA and Indonesia with tenacious reception globally.

With 2 single releases in collaboration with first nation rapper Yami and South African vocalist Rara Zulu, and a full length album set to be released later in the year 2024 will be an exciting year for Shimada. National tour includes support slots for Flying Lotus, Obonjayar, Liv.e and Alfa Mist as well as a home town headline gig, before she jets off to EU/UK in July.

With an undercurrent of feminism, cultural curiosity and a political mindset, Shimada utilizes the uniting power of music to cultivate a dance-floor-activism that is inclusive, honest and raw, creating progressive spaces beyond musicianship.