Bookend

bookend is a London-based duo blending melancholic storytelling with playful beats and irresistible hooks. Friends for nearly a decade, Michelle (Brazil) and Masaaki (Japan) first collaborated when Michelle appeared on Masaaki’s solo project Anchorsong. “The Ocean” surpassed 6 million streams on Spotify, which sparked the creation of bookend as a dedicated collaborative project. bookend’s process is intentionally fluid. Michelle writes songs on acoustic guitar, focusing on melody and emotional intent, while Masaaki deconstructs and rebuilds them through rhythm, sound design and repetition. Meaning and sound are treated as equal forces, allowing songs to evolve beyond their original form.