Gingersamm Named the First Artist Ambassador
On October 13, 2026, Starbucks announced that Gingersamm had been selected as the first artist ambassador for its collaboration with Spotify. The act received the most votes in a public poll held in conjunction with Brew to the Beat Fest, a live event featuring eight emerging artists.
The collaboration aims to create memorable moments through coffee and music while supporting the next generation of artists. Following the first year’s live event, Gingersamm will work with Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Tokyo to share more ways to enjoy the meeting of these two worlds.
Event Date, Venue and Future Plans
- Completed event: Brew to the Beat Fest
- Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
- Venue: Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Tokyo
- Live stages: In front of the main bar on the first floor and at AMU on the fourth floor
- Workshops: Held on the third floor
- Future plans: Gingersamm is scheduled to appear at a live event planned for 2027
This announcement looks back at the August event and reveals the ambassador selection. The release does not specify admission charges, food and drink prices, or workshop fees. It also does not provide a date or attendance details for the planned 2027 performance.
Eight Artists Turned Roastery Experiences into Songs
The event’s theme was “Bloom from the Brew to the Beat.” Before the performances, the artists joined coffee sessions with store partners, or employees, tasted different coffees and learned about the processes behind a cup. Each act transformed those experiences into an original song performed at the event.
The inspiration extended beyond flavor and aroma. The staff’s approach to coffee, the building’s architecture, the scenery along the Meguro River and connections between people all informed the songwriting. A defining feature of the project was hearing how eight artists interpreted the same setting in different ways.
The Artists and Their Original Songs
- Chambers — “グッドバイ”: Inspired by coffee tastings and the Meguro River scenery, the band explored new approaches using samples and live instruments.
- 古燈 直人 — “待っている”: The baristas’ hospitality and the sense of community created through coffee inspired a song with an expansive atmosphere.
- 猫は液体 — “ほしくず”: The realization that everyone enjoys things differently led to lyrics celebrating each person’s individual qualities and brilliance.
- Som — “hibana”: The coffee-making process and the image of red coffee cherries became the starting points for a love song with a sense of summer warmth.
- mayu — “ふたりの惑星”: Architectural details and the aroma of coffee informed a song that began with an offbeat rhythm.
- モノンクル — “マーブルプラネット”: This love song personifies coffee, with an arrangement that explores both its uplifting and relaxing qualities.
- Gingersamm — “white nights (feat. 永井琳子)”: Drawing on the Roastery’s international atmosphere, the song uses male and female vocals to open up new layers of meaning.
- Julia Takada — “Voyage”: The impression of a place woven from stories of people around the world inspired the concept of a journey.
Live Music Across the Atrium, with Coffee Experiences Between Sets
All eight acts performed, beginning with Chambers and closing with Julia Takada. Visitors moved to the music near the stages, listened with coffee in hand or watched from the upper floors. 猫は液体 performed in an acoustic configuration for the first time, while the changing atmosphere from daytime into evening provided a backdrop for the different sets.
On the third floor, activities included coffee quizzes and BREW TO THE BEAT FEST CANVAS, a shared canvas on which visitors and artists illustrated their inspirations. Latte art, siphon brewing and original non-alcoholic cocktail demonstrations offered further opportunities to explore coffee between performances.
What Comes Next for Gingersamm and Where to Find the Music
Gingersamm’s 山田京侍 explained that seeing Starbucks’ thoughtful attention to a single cup helped inspire the song. Fellow member 片岡智哉 reflected that what he absorbed at the Roastery also found its way naturally into the drumming. Through future performances and coffee experiences, the act plans to work with Starbucks to introduce different ways of enjoying both music and coffee.
The announcement points listeners to the collaborative Spotify playlist One Cup One Note. Search for that playlist to explore how the eight artists translated their coffee experiences into music.
Source: press release by スターバックスコーヒージャパン株式会社 (PR TIMES, in Japanese)