Nao Yoshioka teams up with legendary artist Bilal on ‘Shadow’
New York-based Japanese artist Nao Yoshioka collaborates with legendary Grammy Award-winning neo soul legend from Philadelphia Bilal in new single “Shadow”, the third track lifted from her upcoming album Self, scheduled for release in June 2026.
“Shadow” was produced by emerging Philadelphia producer Corey Bernhard, a longtime friend and bandmate who also worked on Nao’s previous tracks “Tokyo“ and “Celebrate”. The concept was brought in by Nao herself. Built around opposing forces, “light”/”darkness”, “day”/”night”, the song unfolds with the two artists taking turns speaking, gradually moving toward fusion through an inner emotional process.
Guitarist Randy Runyon, a member of both BIGYUKI’s band in New York and Bilal’s band, also joined the project. Having known Corey since their Berklee College of Music days, their shared roots within the Philadelphia neo-soul community bring depth and cohesion to the sound. Supported by trusted longtime collaborators, a psychedelic and soulful mid-tempo track came to life.
The song draws on Carl Jung’s concept of the “Shadow”. The duet’s two voices symbolize consciousness and the unconscious self, engaging in a call-and-response that confronts suppressed emotions and inner conflict. As the dialogue unfolds, what was once avoided becomes understood, accepted and integrated.
Though it may initially resemble a love song, at its core it tells a story of reconciliation with oneself. As Jung describes, the shadow represents the unlived self. By acknowledging and accepting it, we move closer to our authentic selves. “Shadow” delicately captures this encounter and integration.
Nao explains: “This song was born as I confronted my own weaknesses following my previous album. When I decided not to “overcome” the weaknesses I had long denied, but instead to “love” them, my emotions strangely began to feel free. During that process, I encountered Carl Jung’s concept of the “Shadow.” When it truly sank in that even the parts of myself I didn’t want to see were still part of who I am, I felt a deep sense of clarity and decided to write a song around the themes of “Shadow” and “Self.”
The first person I thought of to sing it with was Bilal. The sensibility expressed in his album Adjust Brightness resonated strongly with “Shadow,” which led to this collaboration. The moment in the studio when the song began to take on a new light became one of the most unforgettable experiences of the entire album“.
“Shadow” out via digital download on April 17th 2026 on Sweet Soul Records
