Makoto

Makoto, born Makoto Shimizu in Tokyo in 1977, is a Japanese drum and bass musician, producer and DJ whose work draws deeply on 1970s soul, funk and jazz fusion. Working across liquid funk, jungle and soulful drum and bass, he has built a catalogue that balances breakbeat-driven production with melodic and jazz-informed elements.

His early interest in drum and bass was shaped by LTJ Bukem’s Logical Progression and Goldie’s Timeless. Makoto went on to produce original music and remixes, developing a sound that brought those influences into a distinctly soulful electronic framework. His downtempo single “You’re Divine,” featuring Lori Fine of Coldfeet, became one of his widely known tracks. The song appeared on his debut album, Human Elements, released in 2003.

Recording as Makoto, he has released music through labels including Hospital Records, Liquicity Records, Con-Natural Music, Human Elements and Shogun Audio. Alongside his studio work, he has remained active as a DJ, with drum and bass at the center of a style informed by club music, electronic production and jazz fusion.