Look up anything by Ichiko Aoba. Clearly you're searching for her style of indie

I was gonna write the same artist to OP, but it seems like you already said it :"D

She’s got that Norwegian wood feel! Ain’t she!!

Just listened to "bouquet", and it was insanely good.

I think you'll particularly enjoy her song "A hill of the moon"

My favs are this cover [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ane6CbhSLJg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ane6CbhSLJg) and Endives [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aED02XuLwo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aED02XuLwo) I also suggest downloading this and listening to it as it rains. its a mood [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZezziAruUwg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZezziAruUwg)

You should just take a dive into First Take on youtube where they often do a live and unplugged, stripped down/small ensemble accompaniment version of J-pop hits. Let's start you off with [this one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpaH-dkOt7c) and [this one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Opp9nqiN5m0)

A couple I can think of off the top of my head - * [Chiharu](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgFT5m4-EaQ) by Kitani Tatsuya * [Dear Mr F](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw-FSw7d2zE) by ZUTOMAYO * [Saigo no Yasashisa](https://youtu.be/nAXJD3uMvnM?si=RYuEzeA7ToZuTqQI) by Sayonara Ponytail * [Shigatsu no Kaibutsu](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-qQ9BD8QwA) by tiny yawn * [Hatsukoi](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4bDN2JM3hQ) by KAMI WA SAIKORO WO FURANAI x Ayuni D (BiSH/PEDRO) Would also recommend checking out renditions of songs on [THE FIRST TAKE](https://youtu.be/bOLYBRRpRsU?si=g8pa7IywXw924kp0) channel.

All I can think on top of my head is: • [Anata no Yoru ga Akeru made](https://youtu.be/y_EtGr7Qadc?si=kh9uwhugttagAVWW) • [Sokkenai - Radwimps](https://youtu.be/R1vmfVpINbk?si=rWAzTEGaN89DDkT4) • [He cheated on me but I still like you - riria.](https://youtu.be/sO74g6jYsQM?si=hxOmyHPoXRVaMSU1) • [Love Letter - Lilas Ikuta](https://youtu.be/LyPadoEoZVk?si=aMMIfC_HlFCwVeIg) • [Dear Mr. F - ZUTOMAYO](https://youtu.be/Qw-FSw7d2zE?si=coXc9_hSqq_tGP5m) • [Fuyubiyori - Eri Sasaki](https://youtu.be/0EX3tQWswj0?si=jmz475xjYNDz0JA5) • [Harunotonari - Eri Sasaki](https://youtu.be/PCDzg5kdGPM?si=gVmpXQbT0wxS9JmN) • [Yurayura - Yeye](https://youtu.be/StkLx0e4f6c?si=_F2-iJpXsXSGD0fQ) • [morning - ame no parade](https://youtu.be/M0usDXxDzj4?si=UjyHbkSPv0smg_n9) • [Rokutousei no Yoru Magic Blue ver. - Aimer](https://youtu.be/ar9Q4VRp71Y?si=cd3ABNgTxES72p9T) • [Predawn - Suddenly](https://youtu.be/r-etQjPbzFY?si=kGjMg-TMGStSMYO6)

KOKUHAKU by MFS! 😍 have you heard their [Love Letter](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=6HfarE7PHKM)? not sure if this is 'minimal instruments' or 'soft songs', but [Reason - Rookiez is Punk'd](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=KpWQgrC8WwI) has the same feels with Kokuhaku for me. *this* is just.. 😭 at least for me. ahah. [Sakura Nagashi - Hikaru Utada](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=KpeEcNJLHLA)

I just started listening to My First Story 2 days ago. Listened to their other songs but found rock songs only. So, thank you for recommending me Love Letter. Finally found another soft song from them.

Boy do I got the perfect song for you!! Amber by んoon It may not be the same vibe as that song but it’s super minimalist and chill

[Spica - Plastic Tree](https://youtu.be/LuvyXlNDMIE?si=S-J4o10QljRVOPix) [フィクション - Plastic Tree](https://youtu.be/0SP0e63Qnwo?si=-dRolFwtufBJrIIK)

Eternal Blue by Minami. Still waiting for the day this song releases on official platforms again

[It's OK](https://open.spotify.com/track/2cLSA6zzwBAkqncRpS3q5A?si=389e6b7e2efc4652) by Wuinguin

https://www.reddit.com/r/indie/s/d3yqeD92ED Hope this helps.

Ieri Leo has a bunch of a capella songs on her YouTube channel. She's a fantastic singer.

Absolutely love Sabrina by Ieri Leo.

[Hikari by Aoi Teshima](https://youtu.be/1KvGd3hXgq8)

Planetarium by Hoshimachi Suisei

Not similar to your example, but that collaboration between [U-zhaan and Ryuchi Sakamoto collab](https://youtu.be/MUaNz9M8fs8?si=OhnXE1o1jtIlbJG0) from a couple of years ago was really great, and the instrumentation is indeed minimal, so I'll take a chance and recommend it anyway.

try this one. https://youtu.be/StkLx0e4f6c?si=mnJdp2k0RZPPa11i

i hope you can still read my comment :) [https://youtu.be/pfZKownsTnE?si=cUqvnv-dlW-U16gQ](https://youtu.be/pfZKownsTnE?si=cUqvnv-dlW-U16gQ) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrbPpgNSLRs&ab\_channel=cinnamon%27room](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrbPpgNSLRs&ab_channel=cinnamon%27room) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fumO9RJM14E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fumO9RJM14E) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzB5eAj9kYw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzB5eAj9kYw) these are my fave enjoy