Haino

Haino is a Japanese surname. The name is most widely associated with Keiji Haino (born 1952), a prolific experimental musician and composer who has been active since the 1970s. He is best known for founding the electric psychedelic rock group Fushitsusha and for an expansive body of solo and collaborative recordings.

Musical style: Haino's work spans noise, free improvisation, and psychedelic rock. He often centers voice as an instrument, producing intense, sometimes unsettling sounds, and uses guitar and electronics in live improvisations. His performances are typically improvisational and can be sparse or densely layered, with a focus on texture, mood, and sonic exploration rather than conventional song structures.

Legacy: Haino is regarded as a central figure in Japanese underground music and has influenced many experimental artists worldwide. His explorations challenge traditional rhythm, harmony, and form, emphasizing openness to chance and the immediacy of live invention. The breadth of his output across decades has contributed to sustained international interest in Japanese avant-garde music and the global perception of free improvisation and psychedelic exploration.