Interview: Dream Dolphin (ドリームドルフィン)

You know, for me, sometimes the most fascinating thing about interviews like these with Dream Dolphin is discovering just how much I don’t know.

There was a time when Noriko Kodera—at least a younger version of herself, one who began her creative career not as a singer but as a model and stage personality—decided to follow her muse and light, guiding her onto the path of making music and condensing into six or seven years an amazing array of enduring ideas that other artists might struggle to generate in a lifetime. Yet, somewhere down the line, motherhood came calling, and Noriko transitioned into another stage of her life—one where she set down roots in New Zealand and used her gifts to guide others on their wellness journey, becoming a doula, a voice instructor, and even imparting “tuning fork” therapy, all in the service of others.

It was during Noriko’s later transition that perhaps people like Eiji (from Revelation Time) and myself caught wind of her music and, got inspired, flapped our little butterfly wings, and did our small part to set her current path in motion—gently ushering her back into that world of music in which she had once fully immersed herself many moons ago. Speaking with Noriko now, it’s not difficult to understand why she chooses not to delve too deeply into the nuts and bolts of music-making. Understanding Dream Dolphin’s connection to “ambient” music runs deeper than a chord change here or pressing what button on what keyboard.

As you’ll read in my conversation with Noriko, she perfectly states why she is where she is now: “Timing is everything–and everything is perfect.” Ideas that once sounded so alien to her original audience now appear to have predicted an uncertain future. And now, in a world where we are both more virtually connected and more disconnected, there’s a need to divine a more tangible connection with each other—a connection that Dream Dolphin can be the perfect conduit for.

Now looking back at my copy of Atmospheric Healing, I remain transfixed by a pull quote promoting its release by Sugizo (of Luna Sea):

“The voice of water, the sensibility of the wind”
“Music that makes you feel like you’re in your mother’s womb!”

… A musical epic composed by D.D., a completely new type of artist who is acclaimed both at home and abroad.

It’s the sound of a future that feels incredibly nostalgic—I felt that the first time I experienced it. I sense that DREAM DOLPHIN’s sound carries a kind of rugged determination to break through the present, mixed with a comforting sense of relief that is destined to exist someday, and it feels so amazing.

I believe that truly great music transcends both time and place. Ambient, I think, is the spirit that transcends eras and blends with everyone.

I love her sound—it reminds me of things I had forgotten.

In many ways, I remain struck by that last line: “I love her sound—it reminds me of things I had forgotten.” In no uncertain terms, in just a few words, he captures exactly what compelled me far back then to share her music and eventually strike the nerve to reach out to her, personally. Some things, justly, must remain transcendent, and as improbable as this timeline now seems, it’s where by some great fortune we both find ourselves.

So, ahead of Dream Dolphin’s March 1st solo performance at Moon Romantic in Aoyama, Tokyo for AMBIENTOKYO2025’s “Echoes Of The Universe” and following her latest single, “The Roads,” I welcome you to drop in on my conversation with Dream Dolphin. And as always, thanks to Noriko for her time and that wonderful music that, indeed, has a life of its own.

 [Editor’s Note: You can find Dream Dolphin on Instagram.]

Dream Dolphin (ドリームドルフィン) Interview

Dream Dolphin: Thank you for the wonderful opportunity.

First, let me start by sharing something important. DREAM DOLPHIN does not reveal everything. I deeply value the listener’s imagination.
As I’ve mentioned in past interviews, for example, if I were to explain every scene or dissect every detail of one of my favorite films, like Kubrick’s masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey, it would lose its meaning. A recent favorite of mine is Hayao Miyazaki’s How Do You Live? That film, too, is open to individual interpretation.

I call this indescribable, wordless sensation “ambient,” and it’s something I hold dear.

D.D. [Dream Dolphin] grows like a living organism, fueled by the overlapping imaginations of its listeners. So, before we begin, I want to clarify that I won’t be answering all of your excellent questions.

There is no right or wrong in what you or the listeners feel.

What you perceive is your truth—there is no absolute answer.

Diego (F/S): Noriko-san, decades after your debut, how does it feel to reconnect with music now? Through live performances, younger generations rediscovering your work, and other forms of revival, how do you experience this journey?

Dream Dolphin: The timing is utterly perfect. I’ve always felt guided, as if pushed by some greater current. A revival in the form of LIVE felt essential for this era. Through fateful encounters with incredible members, I’ve experienced raw, visceral energy in this chaotic time. In a world increasingly dominated by the virtual, real sound and energy—things you feel with all five senses—matter deeply. Everything aligned to guide this flow. The time has ripened. Listeners and fans, transcending time and space, have nurtured and expanded Dream Dolphin as a living entity. Returning now was inevitable.

Click to see: Dream Dolphin Live (Information)

🪐 DREAM DOLPHIN
ECHOES OF THE UNIVERSE AMBIENTOKYO 2025

Solo Live Show

📅 March 1, 2025
⏰ Doors Open: 18:00 / Show Starts: 18:30
📍 Venue: Aoyama Tsukimiru Kimi Omofu @moonromantic_jp
🎟 Tickets: https://t.livepocket.jp/e/nv1p8

Diego (F/S): You recently released a new track, “The Roads,” which you said symbolizes a new beginning for Dream Dolphin. What does this mean? Could you share the inspiration behind this new chapter and how you envision Dream Dolphin evolving moving forward?

Dream Dolphin: Dream Dolphin’s new song, “The Roads,” is like a quiet path just before dawn. It represents both our personal journey and a shared road with those who listen. I called it a symbol of a new beginning because even we don’t know where this road leads. Yet, knowing there are people walking it with us—our fans and members—gives me confidence to step into the unknown.

This song carries emotions and experiences we’ve accumulated over time. But these aren’t relics of the past—they’re vibrant pieces to paint the future. It’s hard to define Dream Dolphin’s evolution in words, but I imagine us shifting freely, like wind or waves, as we move forward.

Where does this road lead? The answer lies not with us now, but with our future selves. And that future will be shaped by the bonds we share with all of you.

Diego (F/S): Let’s reflect on the past for a moment. I’ve heard you spent your childhood in Tokyo—what was that time like? How did your early experiences influence your journey into music?

Dream Dolphin: My brother’s influence and my encounter with vocal music began to shift my world. But this question, too, might not need an answer. As I’ve said before, I cherish not revealing the full story.

Diego (F/S): I’d love to hear more about your early career. Did you truly start as a model and TV personality? If so, could you share what that era was like and how it led to your music career?

Dream Dolphin: It’s true. I started at six years old. Back then, I loved tuning into different roles—like becoming one with the wind, turning that sensation into poems and sound. For me, aligning myself with characters or beings outside my own identity felt playful. Naturally, that flow led me to music. Like dolphins gathering and beginning to play. I have no further answers beyond this.

Diego (F/S): I’ve read that you released music through Haruomi Hosono’s F.O.A. Records at a young age. Had you already been writing songs before being discovered, or did your songwriting journey begin afterward?

Dream Dolphin: This also feels like an unnecessary answer for now. But I should clarify: It wasn’t Hosono-san’s label. He was the first artist released on it.

Diego Olivas (F/S) The name “Dream Dolphin” is very striking. In a past blog post, I speculated that it might have been influenced by Mr. Fingers’ “Dolphin Dream”. Could you share the actual origin? I’d love to hear the story behind adopting this as your artist name.

Dream Dolphin: Feel free to imagine it however you like. I won’t be answering that. As I’ve said before, D.D. thrives on imagination as its energy—it’s a living entity that continues to grow.

Diego Olivas (F/S): Your music is highly original—it’s hard to define in a single word. Could you share the creative or musical influences that shaped your early career? I’ve also heard you once pursued a concept called “handbag music.” Could you elaborate on that?

Dream Dolphin: Lightness, playfulness, cuteness… portable ambient, that kind of vibe. JOYFULL.

Diego (F/S)? When did you first step into the world of electronic instruments? Did you teach yourself music and production initially, or did you have mentors? I’d love to know how you developed the techniques to craft your soundscapes.

Dream Dolphin: I’d prefer to avoid too much concrete detail from a realistic, human-world perspective. But I am grateful for the members of Manipulator. We were a three-person unit—Fire, Water, and NORIKO.

Diego (F/S): Your singing voice is incredibly distinct—mystical and unlike anything else. How did you discover or nurture this singular sound? Inspired by one of your track titles, I feel it’s akin to a sort of “Angelic Whisper.” Was this an intentional artistic choice, or did it evolve naturally?

Dream Dolphin: Thank you. Both my poetry and music are like automatic writing. I catch what flows through me and shape it as it is—in everything I do.

Diego (F/S): Your music often explores themes of humanity, nature, and dialogue with the universe—especially evident in albums like Atmospheric Healing, Cosmic Blue, and Visions / Rebirth / Underwater: The Earth’s Last Ephemeral and Beautiful Dream. What drew you to these spiritual themes, and how do they reflect your personal philosophy or worldview?

Dream Dolphin:  These things just come to me. Strictly speaking, it’s not from words but from an energy that cannot be put into words—I’m simply expressing it through myself. The story of my upcoming live performance on March 1 is also grand in scale. I’ll share more about that separately.*

[Editor’s note: Scroll to the bottom of the page for the full story behind this performance.]

Diego (F/S): You mentioned that Dream Dolphin is a living entity that evolves under the influence of the listener’s imagination. Could you share any moments when you felt that your own music or ideas unexpectedly took on a life of their own, or any experiences that surprised you?

When the invitation to participate in MFM’s D.D. compilation came, when GAIA was released, or when there was an offer for a live performance in Shanghai, I felt even more clearly that it lives and continues to grow—transcending national borders, time, and space. And “The Roads”, too, transforms with each live performance, truly coming alive.

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Diego (F/S): You describe your music as a form of “automatic writing.” In that creative flow, how important is your own emotional, mental, or physical state? I’ve also heard that, in addition to your work with Dream Dolphin, you are active as a vocal instructor and music therapist. Do you feel that the music is guiding you, or do you feel that now you are guiding the music?

Dream Dolphin: The connection between the body, the Earth, and the natural world is vital. There are expressions I can create now—ones I couldn’t grasp in my teens or twenties—which is why I’ve been guided back to live performances. The timing is ripe, and I’m physically feeling it. Rather than being “guided,” I’ve remembered what it’s like to merge with a greater flow—one tied to the Earth, the cosmos, and the roots of humanity. At the center of that flow, I feel at one with everything. Music, to me, is how I express that unity in this world.

Diego (F/S): Noriko-san, you mentioned that other members, Fire and Water, helped shape Dream Dolphin’s music in the past. Are they involved in any way with the current iteration of Dream Dolphin?

Not at this time. My prayers to FIRE go up to the heavens. The freedom of the dolphin. A sense of playfulness.

I don’t think this matter needs any special mention—because the music itself always carries its own energy, and I want to leave that truth and mystery just as it is.

Diego (F/S): Live performances seem to hold great significance for you. Why do you think performance itself feels so transformative for both you and the audience?

 Dream Dolphin: We live in an era where social media has advanced to the point that we can easily search for any information, see whatever we want, and access it regardless of country or time. Because of this, I believe it’s all the more important—and in demand—to cherish overwhelming, tangible experiences that you can feel with your body and senses.

The feedback I received about live shows was that they provided a new kind of experience—more like a session or a ritual than a conventional live performance. People said it felt so incredible, so uplifting, that some even cried, feeling that their lives would be okay from now on. I’ve always felt that the collective experience of everyone gathered together that day creates a kind of sacred space. It awakens something within you—not through words or conscious thought, but through the vibrations of sound—that reflects the essential harmony between nature and civilization, the primal joy, wisdom, and power to coexist that our ancestors possessed.

Connecting that shared experience with as many people as possible is both my mission and my joy in life. But honestly, I don’t really want to explain it like this. What matters is the overwhelming experience—the raw sensations you feel during the live performance. I want you to embrace the infinite possibilities and the wordless imagination that begins in silence, just like a child—innocent and free of preconceived notions! Still, sometimes talking about it helps convey the feeling, doesn’t it? Thank you. 🐬

Oh, and one more thing! Meeting the NEW Echo members was fate. Only with them could certain ideas and expressions come to life. Our recent live collaborations were no accident—I’m meeting the kind of companions who are essential to perfectly express what I want to convey. AO elevates the tracks, Kenji blends organic warmth with electronic pads like a sound alchemist, Maryse’s shamanic presence and flute melodies breathe life, and Ryō’s dance transcends into a nature-performance. These encounters mark a turning point—finally translating what I once condensed into CDs into the live, real world.

Diego (F/S): I resonate with your view of ambient music as something better felt, than explained—aligning with your reverence for mystery. Many of my questions are attempts trying to unravel the secrets behind your enduring music (perhaps treating you, unfairly, as a mediator for such answers!). Setting myself aside: What mysteries or questions are you still exploring, if any? If you’re engaging in that kind of reflection, then of course.

I believe that what we see is not everything—and that our perceptions can change in an instant. There is both fragility and strength in that fleeting nature. Everything embodies yin and yang, a source, a primordial, great flow. I feel that ambient music brings that mystery and beauty down into the real world in a form that is shaped by what is needed at that time, in that place, by what I need now, and by what you need now. That’s why even the same piece of music can evoke different feelings at different times.

I want to share these incredibly fascinating experiences with as many people as possible.

 p.s. I’d like to share the story Dream Dolphin mentioned in an earlier response. The “First Dream” will form the three part structure and concept for their upcoming live performances. Feel free to read it below.