Last time we checked in with Tomo Nakayama, the Seattle singer-songwriter was sharing his favorite spots around town, and reminiscing about his time working at the Neptune Theatre. This time, he's sharing a brand-new music video, which we're premiering here at Seattle Met.

Nakayama's new single, "Ocean", is the first track off his new album, also called Ocean, out November 7 from Porchlight Records. The video was directed by local photographer Sung Park, and stars Nakayama's 10-year-old nephew Russell. 

"Ocean" the song grew out of an exercise Nakayama did as part of a workshop with producer Brian Eno.

"One of the assignments was to write a song of revolution," Nakayama says. "He told us to imagine what kind of world you want to live in. I don’t really write political songs necessarily. But what felt the most important to me was reminding ourselves of our humanity and the most basic call for—the world is so chaotic right now,  just wanted to write a song of hope."

The video, with its whimsically animated sequences, is meant to "show the power of a child's imagination," says Nakayama. His nephew, he says, happens to look a lot like he did at that age. 

Ocean, the album, on the other hand, grew out of collaboration with Nakayama's band, which includes Yuuki Matthews (the Shins), Abbey Blackwell (Alvvays), and Christopher Icasiano (Fleet Foxes). Whereas his previous album, Melonday, was recorded solo, this one was a collaborative effort, largely recorded live in the studio. 

"After everything that happened with the pandemic, I really wanted to play with other people again," Nakayama says. "That was the thing I missed the most about music."

Nakayama—and the band—will be playing an album release show on November 7 at Fremont Abbey as part of the Cloudbreak Music Festival. The show is also being sponsored by the Music's In Our Blood campaign by Bloodworks Northwest and the Sonic Guild.