Cocco

Often likened to a Japanese Alanis Morissette or Fiona Apple, Cocco (real name Tomoko Makishi) mixes her inward, confessional lyrics with hard rock arrangements. With her earthy voice, she is far from the usual, high-pitched Japanese pop starlets usually heard by the West -- though she has her soft, beautiful tones as well. Born in Okinawa, the birthplace of many a Japanese pop and rock star, Cocco got her start with a self-titled EP in 1996. Her career took off when Tower Records Japan chose her song -- "Sing a Song: No Music No Life," a "Give Peace a Chance"-like stomping si...