After Japanese R&B singer Ken Hirai performed on the popular music programme MTV Unplugged in New York, some said if his songs were in English, he would hit the big time in America.
Hirai, 31, who has a soulful and mesmerising voice, is the third Japanese artist invited on the show after duo Chage & Aska and R&B diva Utada Hikaru, and is the first J-pop singer to record in MTV's hometown.
Last month he released his fifth album Life Is. As with his previous albums, including The Changing Same and Gaining Through Losing, this album offers a mix of soul, R&B, gospel, pop, jazz and swing.
Since his gospel-inspired mega-hit Love Love Love from his third album The Changing Same and following up with hit singles, Hirai has become hot property in Asia.
The new studio-recording features the ballad Missin' You, It Will Break My Heart which was composed and produced by American R&B king Babyface.