5 Artists Who Use Kawai Pianos
Almost a century old, piano manufacturers Kawai are trusted by renowned artists across the globe like Coldplay and Wicked pianist Pete Whinnett.
Read on to learn about Kawai and the stars who love their products.
Kawai
Founded by Koichi Kawai in Japan in 1927, Kawai excels in producing high-quality pianos.
Specialising in digital, upright, grand and hybrid pianos, Kawai is now a loved and trusted manufacturer. With over 4000 employees across 4 continents, the company makes nearly $1 billion annually through sales.
Today, Kawai are leaders in technology and minimising environmental impact.
Artists who use Kawai
Coldplay
British rock band Coldplay formed in London in 1997 and consists of Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman and Will Champion. The band are renowned for their soft rock, ambient and electronica sound, and are known for hits such as their breakthrough song “Yellow” from their 2000 Parachutes album and magnificent tours. Today, they’re considered the most successful band of the 21st century.
In 2016, Coldplay headlined the Super Bowl half-time show. Their performance included guests like Beyonce, Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars. Frontman Chris Martin performed vocals and piano at the show on a Kawai K300-ATX2 hybrid piano. This set became the most-watched Super Bowl half-time show by a group.
OneRepublic
American pop rock band OneRepublic formed in 2002 and first gained traction on the social networking site Myspace, along with their 2007 breakthrough hit single “Apologize” with Timbaland which earned them a Grammy nomination. The song was also featured on infamous shows including Gossip Girl. The band consists of Ryan Tedder, Zach Filkins, Drew Brown, Brian Willett, Eddie Fisher and Brent Kutzle. OneRepublic’s success hasn’t slowed down since - their song “I Ain’t Worried” featured in the 2022 action blockbuster hit Top Gun: Maverick.
In the 2008 finale, OneRepublic graced the American Idol stage, while singer and pianist Ryan Tedder played on Kawai RX-1 Baby Grand Piano. They later endorsed the brand further when they took a Kawai MP811 Professional Stage Piano on their summer tour.
Dodie
English singer-songwriter and author Dorothy “Dodie” Clark rose to prominence after uploading covers and original songs on video platforms YouTube and Vevo in 2011. Despite being unsigned, her first EP, Intertwined, reached spot 35 on the UK album charts after its release in 2016. In 2023, she joined British indie-pop group Fizz, playing instruments like the guitar, piano, clarinet, and tambourine, as well as providing vocals.
As a pianist, Dodie has been spotted using a Kawai ES100 digital piano. She praises the brand’s products, referring to them as her number one, as well as “customisable, reliable, sleek and familiar”.
Muse
English alternative rock band Muse formed in 1994 and consists of Matt Bellamy, Chris Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard. They’re known for hits like “Hysteria” and “Supermassive Black Hole”, the latter featuring in the Twilight franchise.
Bellamy, who provides vocals, guitar, keyboard and piano for Muse, blurs classical music with the alternative rock genre of the band. Throughout his career, he’s been seen opting for a Kawai MP series VPC1 digital piano to achieve the band’s unique sound.
Pete Whinnett
Before the 2024 box office hit, Pete Whinnett was the principal keyboardist for the Olivier award-winning West End production of Wicked. Alongside this, he is renowned for his work on Riverdance, Romeo and Juliet, Saturday Night Fever and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
He favours the piano brand, referring to them as “reliable” and “consistent” when playing demanding “advanced pianistic writing” like Wicked features. He used a Kawai MP10 for the production and also enjoys the MP4, MP5 and MP8.
Where to shop
Whether you’re an advanced pianist or just getting started, Kawai pianos from Richard Lawson offer a customised and reliable experience. They’re a leading UK piano dealer with a comprehensive range of products. You can shop online or visit their showroom for a personalised service.