Tokyo Prose began as a duo before Sam Reed carried the New Zealand drum-and-bass project forward solo. The 2011 release credits name S. Reed and S. Stokes as its writers and producers, while the project had signed to Samurai Music in 2008. Reed is based in Auckland, and his first named release here, the 2011 EP Introducing Tokyo Prose, came out on Samurai Music. The EP includes the track “Saving Grace”.
In 2011, Reed and producer Fis launched the Samurai Horo label, and the two also worked together on the track “The Truths”. Tokyo Prose released the album Presence in 2014, featuring vocalists DRS, Riya and Fox, with production collaborations from Lenzman, Synkro and LSB. The 2015 EP Dawn Chorus followed. Reed’s 2018 album Wild Grace appeared on The North Quarter. His releases have also appeared on Soul:r, Hospital Records and Footnotes, alongside Samurai Music and The North Quarter.
In 2024, Tokyo Prose released Brilliant Corners (Anile Remix) with Anile on The North Quarter. The 2025 single Embrace, featuring Ruby Wood, appeared on Footnotes, as did Wait for Me and Seams. Tokyo Prose also released In the Air with Sleazy F Baby on Drum&BassArena in 2025.
