Escape to the beach in any weather or at any time of year with Dai Hirai's sun-soaked pop. Inspired by a father who loved music and catching waves in equal measure, he started playing ukulele as a toddler. He's gone on to make slow and easy tunes with uplifting lyrics—the sonic equivalent of laying out on a beach towel and getting a nice tan. His warm approach to acoustic pop has made him a fast-rising star in Japan, and he's even written songs for events held in Hawaii. That's fitting, since Hirai's tunes double as a mental escape to a far-off island.