Being a single mother is demanding, and The Big Pink drummer Akiko Matsuura knows it firsthand. She is raising Archie alone, the son of "Stranger Things" star Charlie Heaton.
Japanese musician Akiko Matsuura had a lonely childhood, but she fell in love with music early and dreamed of becoming a famous drummer.
She met Charlie Heaton through music, but their relationship didn't work out. She is now raising their son, Archie, in London, miles away from her family in Japan and Heaton in America. Here's everything you need to know about Heaton's ex-girlfriend.
Akiko Matsuura on August 6, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois | Source: Getty Images
WHO IS AKIKO MATSUURA?
Born on November 2, 1980, Matsuura is a Japanese drummer, guitar player, and singer with vast experience in music. She grew up in Osaka, where her parents ran a restaurant.
They were so busy and worked so hard that Matsuura did not spend enough time with them growing up. Although she had a brother who was seven years older, she was home alone most of the time because he would often go and hang out with his friends.
Akiko Matsuura in London on April 20, 2006 | Source: Getty Images
AKIKO MATSUURA'S MUSIC CAREER
Matsuura's life changed when she was six years old and watched a Japanese TV series about a female drummer in a boys' rock band. The show made her want to be a drummer, but she was apparently too young to learn the instruments.
Instead, Matsuura began playing the piano at six and started drum lessons at the age of ten. She helped her parents run their restaurant when she turned 12. At 16, she could prepare anything on the menu.
She discovered American and British rock music as a teenager, and her dreams of being a drummer never faded, so she studied art. Her parents knew she was passionate about music and let her attend a university in England when she was 18.
Taking on the nickname "Keeks," Akiko Matsuura eventually fulfilled her rocker dreams. At one point, she was part of multiple bands, including Comanechi, PRE, Sperm Javelin, and The Big Pink, bringing her distinct style to each of these groups.
The punk rock band Comanechi was formed in one of the famous birthplaces of the subgenre: London. After playing in the underground scene since the late 2000s, the band released music via many indie labels and toured worldwide. Keeks eventually moved from drummer to vocalist, showing off her multiple musical talents.
Matsuura also lent her vocals to another London-based band, PRE. The artist doubled as a drummer and singer in the no-wave band. She became well-known for her eccentric antics, such as appearing in front of the crowd with only her underwear.
The Big Pink also blossomed in the musical subculture of London in 2007, with the electro-rock band making a significant name for themselves. The band opened for famous acts, including Florence & The Machine, Muse, and more.
Many may recognize them from their song "Dominos," but they took a break after Milo Cordell left the group in 2014. Almost a decade later, they released their new single, "No Angels." After the release, the band made headlines in April 2022, which was their first new song since "Future This" came out in 2012.
The artist and her parents had a strained relationship as her music career blossomed. In 2009, she played the drums for The Big Pink at a festival in Osaka, and her parents were so proud that they cried. Their relationship got complicated shortly after, though.
Matsuura and Heaton welcomed their son, Archie, in 2014.
Matsuura took her bandmates to a bar where a professional S&M bondage artist performed. She asked him to tie her and her bandmates up and posted photos on her blog. Her mom saw them and was disappointed. "I'm so dishonored," said Matsuura's mom.
AKIKO MATSUURA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH CHARLIE HEATON
Although Matsuura's music career has been noteworthy, she is also famous for her relationship with "Stranger Things" star Charlie Heaton.
The former couple played together in Comanechi back in 2013; he was on the drums, and she was the main singer and guitarist. They lived "five minutes away" from each other and fell in love despite their 14-year age gap.
Matsuura and Heaton welcomed their son, Archie, in 2014, when Heaton was only 20. It is unclear when and why Matsuura and Heaton parted ways, but he left Comanechi around 2015.
It is essential to point out that Heaton, who landed his first acting gig in an ad for a Swiss insurance company in 2014, began his acting career to make more money than he was getting from his music.
Heaton is currently dating his "Stranger Things" co-star, Natalia Dyer, and he splits his time between America and London, where Matsuura and Archie live.
CHARLIE HEATON: AKIKO MATSUURA'S FAMOUS EX
Charlie Heaton is widely recognized as Jonathan from "Stranger Things," but he has done so much more. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the drama "No Future" is his highest-rated work, while "Shut In" has the lowest rating.
The actor was born in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, but was sent to live with his dad in London when he was a teenager. While there, he found his way into Comanechi, performing on one of their albums and touring with them until he chose to leave and pursue acting.
He finally had his first proper role in the 2015 movie "Urban & The Shed Crew." He continued to be cast in a variety of projects such as BBC One's "Casualty" until he got his big break on "Stranger Things" as a regular.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT AKIKO MATSUURA AND CHARLIE HEATON'S SON?
Matsuura and Heaton might be celebrities, but they prefer to keep the details of their child private. In June 2022, Matsuura tweeted that Archie taught her true love was unconditional and everlasting.
The single mother once admitted that her relationship with her parents as a child influenced how she treats her son. She works hard to build a strong bond with Archie, adding:
"When he goes through some hard times in his life, I want to be there for him. I want him to feel comfortable talking to me about anything openly at any stage of his age."
Akiko Matsuura confessed that she was unprepared to become a mom when Archie was born. All she cared about as a teen and young adult was her career.
Apart from that, she was not financially stable. During the first months of her pregnancy, Matsuura lived close to a railway track in a shipping container she turned into a studio.
Seven months into her pregnancy, she moved to an emergency bedsit hostel. It was her home for over a year, and they only left the hostel when Archie was 11 months old.
The musician explained that it felt like a prison because she could not have visitors. She and Heaton parted ways around that time, so it was the "lowest point" of her life.
When the pandemic hit, Heaton could not go to London to visit Archie for "over a year." Matsuura said that although Heaton was "not around," they maintained an amicable relationship.
The "Stranger Things" star and Matsuura have the same views regarding parenting, and he appreciates how she has raised Archie. Still, not having Heaton around for so long during the pandemic emphasized the difficulties of being a single parent.
WHAT IS AKIKO MATSUURA DOING NOW?
Besides raising Archie, Matsuura is focused on her music career with The Big Pink. She began rehearsing with the band during Archie's school hours, and the fact that they released "No Angels" in April 2022 proves that things worked out.
Akiko Matsuura is not only playing drums but also designing the band's merchandise and artwork. She hopes to see her son grow up and find his soul mate. Way to go!
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