The son of a Japanese mother and an American father, Hugo was born in Binghamton and raised in Rochester, New York. From an early age, his mother filled their home with her singing and instilled in him the importance of rhythm and pitch. Hugo’s first musical experiences included singing at karaoke nights with his mother’s friends and with his elementary school’s choir. His own passion for music, however, was influenced most strongly by his Uncle Seth, who studied electronic musical composition at Mills College in California and encouraged Hugo to begin playing guitar and compose his own music. Since starting college at Fordham University, Hugo has joined two bands and released hours of music on various platforms under various names including Faculty and Staff and Sapporo.