Akira Kosemura‘s highly anticipated new album, “MIRAI” (meaning “future” in Japanese), is released today on Tokyo-based Japanese independent label Schole Records. The release marks a significant departure for the renowned composer and pianist. Following his successful solo piano work “SEASONS,” “MIRAI” is Kosemura’s first vocal project, boasting an impressive roster of collaborators, including Devendra Banhart, Mr Hudson, Tom Adams, Baths, Saro, Benjamin Gustafsson, and Miyuki Hatakeyama.
Conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic, “MIRAI” reflects Kosemura’s shift in focus to “describe the future from his personal perspective with music, for next generations.” The album weaves together a rich tapestry of influences, from Asian traditional instruments like dilruba and shakuhachi to Naga songs from Myanmar, film soundtracks, post-rock, neo-classical, and electronica. This unique fusion, delivered in multiple languages, mirrors the fascinating post-war development of Japanese culture.
To mark its release, Kosemura has shared a video for “Ongaku” featuring Devendra Banhart, directed by Joel Kazuo Knoernschild, offering a visual journey into Kosemura’s phantasmal statement for the future and his quest for a musical utopia.
Order via Bandcamp: https://akirakosemura.bandcamp.com/album/mirai-2