Ai Kakihira announces new EP ‘IN’ and shares new track ‘Korizu ni Shinjite Iidesuka’
Ai Kakihira | Photo Credit: Daisuke Murakami
Today, Tokyo-based multi-instrumentalist Ai Kakihira has announced details of a new EP titled ‘IN’. The EP will be released digitally via London-based independent record label Gearbox Records on 17th May. Alongside the news of the EP, Kakihira has also shared a new song titled ‘Korizu ni Shinjite Iidesuka’.
Originally from Nagasaki Prefecture and now currently living in Tokyo, Ai Kakihira’s sound is a unique psychedelic blend, skillfully incorporating elements of chillwave, disco, soul, techno, global music, and dream pop. With delicate vocals and melodies sung in her native Japanese language, Kakihira’s music is full of dense yet intricate dynamic arrangements. “I place great importance in mixing highly dissimilar and contrasting elements, such as the old and the new, nature and artifice, while still making them sound pop”, says Kakihira.
The first track to be taken from her new EP, titled ‘Korizu ni Shinjite Iidesuka’, offers a no holds barred first taste of Kakihira’s idiosyncratic sound. Combining saw-toothed rhythms with warped psych-inflected synth lines that dance and weave around her glitchy vocal lines. However, none of this comes at the expense of good songwriting, there may be no limit to the multifaceted electronic instrumentation of the track, Kakihira’s vocals come forward as a hook-heavy, melodic beacon to guide listeners through her labyrinthine compositions.
Hear / share ‘Korizu ni Shinjite Iidesuka’ here
Elsewhere on the EP, tracks such as ‘Gojiai Kudasai’ (which translates to “please take care of yourself”) on the other hand, combines jazz-inflected instrumentation with glitchy electronics that break and give way to flutes, densely layered vocal harmonies, and somewhat cinematic orchestration – a nod to her work in soundtracking. The EP’s closing track ‘Enjoy Summer’ sees Kakihira lean further into her dream-pop sensibilities, with playful instrumentation that is at once both danceable and subtly complex.
With so many trailblazing artists coming out of Tokyo - and indeed, Japan - at the moment, it’s no surprise that Kakihira is compelled to cross so many genres and boundaries. As an artist that refuses to be pigeonholed at every turn, ‘IN’ sees Kakihira continue to beguile listeners whilst propelling her sound into new musical territory with a surreal and inimitable intensity.
‘IN’ is out digitally on 17th May and will precede a second EP release later this year – Pre-save the first EP here
Tracklisting:
01.INTRO
02.Korizu ni Shinjite Iidesuka
03.Gojiai Kudasai
04.Kiteretsu
05.Enjoy Summer
