Kumamoto-based musician lllUUU unveils his first-ever 60-minute opus, a monumental work reflecting the air and emotions of the past year—a summary of 2023. The piece centers on environmental sounds, inspired by his travels to the Netherlands and South Korea, where I performed live. Experiences of long flights, unfamiliar languages, foreign food, and life away from daily routines shaped my perspective.
Through this, I discovered the comfort of sustained sounds, rhythms, and minimal elements, which he incorporated into the composition. As a contrast, irregular rhythms were also introduced to oscillate between harmony and chaos, capturing the instability of today’s world.
The work further includes rounds of a song he composed as a teenager, performances using over 20 instruments and everyday objects, and layered acoustic recordings. The result showcases the vast possibilities of recorded music.
Take a listen to this intricate and evocative creation!