We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

OIRO NAOSHI

by Ten Ten

supported by
Frankie Teardrop
Frankie Teardrop thumbnail
basil_imperitor
basil_imperitor thumbnail
Khezk
Khezk thumbnail
Bill Sebring
Bill Sebring thumbnail
sandyusami
sandyusami thumbnail
tSWAN
tSWAN thumbnail
mitchmarcusmusic
mitchmarcusmusic thumbnail
julietkiri
julietkiri thumbnail
/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $7 CAD  or more

     

1.
ZEN ZEN DENWA DENWA 04:51
info
buy track
2.
TERE TERU TERU TERU BOZU 04:16
info
buy track
3.
TEIKI TEKI TEKIREIKI KITE KIKI 05:26
info
buy track
4.
YAKI MOCHI YAKI MACHI 04:57
info
buy track
5.
ICHI ICHI JIKU JIGU 03:22
info
buy track
6.
SOTTO SOTO HITORI 01:28
info
buy track
7.
TO-KU NO KUNI NO TO-SAN 08:04
info
buy track

about

Literally, o-iro-naoshi means “changing colours”.

It refers to a Japanese wedding tradition. A bride will trade her all white kimono for a colorful one to signify that the bride transforms into the colour of her husband’s household and becomes a part of his family.

During the most recent lockdown of the pandemic, to prevent myself from going stir-crazy, I set myself a public challenge. I would write one shamisen song a day for 100 days. The songs were simple and unadorned. Some were catchy. Others were silly.

The process brought me back to my childhood when I would create simple melodies with nonsense words. Instead of formally composing a piece, I would play around, exploring, allowing the melody and rhythm to find themselves. Each day, I would upload the raw, black and white videos to Instagram.

After completing my challenge, I wasn’t quite ready to let the songs go. Many of them still danced about inside my head. And so I wondered what it would be like to add some colours to my simple, monochrome ditties.

With this in mind, I contacted various talented musicians, asking them to contribute their own flourishes and colours to the arrangements, giving them greater depth, allowing them to blossom. It was inspiring to watch these songs evolve as each artist added their unique touches in a harmonious marriage of differing styles and sensibilities. I hope you will also enjoy the fruits of their labour.

I am deeply impressed with all the guest artists who helped me for this album.

Thank you very much.

Aki Takahashi / ten ten

credits

released October 31, 2021

All the music composed by Aki Takahashi
Recorded at Nagata Shachu Studio
Mixed & mastered by Dan Powell
Album layout & design by Aki Takahashi

ten ten:
Aki Takahashi
Heidi Chan

Guest performers:
Ken Yoshioka
Nick Shao
Joel Mankey
Kyle Abbott
Kayla Milmine
Shinya Sato
Kevin Zi-Xiao He
Anita Rakkatak
Reigen Fujii

Executive producer:
Kiyoshi Nagata

This recording was made possible through the generous support of the Ontario Arts Council and the National Association of Japanese Canadian.

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Ten Ten image

Ten Ten

ten ten is an evolving art experiment with its roots in the Japanese folk tradition.

In the Japanese alphabet, “ten ten” refers to two dots used to change the sound of a syllable. In the same spirit, ten ten strives to create its own unique voice for Japanese folk music breathing new life into this traditional art form ... more

contact / help

Contact Ten Ten

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

If you like Ten Ten, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Saxophonist Isaiah Collier chats about his new LP and the influence of Pharoah Sanders.
listen now