Virtual Singer Kaf Collaborates With Prolific Electronic Artist Mondo Grosso For “My Voice”
Different Periods Of J-pop Come Together On New Single
Eras of Japanese pop music collide and coalesce on “My Voice,” a collaboration between virtual singer KAF and prolific electronic project MONDO GROSSO, the solo moniker of long-running creator Shinichi Osawa. The prior, a leading example of a digital-native artist pushing art into fresh directions but boasting an emotionally wrenching human voice, fits in naturally with the latter's rippling dance sounds, which he's perfected for nearly three decades. Together, they forge a new path forward built from experience.
Listen to “My Voice” here
“My Voice” is part of KAF's Musical Suite Collaboration, a long-running project finding the boundary-pushing virtual artist stepping out of her comfort zone to work with Japanese artists ranging from rocker Miyavi, experimental fireball Hakushi Hasegawa and left-field producer Kenmochi Hidefumi. For the 14th installment of the series, she connects with Shinichi Osawa under his MONDO GROSSO guise, which he's used to blur elements of jazz, funk, house, electro and more together. On “My Voice,” Shinichi Osawa lays down a dizzying electronic backdrop dappled by fragile piano notes over which KAF explores her experience with the musical medium, which she has been exploring since her early teenage years.
“Wandering emotions…even if it feels like I've put my emotions out there through my songs, there are still feelings that continue to drift somewhere within me. Every time I recall them, I find comfort in the fact that they still make me feel pain, embarrassment, or excitement,” KAF says. “Through 'My Voice,' I want to recreate and confirm those feelings that I couldn't express in words then, or didn't want to talk about, or still don't fully understand. This desire may be the origin of what makes my songs uniquely mine.”
“I've had moments in the past where I've projected very personal emotions into my music, and I believe this new song is one of those instances,” Osawa says of the song. “It might be the first time I've tried to create music without actually meeting or even seeing the other person involved. In a way, this music could only have been born under these unique circumstances. I've taken the risk of creating the lyrics, composition, and sound production, and I'm happy to say that it's a satisfying representation of 'my voice.'”
Out now on all major streaming platforms, “My Voice” reminds of Osawa's perspective on music, while showcasing a whole new angle on art from the new-generation mind of KAF.
ABOUT KAF:
Debuting in 2018, KAF uses an anime-style avatar to present herself to the world, while creating music centered around her versatile and powerful voice. She's become one of the most prominent virtual singer's in Japan, with her original songs and covers earning millions of views. She's performed at some of the country's most celebrated venues, including a sold-out night at the historic Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. This past March, she released her third full-length album, further showing her artistic growth and ability to capture the complexities of growing up in 21st century Japan.
Visit KAF's official website, YouTube, Instagram or Twitter
ABOUT MONDO GROSSO:
Starting out in the late 1980s as a band, acclaimed producer and DJ Shinichi Osawa adopted the MONDO GROSSO name for his own blend of acid-jazz stylings with club-ready beats, leading to hits such as “Life” featuring vocalist Bird in 2000. He's continued to tinker under the moniker in the years since, in recent years embracing it once again for a series of albums featuring collaborations with a wide array of singers. This newer batch of songs have enjoyed commercial and critical success, with 2017 single “Labyrinth” featuring Hikari Mitsushima becoming a buzzed-about hit globally via YouTube. He's collaborated with artists such as Ryuichi Sakamoto, UA and CHAI among others.
Visit MONDO GROSSO's Official Website, YouTube, Instagram or Twitter
ABOUT KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO:
Founded in 2019, Tokyo KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO is a creative agency and management company at the cutting-edge of technology and entertainment. The group counts a variety of forward-thinking artists as part of its roster, including many virtual singers blurring the lines between the digital and real world.
Eras of Japanese pop music collide and coalesce on “My Voice,” a collaboration between virtual singer KAF and prolific electronic project MONDO GROSSO, the solo moniker of long-running creator Shinichi Osawa. The prior, a leading example of a digital-native artist pushing art into fresh directions but boasting an emotionally wrenching human voice, fits in naturally with the latter's rippling dance sounds, which he's perfected for nearly three decades. Together, they forge a new path forward built from experience.
Listen to “My Voice” here
“My Voice” is part of KAF's Musical Suite Collaboration, a long-running project finding the boundary-pushing virtual artist stepping out of her comfort zone to work with Japanese artists ranging from rocker Miyavi, experimental fireball Hakushi Hasegawa and left-field producer Kenmochi Hidefumi. For the 14th installment of the series, she connects with Shinichi Osawa under his MONDO GROSSO guise, which he's used to blur elements of jazz, funk, house, electro and more together. On “My Voice,” Shinichi Osawa lays down a dizzying electronic backdrop dappled by fragile piano notes over which KAF explores her experience with the musical medium, which she has been exploring since her early teenage years.
“Wandering emotions…even if it feels like I've put my emotions out there through my songs, there are still feelings that continue to drift somewhere within me. Every time I recall them, I find comfort in the fact that they still make me feel pain, embarrassment, or excitement,” KAF says. “Through 'My Voice,' I want to recreate and confirm those feelings that I couldn't express in words then, or didn't want to talk about, or still don't fully understand. This desire may be the origin of what makes my songs uniquely mine.”
“I've had moments in the past where I've projected very personal emotions into my music, and I believe this new song is one of those instances,” Osawa says of the song. “It might be the first time I've tried to create music without actually meeting or even seeing the other person involved. In a way, this music could only have been born under these unique circumstances. I've taken the risk of creating the lyrics, composition, and sound production, and I'm happy to say that it's a satisfying representation of 'my voice.'”
Out now on all major streaming platforms, “My Voice” reminds of Osawa's perspective on music, while showcasing a whole new angle on art from the new-generation mind of KAF.
ABOUT KAF:
Debuting in 2018, KAF uses an anime-style avatar to present herself to the world, while creating music centered around her versatile and powerful voice. She's become one of the most prominent virtual singer's in Japan, with her original songs and covers earning millions of views. She's performed at some of the country's most celebrated venues, including a sold-out night at the historic Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. This past March, she released her third full-length album, further showing her artistic growth and ability to capture the complexities of growing up in 21st century Japan.
Visit KAF's official website, YouTube, Instagram or Twitter
ABOUT MONDO GROSSO:
Starting out in the late 1980s as a band, acclaimed producer and DJ Shinichi Osawa adopted the MONDO GROSSO name for his own blend of acid-jazz stylings with club-ready beats, leading to hits such as “Life” featuring vocalist Bird in 2000. He's continued to tinker under the moniker in the years since, in recent years embracing it once again for a series of albums featuring collaborations with a wide array of singers. This newer batch of songs have enjoyed commercial and critical success, with 2017 single “Labyrinth” featuring Hikari Mitsushima becoming a buzzed-about hit globally via YouTube. He's collaborated with artists such as Ryuichi Sakamoto, UA and CHAI among others.
Visit MONDO GROSSO's Official Website, YouTube, Instagram or Twitter
ABOUT KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO:
Founded in 2019, Tokyo KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO is a creative agency and management company at the cutting-edge of technology and entertainment. The group counts a variety of forward-thinking artists as part of its roster, including many virtual singers blurring the lines between the digital and real world.
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