I've been meaning to blog about this for some time, but I've been juggling a number of things.

VSCO and 23.5 present the soundtrack for the film KYOTO by director Alan Algee, featuring 11 tracks by yours truly and Gifted & Blessed! If you have a moment please read the piece about the soundtrack here. It contains a bit about the creators, the music and how the pieces mesh with the visual content. :)

Among a number of wonderful pieces, the soundtrack contains an original composition entitled,  "Into The Night" by Devin Crosby and myself, featuring vocalist, Emi Ogura. That piece really came about in a very natural and random way. =) It features live recordings of Emi singing while walking the streets of Kyoto.

You can hear that and the entire Kyoto soundtrack here! .
https://soundcloud.com/vsco/sets/kyoto-soundtrack

I'm happy to have had the opportunity to participate in this project. I'd like to thank VSCO, 23.5, Alan, Devin, Emi and the entire team!!!

If you still love to read, if you love to travel, if you love to immerse your mind in the imaginative depths of words and descriptions, I highly recommend you read the 23.5 Alan Algee interview about his experiences in Kyoto and the making of the 23.5 film, Kyoto (Parts I & II). It's wonderful, insightful, inspiring and his words are just as poetic as his work.

“I wish for people to take time to understand the culture and not just take; to learn what beauty comes when a society is devoted to cultural preservation.””

There is so much to learn about how Kyoto, and I assume Japan, has had an impact on an artist from the United States. I often tell people the world has so much to offer them and this is proof of such a phenomenon. After all, the world is still quite diverse and experiencing alternative ways of thinking, speaking and interacting with your environment can be quite life altering in the best of ways.

For example... Without revealing too much, Alan mentions the fact that there are no pronouns in the Japanese language. Thus, conversation, especially from the Western perspective, can be quite...ambiguous in comparison. Without the you, he, she, etc, the conversation is not only less confrontational and direct, but the focus tends to be more on the context of what is being said, as opposed to the subject or thing being addressed. I've had a few conversations with my Japanese friends about this and they kindly agree and have tried to help me understand. As a westerner, I find the concept alone to be quite interesting.

The interview offers a plethora of information about how the film was made, the locations and their significance, the performers, narration, calligraphy, the historical and cultural significance and, perhaps above all else, the influence and nature of Kyoto. If you have the time, please take a moment to dive into the depths of this artists experience. You might find it to be quite motivating and inspiring.

=)

I'm a little late. I've been away on a journey of sorts...

While I was away, part two of the Kyoto film, entitled Deep Night, dropped! Oooo-la-la! I watched the film a few times. All I can say is... Wow. It's really interesting to see the results of somewhat random decisions made my so many people. It makes me ponder quite a bit, the way things unfold so seamlessly and naturally to produce in a single piece of art. What a great team!

WATCH & SHARE THIS FILM. CLICK HERE!

When I watched the film for the first time there were a few surprises:

1. This really shouldn't have been a surprise, but... the film is quite smooth. There are changes in the mood and context that blend together in such a graceful way. But... That's what Alan does! It's poetic and mysterious. One day, I'll have to see Kyoto with my own eyes in person.
   

2. Whoa! The entire score for this film is all by yours truly. Wow! When I saw the rough edits, I wasn't under the impression my music would be the only music in this film. Wow. It feels good! =)
   

3. What? Jamila's Crazy (MIAL Vaporwave Remix) made it's way into the film and the closing credits!! I thought the dub version might make it, but I was pleasantly surprised the vocal version was used. Who knew?!

I believe the song, delicate - a day dream, is also in this film! =) If you like any of the music in the film, feel free to support me and the participating artists by purchasing any or all of the soundtrack on this page or on Bandcamp!

I have 25 wordless reasons you should watch Kyoto. It's really simple. Without any retouching, editing or enhancing, I give you 25 tidbits of visual motivation to watch this VSCO 23.5 original by, Alan Algee.

Watch the film here!

Part II of this film comes out on July 9th!!! My portion of the score for parts 1 and 2 of this film comes out this Friday, July 8th, on Lofty Recordings. If any of the pieces move you, please support me. No gesture will go unappreciated.

I consider myself to be a blessed and lucky man. Recently people have been writing me and asking me where they can find the music from the beautiful VSCO 23.5 film, Kyoto 23.5 or where they can find the music they recently heard on KCRW.

First... THANK YOU! Thank you for reaching out and contacting me. I am always pleasantly surprised to hear how the music has moved others.

Second, have no fear. All of that music will be released this month.

Releases

This calendar will be updated in the near future to include all Lofty Recordings releases, including those from Antigua Deep, Wine Drinking Music and Jamila. Eventually, I'll put up a release calendar page, but you can find the calendar in the sidebar to right for now.

I'm reallllllllly excited about the release of Letters to Kyoto. I sincerely hope you enjoy it!