nnatsukashii
project: 22
In the past year, I focused on exploring the theme of identity within my music and art, aiming to rediscover who I am without the influence of others. This project serves as a personal record of my experiences at 22, reflecting on the people who matter to me, the influences shaping my life, and my current interests.
Project 22 is the first music project in the "懐かしい" series.
01 only on a blue moon, will i come to see you.
A piano track made in December of 2024, inspired by Watatsumi Island from the open-world role-playing game Genshin Impact. This track was one of the three piano improvisations released on this album. Also, if you listen closely, you can hear the bells from League of Legends.
02 marigolds & lavenders (feat. carroshu)
A collaboration done with Jana Uy, focusing on a cottage cozy feel and putting together both trumpet and oboe. The idea started with my obsession with chromatics, and then from there, we built the song together. We blended our mutual interests in Nintendo games to create this piece.
03 the pairreedPIPER
An exploration I did into mixing improvised oboe with electronics. Every sound you hear was taken from the oboe and manipulated live. I created an audio effect rack (a freeze delay) and used a looper. This was supported by my professor, Stefan Maier, who taught me everything about live electronic music and gave me the support and tools to make this happen!
04 1p5.7
This is the second out of three piano tracks released. This piece came from an improvisation on a rainy day in Vancouver and was heavily inspired by 1 Peter 5:7, “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” During this period in time, I was plagued by anxious thoughts about the future and what might be in store for me. This verse reminded me to just let go of all worries and fears and trust in Him.
05 ただいま!
The third piano improvised-turned-scored track was also created in December 2024, shortly after 'once in a blue moon, will i come to see you.' This piece was inspired by Studio Ghibli's visuals, my family, Hong Kong, and my lovely roommate, Elena Zhang.
06 pov you're in a thriller novel based in atlantis (feat. Aidan Edwards & Stevan Oostenbrug)
07 Unknown Signs
it's 2am and i'm contemplating life.
My main aim with PROJECT 22 was to create something deeply personal: a record of who I am at 22.
I started by making a list of things that currently impact my life, like the oboe, piano, and the people I've collaborated with. But I also wanted to include the things I'm currently grappling with, like insomnia.
Improving my sleep quality was something that I wanted to do; in fact, it was my New Year's resolution. I've struggled with insomnia for a while, and it has often left me feeling exhausted and drained. So, I experimented with how particular musical elements can foster relaxation and enhance overall sleep health. Through this experiment, I discovered that familiarity helps me calm down, specifically familiarity with classical music. Ambient music also tends to be the best kind of music to manage stress, improve sleep quality, and reduce anxiety.
When I created tracks like 'blue moon,' 'marigolds & lavenders,' '1p5.7', and 'ただいま!', I focused on implementing the piano and the nostalgic feelings it evoked. I wanted to explore the therapeutic advantages of music in tackling insomnia and improving sleep quality. These tracks softly allude to my comfort gems: Genshin Impact, Pokemon, Studio Ghibli, and more.
On the other hand, when I was creating 'the pairreedPIPER' and 'pov you're in a thriller novel based in atlantis,' I was translating the thoughts that kept me awake at night into music. Personally, 'the pairreedPIPER' holds a special place in my heart and I find it quite beautiful in its own way.
So, to describe this album in one sentence, I would say that it is in the state between dreams and nightmares. However, it is totally up to you to decide which ones are dreams and which ones are nightmares. After all, everything is subjective~
