REPORT ｜ Shingo Suzuki LYPS “Liquid Yellow Portraits”

Shingo Suzuki (Ovall) held her first live performance with her solo project LYPS, “Liquid Yellow Portraits,” at Tokyo’s Marunouchi COTTON CLUB on Tuesday, October 1st.

This performance will be a preview of the worldview of Shingo Suzuki, a member of Ovall who also produces BTS’s “WAKE UP”, and his first solo album in 16 years, “Liquid Yellow Portraits”, prior to its release. From the stage that hints at the same work, which featured pianist Shota Watanabe, drummers Masato Mori & FUYU, trumpeter Reiya Terakubo, rappers 5lack & Kojoe, singers Ruri Matsumura & Nenashi, and Ol’K, the 2nd performance I would like to share with you the details of the show along with his comments.

The performance started with “Beatrice”, a simple triple time beat. A beautiful grand piano melody graced the opening. As the number of notes on the piano increases, the other two also react and listen to the passionate development. The two support members that he puts his full trust in are Masato Mori, a skilled drummer, and Shota Watanabe, a poor pianist. Watanabe connected the batons with a floating sound, and Mamoru dominated with his polyrhythmic play that changed the basic beat from 3 to 4.

What surprised me that day was Mamoru’s sharpness. The next song, “All in your palms,” has a beat-like approach, and Watanabe plays Suzuki’s melodic solo and electric piano lively, followed by a unique snare 16th note rim shot. In “You don’t know what life is,” for which Shingo Suzuki was in charge of the poetry reading and singing, she performed a two-beat, five-way flow, and freely swam within the groove.

“I want to show the whole worldview through composition and arrangement, so I don’t need a heavy bass solo, and my playing style doesn’t feel like I play too much.I do when I want to go forward, but I like how the two of us can play together in harmony and rhythm. I tried to step into the gap as it unfolded and support the root and groove of the sound.” (Shingo Suzuki: Same hereafter) —The atmosphere of “Vanguard: Mamoru/Middle: Watanabe/Rearguard: Suzuki” was present throughout the stage. was under the leadership’s control.

From the fourth song, “Backwards,” Shinpei Ruike (Tr.), who can be called an ally, joins the band. After tracing the theme in a funky way using a harmonizer, he plays a solo with his characteristic freaky sound. I also fell in love with the harmonious ensemble at the moment when the bass and piano return from the trumpet and drums duo scene, and the classic wabi-sabi that turns from passionate content to a chic conclusion.

The ballad “Naima”, known for great performances by John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, has a mellow triple time beat. After a melody with deep reverb, it is followed by a similar song. The highlight of the cover of Herbie Hancock’s “Butterfly” was the rhythm section’s collective improvisational groove. ──“Playing jazz standards in four-time signature lacks interest, right? So I incorporated Arabic and oriental elements into the drums.”

Singer Nenashi, another guest, joined from the last song of the main event, “Be there.” Started chic with his English. When the soulful melody takes center stage, the band’s dynamics and atmosphere change, which is interesting.

The encore was “Love is word-less beat” with both guests. From the beginning, the other players gathered around Watanabe’s two chords on a synthesizer with an analog feel, and the relaxed vocals with the effects installed on hand were also impressive. A heavenly trumpet sound echoes through the delay, Nenashi whispers, and the ending ends with the gentle sound of the piano. It left a strong aftertaste, hard to believe it was their first live performance.

Anyway, why did SUZUKI launch LYPS? “I had been stocking up on songs for a while, but Ovall was so busy that I couldn’t put them into form.However, the world situation, big changes in society, the death of my father, the birth of a child, etc., prompted me to say, “This is the moment.” I started to think, “I want to cherish it.” The time I have left is limited, and I want to produce as much of my output as possible.”

Surprisingly, the upheaval in society that has occurred since the coronavirus pandemic has prompted him to undertake a solo project for the first time in 16 years. What’s more, he’s already working on his next project, which was a long hiatus. The next release shouldn’t be far away. As history has proven, artists may be the ones who create so much that the world becomes chaotic.

[Event information]

Shingo Suzuki LYPS 1st LIVE “Liquid Yellow Portraits”
Date: October 1, 2024 (Tuesday)
Venue: Marunouchi COTTON CLUB, Tokyo
Cast:
Shingo Suzuki (Ba.)
Masato Mori (Dr.)
Shota Watanabe (Pf.)

(GUEST)
Shinpei Ruike
Nenashi

[Release information]

Shingo Suzuki “Liquid Yellow Portraits”
Release Date：2024.10.29 (Wed.)
Label：origami PRODUCTIONS
Tracklist:
01.New morning
02. You don’t know (what life is)
03.Backwards
04.Flower dance
05. Daisy
06. All in your palms
07. Miss you already
08. The world is his world
09. HARIUSU I
10.HARIUSU II
11. Your journey goes on as my journey continues
12. Love is word-less beat

▼Participating artists
5lack (Rap),
FUYU (Drums)
Masato Mori (Drums)
Shota Watanabe (Piano)
Reiya Terakubo (Trumpet)
Nenashi (Vocal)
Ruri Matsumura (Vocal)
Kojoe (Rap)
Ol’K (Poetry Reading)

■Reservation link

■Shingo Suzuki official site