Ikegai Shun released his first album, “Black River, Far East,” today, Wednesday, February 26th.
The title of this work depicts the black surface of the Arakawa River on the east side of Tokyo, where he was born and raised, and focuses on Tokyo as a birthplace that has not been talked about in the band Yahyel, whom he leads. The smell of rotten iron, the echoes of concrete under the elevated tracks, red aviation lights. Although it is a personal emotional landscape, it realistically captures the way loneliness occurs in urban life in Tokyo.
Musicians based in Tokyo, including Kamoto Kohei of DYGL, who co-written all the songs, as well as Yamaguchi Miyoko, hina, and Kada Yuma, who are independent movements, participated. Ryu Kurosawa, a geometric pattern, is also participating as the producer.
It has also been announced that the first release party with a band set will be held at WALL & WALL in Omotesando, Tokyo on Sunday, March 30th.
The already released music video for “Feel It” was directed and filmed by Morimoto Katsuhide, a photographer who is active in magazines and catalog ads, mainly fashion. The video attempts to reconstruct the location around Kasai, which shaped Ikegai’s childhood, from the eyes of a “other” named Morimoto and the conversation between the two.
[Ikegai Shun Comment]
This album was created around the beginning of 2020. The pandemic began, and the system reached its limits, and at the mercy of the big subjects, it was unable to separate others as others. I feel like the world and the city of Tokyo have changed a lot before and since then. The words sounded strange, but I felt like they never met their eyes.
At least, looking back at my own past and hometown, which was touching, and turning it into music, was the time that made me feel more sane than anything else. And I remembered that’s how I came across music in the first place.
It was an opportunity to regain the loneliness I needed, and it was a time that gave me some space to spend with someone, and a path to watching and forgiveness as I was in a rush.
In the margins of thinking about our personal landscapes, the fact that we are each equally individuals and others, and the feeling that each is an ego that should be respected, there is no hint that we can regain lost senses. I think so.
I look forward to sharing my time in a room that only I knew about with the world. And once again, I would like to express my gratitude to all of my friends who have lived and been involved in each of my time as others. Without their help in the process of making this album, I feel like I would not have been able to get this far, not just as a person.
It took me a long time, but thank you for the fruitful days!
[Release Information]
Ikegai Shun “Black River, Far East”
Release Date: 2025.02.26 (Wed.)
Label: Andless
Tracklist:
1. Route 246
2. 27 o’clock
3. Crisis City
4. Heist in Black Suits
5. Blue/Black
6. Run
7. M
8. Feel It
9. A Walk in Nishikasai
10. Arakawa
11. 505
12. Open Ending
Written & Produced by Shun Ikegai, Kohei Kamoto
Produced by Ryu Kurosawa (Track 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12)
Gt.: Kohei Kamoto
Sitar, Gt.: Ryu Kuroawa (Track 3, 10)
Pf, Syn.:Yuma Koda
Dr.: Miyoko Yamaguchi (Track 1, 2, 8, 11), hina (Track 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12)
Recorded at hmc studio, Tsubame Studio
Mixed at hmc studio (Track 1, 2, 8, 11), Tsubame Studio (Track 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12)
Mastered at Wax Alchemy
[Event Information]
“Black River, Far East” Shun Ikegai Album Release Party”
Date and Time: Sunday, March 30th, 2025 OPEN 17:15 / START 18:00
Venue: Tokyo, WALL&WALL
Price: ADV. ¥4,500 (1D fee extra)
·ticket
First come first come first come (e+): From 6pm on Wednesday, February 5th.
*Tickets required for elementary school students and above / Preschool children free admission (only for parents and parents)
