Kaigo Kioku Kyoku (which translates into “Caregiving Memory Songs” in Japanese) was built from his experience as a caregiver for two family members at the end of their lives - his grandmother with Alzheimer’s, and uncle with terminal cancer. Throughout the experience, the circular nature of life became an undeniable theme: The house that Tanaka cared for his relatives in was also the house he was born in.
The new album serves as a “sonic archive” to preserve his unique family history and document the stark reality of being a caregiver, combining the sounds of objects collected from the house, voice recordings of his relatives, and songs structured around hymns and Japanese folk songs.
Recorded first in the house, then finished at The Immergluck Studio, with the assistance of producer Matthew Bailey (Sameer Cash, Ivy Mairi), the album features a cast of notable guest musicians, including Tara Kannangara on french horn, Brendan Swanson (Yamantaka // Sonic Titan) on piano, Zaynab Wilson on drums/percussion and Michael Eckert (The Double Cuts) on pedal steel. Jacqueline Goring, a classical trained harpist and also Hiroki’s aunt, performs a solo harp arrangement of the hymn “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” and contributes to the album’s last track, “Utopia”.
“I wanted to create a sonic archive of the space that had provided me life, and served as space for transformation and shedding. I wanted to provide a voice that I hadn’t heard before, one that illustrated the experience of being a caregiver in stark detail. One that celebrated my family's multicultural heritage and created a snapshot of a family's history.”
The first single, “Blue Eyed Doll” , begins with a recording of a Japanese choir from the eldercare facility Hiroki’s grandmother was staying in. They are singing the Japanese folk songs “Aoi Me No Ningyo” (trans. “Blue Eyed Doll”). Each percussive sound in Tanaka’s “Blue Eyed Doll” was collected from the house, including the sound of a cupboard closing and the clinking of two glasses together. This “found-sound” approach to percussion is what lends significance to every sound and melody in Kaigo Kioku Kyoku.
Hiroki Tanaka has been playing in bands since his teenage years, and spent the last half-decade as the lead guitarist of YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN. Compelled to create Kaigo Kioku Kyoku after this emotional challenging period, he struck out on his own for the first time and focused all of his energy, experience and emotion to his solo work. The result is a cathartic album that is as lush and virtuosic, as it is raw and intimate.
credits
released October 16, 2020
Hiroki Tanaka - Songwriting, Vocals, Guitar, saxophone, Tenor Recorder, piano, gong, field recording
Matthew Bailey - Producer, Bass, guitar, electric percussion, synths, glass, recording engineer, omnichord
Michael Eckert - Pedal Steel
Brendan Swanson - Piano (Blue Eyed Doll, Snowdrops)
Jacqueline Goring - Concert Harp
Zaynab Wilson - Drums, Percussion
Tara Kannangara - Flugel Horn
Amy Kathryn Fort - Mixing Engineer
Reuben Ghose - Mastering Engineer
Acknowledgements:
This album was born from loss and mourning, and was built to heal. Too many people aided me in this journey, to whom I am deeply indebted:
My dear sister Sonomi who cared for Gran before me and provided such earnest recordings of Gran.
My aunt Jacqueline who supported my caregiving journey every step of the way, this album would not be what it is without you.
Matthew, who took the seeds of my songs and made them bloom
To Tony Hoagland and his estate, for creating such a beautiful poem, and giving me the permission to use it in my art.
To Kai for giving me that initial push to believe that I should keep doing what I was doing
To Maya, for whom I wake up each morning
To Jaz who is my brilliant sun
To Mom, I would not be what I am without you
To Dad, who brought me up with a song in my throat
To all the amazing musicians; Brendan, Michael, Zaynab, Tara - your voices are weaved into the fabric of this album
To Alaska and YT//ST for making me a better musician
And to Bryan and Gran, your hearts are at the heart of this album, and your memory lives on and guides me through life every day.
Hiroki Tanaka is releasing his debut solo album, Kaigo Kioku Kyoku (which translates into “Caregiving Memory
Songs”).
Built from his experience as a caregiver for his grandmother with Alzheimer’s, and uncle with terminal cancer, Kaigo Kioku Kyoku makes music out of meaningful objects, voice recordings of his relatives, and are structured off of hymns and Japanese folk songs....more
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