Product Description
The duo, Suzumeno Tears, are comprised of Miyuki Sato, a vocalist and kaval player specializing in Bulgarian folk and Agatha, a singer-songwriter / guitarist who grew up listening to the Beatles but has become entranced with Japanese folk traditions including Goshu Ondo, and other folk and minyo tunes. An album that brilliantly combines Japanese and Balkan folk songs, elements of in a charming and unique way.
1. Kawaigaranse (Japanese trad. Goze-Uta)
2. Zaraita Bushi (Japanese trad from Kanagawa pref. & Bulgarian trad.)
3. Hietsuki Bushi (Japanese trad from Miyazaki pref.)
4. Toichinsa (Japanese trad from Toyama pref.)
5. Shiiba Dachintsuke Bushi (Japanese trad from Miyazaki pref.)
6. Itokuri Bushi (Japanese trad from Amami Island)
7. Dimka Beli Na Rekata (Bulgarian trad.)
8. Akita Daikokumai (Japanese trad from Akita pref.)
9. Polyphony Goshu Ondo (Japanese trad with excerpts of Tuvan song and Bulgarian trad.)
10. Mandra Mea (Aromanian-Serbian trad.)
Miyuki Sato:vocal & kaval (8,10)
Agatha:vocal, guitars & reed organ (10)
from Suzumeno Tears
Yoshio Kuge:drums (1,5,8,9)
Masatsugu Hattori:drums & percussions (2,4,6,10), chorus (4)
Masanori Hattori:contrabass (1-6,8,10), chorus (4)
Tomoko Kageyama:vibraphone (2,6)
Asaka Igarashi:violoncello (3)
Yoko Tada:clarinet (10)
Remon Nakanishi:chorus (5,8,9), shakujo (9)
arranged, additionally recorded & produced by Agatha
recorded, mixed & mastered by Kohsuke Nakamura (a.k.a. Kangaroo Paw)
A Beatle-mania and brilliant gut-guitar player, Agatha and Miyuki Sato who engages in Bulgarian music and dance. The two sing traditional folk songs from Japan, Balkan and Siberia with acoustic emsemble with a twist, which features Balkan-ish harmony and the guitar chord-works which have lots of influences from Brazillian music. This is the sound that encounter by coincidence when they dig deeper from the ground of each places like Japan and Bulgaria.
(Yusuke Wajima / musicologist)
credit:
Miyuki Sato:vocal & kaval (8,10)
Agatha:vocal, guitars & reed organ (10)
from Suzumeno Tears
Yoshio Kuge:drums (1,5,8,9)
Masatsugu Hattori:drums & percussions (2,4,6,10), chorus (4)
Masanori Hattori:contrabass (1-6,8,10), chorus (4)
Tomoko Kageyama:vibraphone (2,6)
Asaka Igarashi:violoncello (3)
Yoko Tada:clarinet (10)
Remon Nakanishi:chorus (5,8,9), shakujo (9)
arranged, additionally recorded & produced by Agatha
recorded, mixed & mastered by Kohsuke Nakamura (a.k.a. Kangaroo Paw)
artwork:Remon Nakanishi
design:Ai Kato (MaiMunka Graphiti)
linernotes:Yusuke Wajima (musicologist/modern music history)
teaser movie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmZEtuTXqYU
lyric videos of the leading singles:
Zaraita Bushi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijeDpjOGW34
Kawaigaranse
https://youtu.be/w03mIVAhPk8?si=-u-vmihSXFWlEWVq
Akita Daikokumai
https://youtu.be/p54dxURZdbk?si=dKulnI0mSBbp3Ajf
Itokuri Bushi
https://youtu.be/_XL2H2IgrX0?si=F_By3qbp3lnDNyLX
Artist Profile:
Suzumeno Tears a dream duo based in Tokyo, draws inspiration from the delicate world of folk music. Comprising Miyuki Sato, a talented vocalist and kaval player specializing in the enchanting melodies of Bulgarian folk songs, and Agatha, a singer-songwriter with a deep-rooted passion for music since her teenage years when she was captivated by the Beatles. Agatha, also the proud owner of DOYASA! Records, showcased her production skills on Remon Nakanishi's album "Hinano Iezuto (???????)" (2022), skillfully reharmonizing selected north-eastern Japanese folk songs (minyo). Miyuki Sato's journey into folk culture began with her love for folk dancing, a passion that still resonates in her artistry today. On the other hand, Agatha's musical journey started with her early fascination with the Beatles, shaping her into a singer-songwriter with a unique and diverse musical palette. The duo immersed themselves in the Goshu Ondo tradition through Tadamaru Sakuragawa I's Goshu Ondo Correspondence Course, where they explored the traditional ballad singing style of the Kansai area, often performed during Bon Odori and summer festivals to console the spirits of the departed. Their collaboration took an unexpected turn during a Goshu Ondo class, as Agatha spontaneously joined Miyuki in song but in a different key, leading to the birth of Suzumeno Tears. Since that serendipitous moment, their collaboration has flourished, expanding beyond Goshu Ondo to include a diverse range of Japanese and Balkan folk songs. Their upcoming debut album, scheduled for an early 2024 release, promises to be a harmonious fusion of their unique musical backgrounds and shared passion for folk traditions. Stay tuned as Suzumeno Tears continues to enchant audiences with their rich polyphony and soulful renditions of folk classics.
