Setting the tone with textures akin to cosmic serpents, and astral vocal add libs, Kamī opens Kagi with intrigue and celestial dimensionality. Needless to say, we are in awe. The opus expands into an evocative and cerebral tapestry of sound, which features a subversive droned guitar with immersing, chant-like vocals from the rising artist, as well as taiko drums. We appreciate the uniqueness and experimental nature of the composition, as well as the philosophical depth of the creator’s prose and wider concept.
Kamī shares some insights into her artistry by informing us that the name of the composition, Kagi means ‘key’, a metaphor for “unlock[ing] the matriarchal energy of Shinto (ancient Japanese folk mythology and cultural traditions) where priestesses communicate to the gods of the natural world – the trees, rivers, rocks and the sky.”
She confesses that her message is to inspire us to “return to the wisdom of the ancient world in order to recover our environment from the damage done by our weapons and poisonous waste”, as she repeats “愛” (ai), the Japanese word for “love”.
We learn that Kamī is a Japanese-British producer, singer and songwriter based in south London, and her music is designed to capture “the sublime and psychedelic elements of the floating world”. The artist creates directly from source, or her subconscious, thereby reflecting the “transcendental state between opposing realities”.
Kamī cites influences of Cocteau Twins, Bat for Lashes, early Fever Ray, and Bjork, as well as genres of psych-rock, shoegaze, ambient and experimental electronic music whilst also incorporating traditional Japanese instrumentation, which we can feel come through in her sound as she creates a universe of her own.
We appreciate the artist’s conscious output, and have added Kagi to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we continue to stream Kamī‘s wider discography including Psique, and `Renascimiento.