Ahri's unqualified thoughts #44
Ahri's unqualified thoughts #44
Random articles, quotes, videos, musings. Easy to consume content: 1 quote, 1 tweet/storm and 1 article/video.
In today's edition, we're highlighting a tweet about Miyazaki’s new movie and an incredible video about my favorite artist ever: Nujabes..
1 quotable thingy to look brilliant in your next young socialites’ meet-up
"Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get–only with what you are expecting to give–which is everything." – Katherine Hepburn
1 tweet/storm to keep you up to date
Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's releases are invariably monumental events. As anticipation builds for their next masterpiece, Ghibli has released the latest trailer for "The Boy and the Heron." Personally, I'm eagerly awaiting its debut in France this coming November. Here are the release dates:
Last but certainly not least, I strongly recommend following Catsuka on Twitter for outstanding animation content.
1 article/video to discover something new, maybe
Nujabes is, without a doubt, my all-time favorite artist. Like many others, my introduction to his work came through Samurai Champloo, and I was instantly captivated by his unique melodies.
While many people enjoy Lofi music, not everyone knows that Nujabes is essentially the godfather of the genre. Just a while back, I was discussing Nujabes—his life, legacy, and influence—with a friend... and coincidentally, I came across a documentary on YouTube (English auto-subtitles are pretty good!) that encapsulates not only my sentiments but delves into what his music symbolizes and his monumental contribution to the genre. His life may have been brief, but his influence will last an eternity.
On a deeply personal note, like many others, his music has been a comforting presence in my life. It's been there during the tough times and has been a constant companion, either directly through his tracks or through the Lofi artists that he created involuntarily.
I really invite you to watch the documentary to fully grasp the extent of his impact, how far he went in his musical process, but here is a TLDR:
Nujabes, born Jun Seba, was a Japanese producer and hip-hop icon. His tracks laid the groundwork for instrumental hip-hop, abstract hip-hop, and jazz hop. He masterfully integrated samples from genres like jazz, soul, funk, and Brazilian music, and from all eras.
His music, with its unique and ethereal quality, connects with listeners on a profound level, even in the absence of words.
His most iconic piece is "Feather", and in collaboration with Fat Jon, with whom he crafted the incredible Samurai Champloo OST.
He founded the record label Hydeout Productions and worked with a plethora of artists. Uyama Hiroto now leads the label, he is also his spiritual successor.
Albums like Metaphorical Music, Modal Soul, and Spiritual State stand as testaments to his soul-stirring, sometimes gut-wrenching (in a good way) sound.
On a personal note, my top picks from his discography include:
Luv sic Part 5 (Ft. Shing 02) - The lyrics hit pretty hard when you know the story.
Honestly, his entire discography.
I invite you to listen to my 2 favorite albums from him, outside of the Luc Sic Hexalogy:
The documentary highlights the striking contrast between his unassuming personality and the colossal legacy he forged.
In the words of many: "Rest in Beats, Nujabes".