Even when we get a peek behind the veil of Chuck Soo-Hoo’s process as Ki Oni, like with this performance of “A Leisurely Swim to Everlasting Life,” the intangible, alluring quality of his sound world still takes over. Sharing details about his thought process and inspiration in creating this work adds to its expansiveness, bringing new meaning to each expressive progression and shading textures in the arrangements.
Even watching Soo-Hoo perform the music live, hearing these lithe sonic movements filled with such emotional depth come from minimalistic sources adds another layer of mystery to this work. “My family would say, when someone passes away, their spirit would float all over the world to say their last goodbyes before they move onto the afterlife,” Soo-Hoo shares. “So the theme of this record is, ‘What if Ki Oni wrote a ghost story? What would that sound like?”
Synths bubble away in all directions, floating through the ephemera, punctuated by lucid flute drones. “A Leisurely Swim to Everlasting Life” is beautiful, sure, but it takes listeners into immersive spaces where our own memories melt into the aural cosmos. It’s utterly captivating, and beautifully directed, shot, and edited by Christian Kim.
A Leisurely Swim To Everlasting Life is available now via AKP Recordings.
Foxy Digitalis depends on our awesome readers to keep things rolling. Pledge your support today via our Patreon or subscribe to The Jewel Garden.
