KWARP, the latest musical persona of Kyoto’s groundbreaking Katsunori Sawa, is set to infuse our mixtape series with his signature experimental tones. First emerging on the scene in 2008 as EOC with his debut on the UK-based Ai Records, Sawa has steadily built a reputation for innovation and collaboration within the underground music community. He co-founded the influential 10 Label and has paired his talents with an array of respected artists, including Yuji Kondo (as Steven Porter), Martsman (under the moniker Bokeh), and DJ Nobu (Nobusawa). These alliances have birthed releases on prestigious labels like Kynant Records, SNTS, and Token.
Creating his sound in a hidden studio set within a striking Tadao Ando-designed building, Sawa crafts a sonic landscape that fuses rhythmic noise with pulsating bottom-end rave abstractions. His work reached new heights with an album on Opal Tapes, making him the label’s first Japanese artist and firmly establishing his place in the global music conversation. His tracks have even been woven into the sets of electronic stalwarts such as Aphex Twin.
As KWARP, Sawa embraces a vibrant and playful approach to music-making. His latest album, “The Way I Am and The Way You Yawn,” serves as a poignant meditation on the transient nature of youth, reflecting a desire to hold on to childlike curiosity while grappling with the wearying aspects of growing older. This release is a rich tapestry of sound and emotion, a testament to Sawa’s artistic evolution and his profound connection to the intricacies of life and time.
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The Way I Am and The Way You Yawn is out now on Bandcamp
