Koto Rock
Greetings and salutations Hivers. Today let's go into another Three Tune Tuesday post.
As always, thanks to @ablaze for making this series. Lots of people participate in it! Follow the tags to find a ton of good music recommendation.
Today, something completely different.
I’ve featured posts on the koto before. It’s the harp-like instrument commonly heard in traditional Japanese music, laid flat in front of the player rather than propped up vertically like a Western harp. You might not immediately picture what it looks like, but you’d almost certainly recognize its sound. It’s a distinctively beautiful tone—one that most people instantly associate with Japan, or at least with East Asia more broadly.
Some Western rock bands have experimented with the instrument, but it’s still primarily used in classical Japanese music. That said, its use has been on the rise among young Japanese musicians who are finding new ways to incorporate it outside traditional forms.
TRiECHOES is one of those groups. They feature the koto in some wonderfully modern songs, blending old and new in a way that feels fresh and exciting. I want to feature three of their tracks today. And three is the lucky number, because they have only uploaded three of them to their youtube channel
Wake Me Up (箏/Koto cover) - Avicii - TRiECHOES
This video will tell you what to expect from these guys. Amazing covers using three kotos, and in addition some really fantastic camera work.
Rather Be (箏/Koto cover) - Clean Bandit - TRiECHOES Collaborated with Ceramic Artist Takahiro Koga
Almost as good as the previous. Not quite, but still right up there!
Shape of You (箏/Koto cover) - Ed Sheeran - TRiECHOES feat. DJ SHOTA
Let's end with the Ed Sheeran cover. I'd guess this might be the most popular with most people.
If you liked any of those, be sure to search up more songs using the koto. So what's your favorite?
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David is an American teacher and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku. He blogs here and at laspina.org. Write him on Mastodon. |
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The last song though, really hits the nail, never knew this sort of instrument can be combined into something more explosive, new things are being created everyday
yes, it does have a very distinct sound. These are all pretty cool. I think I like the "Shape of you" cover the best. It kind of reminds me of the slide guitar that you hear in country music. It just has that really traditional sound and the way they bend the strings gives it that same feel.