https://soundsright.lnk.to/air

Ichiko Aoba feat. NATURE : “air”
Composed by Ichiko Aoba & Taro Umebayashi
Lyrics : Ichiko Aoba 
Field & Studio Recording, Mixing & Mastering : Toshihiko Kasai 
Recorded at StudioRicherMahr, April 2026

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ichiko’s comment

I wanted to portray both its sound and spirit floating softly through the air, never settling in one place. Birds sing, and white light scatters like steam.
In a soft, dreamlike moment, like a cloud of cotton candy, I asked Taro Umebayashi, with whom I was creating the piece, “What are you thinking about right now?” The thoughts he shared, little by little, shaped the lyrics and the tone of the song.
Whereas our previous work together has often explored profound themes, this time we approached the recording in a more relaxed and natural way than ever before. We had just finished our performance at the Royal Albert Hall and were feeling relieved and somewhat spent. The spirit of the music flowed through us like a stream, and engineer Toshihiko Kasai captured it beautifully. It is an unguarded and tender work.