By Luna Dong
She’s done it again.
The newest track released by Japanese singer-songwriter, Ichiko Aoba, is quite possibly the most ethereal song you will hear this week. Titled “Lucifèrine”, it teases the concept of her next musical chapter with a beautiful weaving of her voice, soft piano arpeggios, delicate guitar strums, and a gentle string arrangement.
About the single
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, Lucifèrine is a small, organic compound, found in living organisms, that emits light when in contact with oxygen. It also comes from the Latin word “lucifer” which means “light-bearing”. Considering Ichiko’s next album is titled Luminescent Creatures, bioluminescence is the main theme of her new concept. This idea was generated when Ichiko visited Japan’s Ryukyu Archipelago and started to closely observe the marine landscape around her. She soon took on the habit of going on dives. “I feel unable to resist the pull of the ocean,” she says, “and know how easy it would be for my small body to be swallowed by the sea.” That contrast of gentleness and power instilled a sense of awe that is expressed in the soundscapes of “Lucifèrine”.
“Lucifèrine”still retains the signature Ichiko Aoba sound in its flowy organicity, but it is distinctly more playful and adventurous. Ichiko’s diving experience has a clear impact on the sound of this song. The repetition of the piano arpeggio throughout the song imitates the slow blinking of bioluminescent light; think fireflies, think glowing marine animals, think tiny Ichiko in the big deep sea. The strings then come in to add a little bit of mystique to the image, effectively characterizing the feeling of wonder as one explores uncharted parts of the ocean. The bassline, subtle but present, blankets the sound by adding a touch of excitement and awe as it mirrors the realization of our insignificance in the vast universe. Finally, small twinkling triangle sounds highlight the accents and sprinkle a little playfulness that finalizes the whole piece in a glittery glaze. As someone who has synesthesia, for me this song paints sparkling stripes of gold onto the deep blue canvas that forms the general soundscape of the song. This is a song that represents the feeling of awe so immense that it transfixes one in place; this is a song for childlike wonder, for wanderlust, for enlightenment.
“Lucifèrine”was supposed to be part of her previous album Windswept Adan, which narrates the story of a young girl who gets swept by the sea onto a mysterious island. However, Ichiko did us one better and changed it into a transition song between that album and her upcoming album, Luminescent Creatures. She describes her newest work as being “born from Windswept Adan,” saying, “It began when I started wondering what happened after the protagonist [of Windswept Adan] disappeared along with the music of the island’s inhabitants. What would be left?” Luminescent Creatures comes out on February 28, 2025; until then, let us shuffle impatiently in our seats.
About what I think
If you like to stream Ichiko Aoba’s music, you would be delighted to know that she is even better live. My favorite song of hers is “A Hill of the Moon”, specifically the “gift” live version. I attended her concert in Montreal this past summer and it was phenomenal. The lighting and acoustics, paired with her strong musical presence, created an environment that amplified the emotional intensity of her music. Her songs come from such a soft part of her soul that they create a pure and vulnerable soundscape that instantly brings you to her part of the universe. In a world overwhelmed by harsh realities—war, climate change, and the looming threat of recession—her gentle music stands in striking contrast. It invites deep reflection on what it truly means to be human. What are we fighting for? What is our purpose in this world? Anyway, I cried at her concert.
Ichiko marks herself as one of my most respected artists because of her complete dedication to music craftsmanship. She always offers new things, new concepts, and everything from her unique merch items to her concepts shows that she puts music, not money, at the center of her priorities. Her legendary collaborations are also noteworthy: she’s worked with mostly Japanese artists like Haruomi Hosono, Cornelius, and the late Ryuichi Sakamoto, but also with some of my favorite bands like Slowdive and Black Country, New Road. While her music has a very distinct signature, she does not clash with bands who have a harsher sound; instead, she enhances the emotional impact of the music by adding her own touch of fragility and softness.
Ichiko loves to experiment with her music, and she does it in such unique and refreshing ways. Back in 2018, she gave an impromptu performance on a rock out in nature, and her otherworldly vibe drew a whole crowd. Was it an actual concert, or was she just practicing on a rock? Honestly, with Ichiko, it could’ve been either—or both. She’s also composed scores for films, where she pushes herself to try instruments she doesn’t usually play, perfectly capturing the mood of each project. And then there are her simpler pieces, like the one she dropped last Friday, “2024-06-13 03.33”—just a beautiful, minimal piano track that feels like a quiet little moment in time.
About what’s coming
Ichiko Aoba is going on a world tour in 2025, where she will play in legendary venues like the Barbican Center, in London (as an eco-brutalist fan and architecture student, I am personally trembling with jealousy over anyone who gets to go there). Unfortunately, she is not coming to Montreal, but her website is currently open to any pre-orders of her album.
Stream Ichiko Aoba here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6ignRjbPmLvKdtMLj9a5Xs?si=VIZSew5SQj6RtNNUU62t-A
Pre-order Luminescent Creatures here: https://ichikoaoba.com/en/