Hiro Ama - Everything Is Going To Make Sense In The End
Hiro Ama is perhaps best known for his work with indie-rock outfit Teleman. Yet, in addition to his output with the band, the multi-instrumentalist has also built up an eclectic portfolio of releases as a solo artist. In recent weeks, he caught our attention once again with ‘Music for Peace and Harmony’ and ‘Sunday’, two healing ambient tracks released via PRAH Recordings. The releases represent a dramatic departure from his previous EPs Uncertainty and more recently, Animal Emotions, highlighting an artist in the midst of evolution.
On his new recordings, Ama places the Waraku, a unique Japanese synthesizer front and center, to form the bedrock of these singles. This week, he shared ‘Everything Is Going To Make Sense In The End,’ another stripped-back track that leans on the enigmatic sounds of the instrument. This time, he pairs its distinctive tones with playful, melodic flute lines to create something that resonates with the listener on multiple frequencies. Discussing the track, Hiro explains, “I sometimes think after all the difficulties and challenges we face during our lifetime, it might not make sense at that time, but I hope that everything will fall into place, and somehow everything is going to make sense in the end. Playful melodies represent optimism, and the song is a reminder to myself to approach life with a sense of lightness and humour. Ultimately, in the grand scheme of things, nothing really matters. Having said that, I think it’s important to find peace and harmony in our lives. The moments we share, the experiences we cherish, and the journey to find one’s own inner peace and harmony do matter. It's in these moments of tranquility and connection that true fulfillment is found.”
Hiro Ama. Credit: Neil Thomson
Despite playing music since the age of eleven and constantly experimenting behind the scenes throughout his career, Hiro Ama never had any real intention of releasing records as a solo artist until relatively recently, he reflects, “I was always writing my solo material but never really intended to do a solo project until the pandemic. Everything was shut, and you couldn't do anything. You couldn't go out. So I thought I might as well just start releasing my solo stuff.” Encouraged by Steven Bass of PRAH Recordings, he released the first of these projects back in 2020.
Uncertainty, like much of Ama’s work, was underscored by its experimental nature and was a real melting pot of sounds that showed off his penchant for digital production. Now, following his experiences throughout lockdown, things have changed and have become much more introspective and analogue. This, paired with Ama’s evolving personal music tastes, has led to the more minimalist sound that we hear in his recent singles. “I was a big fan of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, all the basic stuff, and then kind of moved on to jazz, and now I listen to a lot of classical. I'm a big fan of Ravel and Debussy and Eric Satie and that kind of stuff.”
The sounds of Satie in particular bleed into Ama’s recent work, their echoes can be heard in “Music For Peace and Harmony”, one of the first songs that he recorded while experimenting with the Waraku. Outlining the process of getting to know the instrument, he said, “I've always liked it, the drum sounds particularly because it's got such a long decay and it doesn't sound like other drum machines. I wanted to write songs using the Waraku drum machines, so I was just playing around and then wrote a couple of tunes.” Buoyed by his initial success, he continued to write more, including the recent single “Everything Is Going To Make Sense In The End.”
Hiro Ama. Credit: Neil Thomson
Ama’s music, although instrumental in nature, seems to convey a vulnerability that feels both personal and universal in the context of modern times. This, in no small part, stems from the close personal relationship that he shares with writing and the creative process. “Writing music is almost like writing a diary. You want to remember stuff that has happened in the past, and you think about what the future brings, and this is what becomes music for me.” Continuing, he further elaborates, “for some songs, I just translate the things I want to say to music notes, and with others, I get inspiration from other musicians like Debussy and Ravel.”
Hiro Ama's journey from indie-rock musician to innovative solo artist showcases his relentless pursuit of sonic exploration and personal expression. Through his recent tracks, Ama demonstrates a profound shift towards a more introspection and a minimalist aesthetic, largely influenced by his experimentation with the Waraku but also by his ongoing unfolding as an individual. His evolving tastes, drawing from classical influences such as Debussy and Satie, have infused his music with a timeless quality that resonates deeply with its listeners. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Ama’s solo work has flourished, offering a glimpse into his creative process and personal reflections. As he continues to blend vulnerability with musical innovation, Hiro Ama's evolving artistry promises to captivate and inspire and suggests that his journey of musical discovery is only just getting started.
“Everything Is Going To Make Sense In The End” is out now via PRAH Recordings.
