Sakura from Hazama by Mitsune

This is arguably Japan’s most popular folk song, which celebrates the stunning cherry blossom season in Japan. We wanted to imagine the song in a totally different way – to start traditional, and then take you on a journey far away from where the cherry blossoms grow. The percussion breakdown in the middle of the song features our incredible percussionist, Petros Tzekos, who multi-tracked the entire section using his array of beautiful instruments. Petros has spent years travelling the world and collecting drums, gongs, and all kinds of objects that sound – metal toppers from an old stove, random pieces of pipe, children’s toys, cymbals of all sizes, literal bells and whistles. Petros takes us to another realm, and then we bring it back in the end for a rousing final chorus.

Mitsune blends traditional Japanese folk with the wild and innovative sounds of psychedelic, cinematic and ritual music, crafting original compositions that breathe new life into ancient narratives. Led by a duo of female shamisen players, accompanied with percussion and bass, the Berlin-based 4-piece serves modern folklore with driving beats, raw emotion, and decadent visuals.

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