WITH BIRD IN NORTH RIVER

London, 2026​

During this interview, I change seats, place myself in front of another artist and ask him the questions I wish people asked me. Today, I meet with Japanese musician bird in north river, who has just released his latest album, beauty of falling flower.  

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a Japanese musician. I enjoy composing music as well as writing and reading, and of course listening to music. I read many books from different genres: philosophy, literature, poetry, theology, religion, spirituality, fantasy, science fiction and music. I am both a night owl and an early riser. I like walks in the early morning and winter days.

Tell us about beauty of falling flower, your latest release.

The pieces on beauty of falling flower are all new works I composed after the release of moon sea. I wanted to turn images into music, one after another.

Is it a continuation of moon sea — how did you envision both releases working together?

I did not envision these two releases working together. I see beauty of falling flower as a different work from moon sea.

How is beauty of falling flower unique to its predecessor?

I think moon sea was a silent album. I think beauty of falling flower is a more artistic and expressive work.

What are some of the themes that you approach in this project?

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Each song on beauty of falling flower has its own unique theme. For example, “a boy under the sky” was composed while thinking about a young boy in Gaza. “white ashes into sea” is an image of souls returning to the sea.

You have a very unique musical language, both in the composing and the producing sides of your works — tell us about how you shape your works?

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At a certain moment, the title of the piece, the image of the piece, and the structure of the piece come to me. I take notes in my notebook and later compose the pieces based on these ideas.

So after beauty of falling flower what’s next?

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I composed thirteen new works after beauty of falling flower. I am thinking of composing some new pieces for my next album. Some of these works are personal letters of mine. I think the theme of my next album will be prayer.

Thanks very much. A last one for the road — one book, one album, one film —, tell us about your latest cultural findings?

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A novel: A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean. I like the beautiful descriptions of the river and nature, as well as the sad and beautiful story of the book.

Bouncing on bird in north river’s words, beauty of falling flower emerges not simply as a collection of ambient piano works, but as a deeply personal attempt to transform memory, literature and fleeting images into sound. Read my review of beauty of falling flower.