I listened to Shirosky over the years, but have always enjoyed the jazz and hip-hop music she created. With this new EP, Harvest, I’m coming back after last listening to The Seed and La lecture. According to the album description, Harvest highlights changing seasons over the six songs.
Starting with “Night Bloom,” Shirosky immediately sets up a deep bass rhythm that’s supported by multiple melodic layers. There’s a tension between the instrumentals as the music pulls you in with offbeat breaks and constantly changing melodies. It feels and sounds heavy like a rainstorm.
Then on “Flower For Me,” the song is a brighter and slightly sparser presentation. The flute comes across like sunshine as the ground soaks up warmth and energy. And the short length makes you feel like this season is quick and that you might miss it.
“Blue (Feat. SEN)” is the transition between spring and summer as cooler temperatures warm up. It’s peaceful and sounds like a growing breeze is changing the landscape. Even though this isn’t the main single, this might be the song that grabs a lot of attention.
In terms of seasons, I’m not sure where “The Space” fits in. It has a nice funk and jazz foundation with the different rhythms playing off each other, along with the piano and guitar having a conversation. “The Space” has an impressive composition. If you listen to the song on repeat, there are so many different layers working together while sounding cohesive.
“I Still Remember April (Feat. JEMMA)” is the EP’s single. It does sound like an outlier, like a song that follows the general narrative but sticks out as a single. In this case, I prefer the instrumental or including a minimal amount of vocals, like on “Blue.” It’s a good song, but it feels like a solo single.
To close Harvest, “One Circle” is a counterpoint to “Night Bloom.” The simpler composition is circular because of the specifically chosen elements like piano, lighter percussion, and the synth tones. It sounds like weighted air that’s lifting you above the world in Harvest and allowing you to see a full cycle.
Harvest is designed for a specific listener experience. Shirosky wants the listener to move from “Night Bloom” to “One Circle.” And I agree, this isn’t an EP that you should skip around. The 14-minute and 15-second playtime is worth your full attention the first time around.
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Written by Chris P for Korean Indie.