Lyric

"Chuya's Winter" is my concept album featuring eight carefully selected winter-themed poems by the Japanese poet Chuya Nakahara, which I have reinterpreted as contemporary music. As producer ARTCHIC, I aimed to transform Chuya's poetry into music that resonates naturally today, employing five distinct AI singers across diverse musical genres to realize this vision.

The poet Chuya Nakahara (1907-1937) left an indelible mark on Japanese literature despite his brief 30-year life. Born in Yamaguchi, his defining quality was his pure heart that made him deeply vulnerable to life's wounds yet enabled him to transform these experiences into timeless poetry. He loved with his whole being and grieved to the depths of his soul through personal tragedies including his brother's early death, failed romance, and the loss of his beloved son Fumiya. This emotional intensity created poems that continue to move readers across generations.

"My Profaned Sorrow" is one of Chuya's most representative works, expressing guilt over having "profaned" a sacred sorrow. The modern hip-hop arrangement features dark, atmospheric beats with melancholic intensity. Ohga's voice innocently expresses the poet's despondency.

"A Reckless Song" begins with "I've come so far," reflecting on life from a ship's whistle heard at age twelve--unusually forward-looking for Chuya with boldness and determination. The modern alternative rock arrangement fused with cinematic electronica creates driving energy. Masato Doyu's bright, husky vocals express the innocent, reckless spirit.

"Life in Snow" uses the refrain "The snow that falls on me" to reflect on life's phases--eventually expressing gratitude with "pure and chaste" snowfall. This ambient indie folk track creates a dreamy soundscape with gentle piano reverb. Karin Oborozuki's serene vocals express quietly accumulating snow.

"Snow, Still Falling" depicts snow falling endlessly on temples, forests, and roads with unusual realism--revealing nature's timeless continuity against human activity. The ambient electronica arrangement recreates the eternity of falling snow. Karin Oborozuki's ethereal vocals quietly accumulate in the heart.

"A Winter Night's Fantasy" depicts a lonely man imagining a woman on a quiet winter night, finding "nothing better than air" as his canvas. This atmospheric jazz track fused with dark ambient portrays winter solitude. Matsudo Mode's deep vocals express a solitary night's self-consolation with composure.

"A Snowy Evening" expresses regret after lost love--a man drinking alone, savoring bittersweet emotions. The neo-soul arrangement with lo-fi jazz elegantly depicts snowy-night reminiscence. Matsudo Mode's tenor exquisitely renders lost love as sweet memory.

"Memory of a Winter Day" depicts the death of Chuya's younger brother Aro when he was eight--told from a child's perspective, the understated prose holds deep sorrow. The melancholic ballad's minimal arrangement quietly brings forth hidden loss. Karin Oborozuki's beautiful vocals gently express this childhood memory.

"Cold!" expresses complaints about unbearable winter--Chuya doesn't care about appearances, he just wants to shout for spring. This upbeat indie rock track with stadium-rock dynamics joyfully sings out frustrations. Ryuki Sora's bright vocals transform complaints into positive energy.

Through this album "Chuya's Winter," I hope that the heart of Chuya's poetry will firmly reach the hearts of all who listen.