Kalaido releases his most immersive album yet: In Praise of Shadows
Kalaido
Bathed in delicate Asian influence, musician Kalaido returns to the scene with his mesmerizing new album, In Praise of Shadows. Drawing inspiration from Jun’ichir? Tanizaki’s 1933 essay of the same name, the album unmistakably evokes Japan, with subtly woven Western threads that reveal the touch of a composer who turns music into an immersive, interpretive journey.
Entirely instrumental, the record features ethereal vocal textures, whispers, murmurs, and organic onomatopoeias that blend seamlessly into a soundscape that feels handcrafted. It’s a hallmark of Kalaido, who’s known for masterfully merging organic field recordings with acoustic and traditional instrumentation.
In this release, Kalaido constructs an emotional palette from quiet, everyday moments, such as rainfall, footsteps, and soft voices, and pairs them with the gentle tone of the saxophone or the warmth of the acoustic guitar. The result is a 15-track experience that soothes, surprises, and stirs, all with the intentionality of a storyteller.
“During its creation, I stopped looking to the future for inspiration and instead turned to the past. I began digging for records obsessively – jazz harp from Dorothy Ashby, soaring Italian film scores from Piero Piccioni, the rich textures of 1970s Japanese jazz from artists like Hiroshi Suzuki and Jiro Inagaki. Rather than sampling them, I wanted to create something from scratch that honored those sounds. I hope I’ve made something distinctly human, full of personal touches, mistakes, and flaws. My dream is that one day this album will be played in a dimly lit listening bar, skips and all.”
Kalaido
The album opens with ‘Offering’, followed by ‘Water Candles’, a warm, tranquil piece led by metallic percussion; ‘Blessings’ lifts the mood with bright, summery notes; and ‘Swaying Bamboo’, a sensual, immersive track that showcases Kalaido’s stylistic range.
‘Shapeshifter’ slows time with its lush instrumental layering, and ‘Elegy’ builds tension through what feels like structured chaos, resolving beautifully into stillness, a push and pull that reveals Kalaido’s emotional depth as a composer.
One of the album’s highlights is ‘Midnight Diner Curry’, featuring saxophonist Sam Miles and heavily inspired by Tokyo’s jazz bar culture. This track pays homage to Shibuya’s listening cafes, where patrons sit in hushed reverence, simply absorbing the music. It’s a scene still rare in the West, yet perfectly embodied here.
‘Persimmons’ also deserves special mention. Its joyful rhythm and subtle bossa nova twist add a refreshing touch to an already luminous and deeply textured album. It’s music that temporarily erases stress, inviting listeners on a soft, introspective journey.
Since his 2018 debut Moonlit Tales (via College Music), Kalaido’s trajectory has been slow-burning and authentic. His 2021 release, Ghosts of the Floating World, launched him onto a global stage through Lofi Girl, amassing over 25 million streams and solidifying his place among genre standouts. In 2023, he followed with View Through the Mist, an exploration of natural textures and Japanese visual art.
Now with over 75 million streams and a loyal fan base that finds solace in his sound, Kalaido stands out as a true craftsman of atmosphere. Collaborations with artists like Elijah Nang, mr. hong, and Nogymx further prove his versatility, while his live shows, an expressive fusion of DJ sets and live drumming, underscore the artistic sensitivity driving his music forward.