Umi No Uzu

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN WAVES OF ELECTRONIC MUSIC AND JAPANESE HIP-HOP.

Mythical, innovative and deeply groovy, Umi no uzu (meaning ‘stirring the oceans’) is the latest work by Tokyo-based composer/pianist/beatmaker, Aaron Choulai.

Commissioned by the Australian Art Orchestra for the Meeting Points Series, Umi No Uzu brings together Japanese imperial court music from the 7th century with contemporary approaches to composition and improvisation.

The piece was premiered in February 2019 in the Fairfax Studio at Arts Centre Melbourne and featured core members of the AAO with Aaron Choulai, Miyama McQueen-Tokita and hip hop emcee Kojoe

A hugely influential figure within the jazz and improvised music scenes, Choulai was born in Papua New Guinea before moving to Melbourne and later New York. The acclaimed musician is also well known for his hip hop collaborations with artists such as Mantra and Joelistics.

Umi no Uzu was made possible through financial support from the City of Melbourne, Arts Centre Melbourne, Creative Victoria and the Australia Council for the Arts