説明
Brownswood Recordingsが誇る新たな才能、ハープ奏者で作曲家のMarysia Osuが登場。Levitation Orchestraのメンバーであり、Brownswoodの「Bubblers」アカデミーを卒業した彼女は、待望のデビューアルバム『harp, beats & dreams』を発表する。ポーランドで小学生の頃にピアノを学び始め、10歳で家族とともにロンドンに移住後、ハープを始めた。
MarysiaはTrinity Labanでクラシック音楽を専攻し、ハープの演奏で学位を取得。その4年間で、ジャズコースの友人から借りたエフェクトペダルを使い、ハープのサウンドを拡張する実験を始めた。学生時代にはSawa Manga（D’vo + And Is Phi）、Penya、Roxanne Tataei、Maxwell Owin、Puma Blue、Alabaster dePlumeなどのアーティストと共演・録音。また、詩人Belinda Zhawiとの長期コラボやLevitation Orchestraの結成もこの時期に行われた。同時に電子音楽にも興味を持ち、Abletonを使ってソロ作曲を開始。デビューアルバム『harp, beats & dreams』は、そんな彼女の成長と探求を記録した作品だ。全て手作りのこのアルバムは、さまざまな感情や瞬間を繊細に捉えている。
アルバムについてMarysiaは、「クラシック音楽の教育を通して、音楽は感情を表現し、私たちをさまざまな体験へと導いてくれるものだと学んだ。ピアノやハープで学んだ曲の中でも、美しさや悲しみ、内省的な感覚を感じさせるものに特に惹かれてきた」と語る。彼女の作曲は、自身の感情や経験を浄化し、癒すプロセスとなっている。曲の中には、ハープの弦に指が触れる音や彼女の息づかい、ピアノの椅子のきしみ音までが含まれており、その親密さが作品に深みを与えている。
『harp, beats & dreams』は、日記のように感情や体験を音楽に昇華した作品。リードシングル「seatime」では、海の霞の中にいるような感覚を味わえる。Marysiaは、「この曲は私たちの多面的な性格を探り、自己受容と内なる調和を祝うもの」と説明している。また、三枚目のシングル「memento mori」は、Stoicismの哲学から着想を得た曲。YUISのフルートが曲の深い瞑想的な雰囲気を一層引き立てている。さらに、Levitation OrchestraのメンバーPlummが参加した「care to care」では、日常の中で自分自身を守るためのシンプルなメッセージが込められている。
このアルバムではハープが中心となっているが、彼女はピアノにも再び挑戦し、夢の中で突如思いついたクラリネットも試している。夢の中で「息の象徴性」について考え、クラリネットを学ぶことを決意した彼女は、その後Plummからクラリネットを借り、演奏を開始。Levitation Orchestraとのギグでもその新たな挑戦を披露した。
「only u <3」では潜在意識から引き出された失恋ソングを、また「meditation iv」ではハープ、チェロ（Emma Barnaby）とフルート（YUIS）の対話を繊細に描く。このデビューアルバムは、癒しの音響に満ちた特別な作品で、平和で静かな響きが心を包み込む。才能あふれるMarysiaの記念すべきデビュー作は、不安定な世界の中で心を癒す音楽の避難所を提供している。
A1 Seatime 5:05
A2 Melting Timbers 5:41
A3 Memento Mori 6:06
A4 Only U <3 3:43
B1 Until Tomorrow Continues 2:11
B2 Despite Being In Love 3:01
B3 Care To Care 3:03
B4 Dream Language 3:23
B5 Cascades 3:45
B6 Meditation IV 4:08
Brownswood Recordings are proud to present their latest signing, the immensely talented harpist and composer Marysia Osu. A member of Levitation Orchestra, and graduate of Brownswood’s heralded ‘Bubblers’ academy - Marysia now prepares to unveil her alluring and transcendent debut album ‘harp, beats & dreams. Marysia started learning the piano in primary school in Poland, and the harp following her family’s immigration to London at age 10.
Marysia graduated from Trinity Laban with a degree in classical music, specialising in performance on the harp. During this four year course, she started experimenting and expanding the sound of the harp using fx pedals, lent to her from friends on the jazz course. Throughout her student years, she played and recorded with many artists, including Sawa Manga (D’vo + And Is Phi), Penya, Roxanne Tataei, Maxwell Owin, Puma Blue & Alabaster dePlume. She also started a long term collaboration with the spoken word artist and poet, Belinda Zhawi, and Levitation Orchestra was formed. Around this time she also started to experiment with electronic production, which opened new doors for her artistry: She says “I started using Ableton towards the end of my studies, wanting to try solo composition, without knowing what to expect. harp, beats & dreams is a documentation of this journey. The album is completely homemade, which allowed me to capture different emotional states and moments.” On how her educational journey influenced the creation of the album, Marysia explains : “My classical music upbringing taught me that music primarily expresses our inner worlds of feeling, and provides us with journeys through various experiences and emotions. Since my very first music lessons, out of the pieces I was learning on the piano or harp I always felt the most connected to ones that I considered extremely beautiful, and that included a feeling of sadness and felt reflective. I think this stayed with me, and my composition process was cathartic, and became a way to self-soothe and process different events happening in my life. All pieces were recorded intimately, sometimes you can hear the sound of my fingers squeaking on the harp strings (only u <3), or my breathing, and the piano stool creaking (despite being in love).”
Composed as a collection of diary entries ‘harp, beats & dreams’ soundtracks experiences, feelings and reflections. Opening with lead single ‘seatime’, the album channels transportative thoughts, whisking the listeners away in a midst of coastal haze. On the opener, Marysia expands : “it delves into the multifaceted nature of our personalities, exploring and embracing each aspect of ourselves. It's a celebration of self-acceptance and the harmony found within.” Journeying through the record’s healing sonics, themes of philosophy and stoicism are omnipresent - third single’s ‘memento mori’’s delay-soaked notes ripple through darkness - accentuated by the illuminating flute, which flourishes from collaborator YUIS, personifying the contemplative nature of the track. Marysia says “memento mori is inspired by the stoic quote, ‘remember you must die’. The direct translation sounds ominous, but the stoics meant for it to be a motivational mantra- a reminder to live in the present, fully and authentically. Remembering that life is finite puts our priorities into perspective.” Second single ‘care to care’ sees fellow Levitation Orchestra member Plumm (who also features on ‘melting timbers’) elegantly lend her ethereal vocals to the proceedings, delivering a simple message for everyday life and protecting your space. Marysia elaborates “Start the day motivated, do the things you must do, and once that’s achieved, don’t feel bad about taking time for yourself to ‘indulge’. It’s self-care. Care about caring for yourself!”
Although the harp undoubtedly takes centre stage here, the album also served as an opportunity for Marysia to return to the piano after an extended period of absence, and also to spontaneously attempt the clarinet after the idea came to her in a dream. She expresses ‘’In the dream I was thinking about the symbolism of wind instruments being powered by the breath.. The breath represents life, we would die without it. It is a bridge between our body and mind, for example when we speak, or when we use it as a tool for meditation and somehow it also symbolises the wind. I remember waking up very suddenly, sitting up and saying out loud - “I need to learn the clarinet!”. A few days later we had a Levitation Orchestra gig, and I told the band about this funny dream. Plumm said “I have a clarinet from my childhood! I haven’t played it for years, you can take it”. & so my clarinet exploration began.” .
Journeying through long-forgotten love songs pulled from subconscious (‘only u <3’), and gentle conversations between the harp, cello (played by Emma Barnaby) and flute (played by YUIS) as heard on ‘meditation iv’, this debut full length is a truly absorbing and elevating listening experience, full of cascading motifs and peaceful, calming tones. A truly impressive and engulfing debut from an incredibly talented musician, a lasting piece of art which provides a sonic sanctuary in an uncertain world.
