Oslo-based Japanese multi-disciplinary artist Sienná has recently returned with her latest body of work, an intriguing electronic album that once again investigates the project’s East-meets-West sound design. ‘EMA’ is exactly that, a kaleidoscopic discovery bound to impress listeners from the first notes. We did, in fact, write about Sienná back in 2023, celebrating her previous LP ‘WaKei-Sei-Jyaku’.
When approaching ‘EMA’, one must be ready for an unconventional sonic journey. Eclecticism and hypnosis are the keywords here: a stream of organic electronica makes its way through a variety of contexts and moods, all the while working towards a common goal. Lead single ‘Be a Seeker, Believer’ ventures into the leftfield and the experimental, a stark contrast with the club-oriented dry grooves of ‘Your Facts My Facts’, or the title track’s orchestral and soundscape-driven allure.
The lyrical premise behind ‘EMA’ is wrapped in philosophical candour and a certain spirituality. Functioning as an aural canvas where Sienná translates natural imagery and messages, the album feels almost sacred and peculiar, certainly not your average record. As the talented songstress explains: “My songwriting locations for this album were Kibune Valley in Kyoto and Ischia Island. The ideas fell down from the sky while walking alone in the tranquil mountainous forests. I wanted to draw what I perceived in a sketchbook, but I wrote songs instead because I’m not a good drawer.”
Recommended! Discover ‘EMA’ now: