Morphing Polaroids

Morphing Polaroids is the debut album by Japanese born Saeko Okuchi, also known as Saeko Killy, for Hamburg-based Bureau B.

After moving to Berlin in 2018, Saeko Killy found herself in the orbit of Club Sameheads, where she made a name for herself as a DJ and live performer. Following the release of her first EP "Dancing Pikapika" with the label Chill Mountain from Osaka in 2021, a fruitful jam session during the pandemic lockdown led to the creation of the eleven tracks featured on the album 'Morphing Polaroids', produced by Brussels DJ and selector soFa elsewhere.

The LP presents a contemporary Leftfield Club sound, effortlessly blending elements of Dub, Post-Punk, and Kraut with electronic Beats. Saeko Okuchi began learning the piano at the age of four in Japan, and later picked up the guitar at sixteen. Influenced by her parents, she discovered Jazz and Brazilian music, while visits to Techno Parties in Tokyo sparked her interest in electronic dance music.

Through exposure to renegade club music DJs, Saeko was introduced to artists like Cabaret Voltaire and Throbbing Gristle, who greatly inspired her with their Industrial sounds. This led her to become a DJ herself, playing at Underground Parties in Brazil organized by the artist collective Voodoohop in São Paulo.

Aside from DJing, Saeko experimented vocally with various band projects in Tokyo and Berlin, showcasing her krautrock-post-punk-esque voice on the track "Die in Seconds" by the group "Automattenfall" on the Vax!-EP (2021) by des Sameheads.

To create her own music, Saeko delved into Synthesizers, experimenting with both English and Japanese lyrics. Following the success of her first EP, Saeko was asked by Belgian DJ and producer soFa elsewhere to contribute vocals on his song "The Dream" ("All My Friends Are Witches", Planet Trip, 2022).

The musical collaboration flourished, leading to an improv session at soFa's home studio in Brussels. The album title, 'Morphing Polaroids', reflects the meandering journey experienced during the production process, with tracks like "Sun Shower" and "Intimate Flame" describing the resurgence of Saeko's artistic passion after the pandemic-induced lockdown.

The interplay between Saeko Killy and soFa elsewhere challenges and complements each other, resulting in a collection of tunes that form the essence of the album. The psychedelic dance music of Morphing Polaroids captivates listeners with its blend of opposing disturbances, reminiscent of the Japanese avant-garde.