After a successful crowdfunding campaign for the album Oro Mike Mike May, ICHION (イチオン), consisting of Akira and Kyra, were able to release the album through HIGHFeeL. This album was released in late 2020. To celebrate this album release, ICHION will stream a live performance through the YouTube channel of Studio Zot on Friday 26 February. The stream will start at 20.00 Japanese time (12.00 PM in the Netherlands and 11.00 AM in the United Kingdom) and is free to watch.
For this new album, ICHION travelled the world and visited various ‘sacred places’ in Japan, Finland and Norway to record the tracks. The duo mixes traditional Ainu and modern electronic sounds which results in a unique music project. ICHION made their European debut in the summer of 2019.
ICHION started with activities in 2008 and consists of vocalist Kyra and Akira who plays the electronic instruments. The music of ICHION is based on Ainu and Zuni music in combination with electronic experimental music that incorporates home-made instruments made by Akira and environmental sounds. They describe themselves as NEO spiritual and include LED lighting in their performances, which contributes to a multidimensional cyber ceremony space. According to ICHION, they add LED bars to their stage for the performance to simulate the ceremony of a Shinto shrine.
Since her youth, Kyra has been immersed in the culture of the Ainu, one of the original tribes of Japan. Her father, a historian, studied the history, traditions and language of the Ainu for many years. Kyra took up the torch and combined this passion with music. Akira is a sound explorer, passionate about instruments and musical experimentation. All the instruments that ICHION use in their music and performances are self-made by Akira.
The newest album by ICHION, Oro Mike Mike May can be purchased digitally and physically through HIGHFeeL (Bandcamp, HIGHFeeL webshop).
