Recorded at Arcadia West, Los Angeles, the American avant-garde composer William Basinski crafted an eerie piano rework of Japanese voice artist Hatis Noit's piece Inori, taken from her acclaimed debut Aura ahead of Piano Day 2023.
"Inori is about the spirits of those who died in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, the memories of those who were left behind, and the thoughts of those who lost their homes due to the nuclear accident that occurred immediately afterwards. I also wanted to avoid the events fading away by capturing the universal feelings and sensations that anyone can relate to through sound, no matter what their position is. I am very happy and honoured that William Basinski, a legendary sound artist, got deeply involved in this song and has breathed new life into it with such warm care."
— Hatis Noit, London, March 2023
"I was honored to be asked to reinterpret this beautiful prayer by Hatis Noit. Reading her notes about Inori, I decided to use the beautiful piano that came with my home I was able to purchase in 2018. Home is my favorite place to be, as an indoorsman. Piano, to me, represents home.
Imagining her natural trepidation under the circumstances, and feeling sympathy with the people in Fukushima who just wanted to go home, I wanted to step delicately, in support with love and empathy and let her beautiful voice resonate to the heavens."
— William Basinski, Los Angeles, February 28, 2023
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“What a delight”
— Mary Anne Hobbs, BBC 6 Music