Jazz Savant Aya Sekine & Electronica Ace Intriguant Share A Life-Affirming Double Single Release

Intriguant and Aya Sekine share more than just musical prowess in their paths as artists (Credit: Courtesy of artists)

Magic’s bound to happen when you put two virtuosos together. Electronica extraordinaire Intriguant has collaborated with jazz doyenne Aya Sekine to unfurl such sorcery, fusing their respective talents for a double single release titled Memory / Deiji.

It’s an enthralling union between the Syndicate collective beatmaker and the celebrated jazz pianist, riding off an inspired conversation that first began between them in Kyoto. Aside from their own veteran-level contributions in the Singaporean music scene, both unconventional artists share a hunger for sharpening their skills further abroad, with Aya currently based in Detroit and Intriguant soon relocating to Berlin. The double single was conceptualised with the essence of “life’s unexpected turns” and how both have chosen to “navigate these currents with time”. And it’s in these mutually-experienced life detours where they’ve found commonality in their art.

You truly get the best of Aya Sekine and Intriguant on both tracks. “Memory” exudes a pure celestial tenderness brought down to earth with an urban gritty weightiness, communicated like an amalgamation between neo-jazz and broken garage. Piano-carved pathways and Milky Way synths come accented with electronic accoutrements, buffed by padded kicks, lightfooted bongos and incisor hats. “Deiji” on the other hand is more akin to sonic therapy, tickling with scattery breakbeats and caressing with sedative cocoon-like chords that blanket the serene piece. It’s masterful with every minute, and one would expect no less from these two.

You can listen to Memory / Deiji on Spotify and Bandcamp. Follow Intriguant and Aya Sekine on Instagram for more information.