Chicago-based artist Sen Morimoto is creating waves with a touch of whimsical, old-school flair in the contemporary era.
Morimoto was raised in rural Western Massachusetts, where he found his love for instruments at a young age. A musician before a lyricist, he found himself attached to the saxophone, and soon after, the drums and piano. For Morimoto, instrumentation came much easier than writing raps. His fascination for language and the ability to craft verses that mean something, however, came out on top.
sen morimoto
“I learned how to express emotion with saxophone before I learned how to write lyrics or express vocally,” he said. “I think even though lyrics are a more direct way to communicate ideas, the saxophone can express certain things that I just can't with my voice.”
In 2014, Morimoto found his way to Chicago. After agreeing to release his album Cannonball! through indie label Sooper Records, he caught the eye of entertainment platform 88Rising—though he is now associated with the brand, he refused to be put on the official roster: his music is something all his own.
CANNONBALL! ALBUM ART
His nine-track debut album, Cannonball! was done completely on his own, from the lyrics, to the sound mixing, to production. It’s a dynamic, dreamy amalgamation of impressionistic jazz and hip hop, one that doesn’t take itself too seriously. His previous works—For Me & Ladie and It’s Late—are just as enthralling.
I was introduced to Sen Morimoto through a good friend of mine named Gaby. She sent a link to one of his live shows in a group chat, just to give us a recommendation. The details are a bit fuzzy, but I remember her saying his music was interesting, a cool combination of jazzy saxophone and hip-hop that I’d never heard before.
And so, I listened.
I became a casual listener. Cannonball! was already out at the time, so I’d listen through the album here and there whenever I felt like it. It wasn’t until I heard his live set, though, that I knew he’d become one of my favorite artists of all time. It was West Fest 2018 in Chicago. I saw on his Instagram that he’d be playing a set there, and since it was free and close by, Gaby and I decided why not go.
I absolutely loved it. I loved the dreamy, moody croons. I loved the tongue-in-cheek, stream-of-consciousness-style lyricism. I loved his odes to his home—Kyoto, Japan.
Most of all, though, I loved his sound, a fearless and eccentric blend of genres that everybody can find a piece of themselves in. You should try to, as well.
Morimoto most recently released a collection of remastered songs that never made it onto his records, called B-Sides & Rarities. Listen to that—and check out the music video for his song People Watching—below.
FEATURED IMAGE VIA INSTAGRAM
