Hoshimiya Toto × SOZEN OTSUBO — A Conversation -Beyond the Binary-

HOSHIMIYA TOTO × SOZEN OTSUBO: A Conversation -Celebrating the Release of Beyond the Binary-

The new EP "Beyond the Binary." A collaboration between artist HOSHIMIYA TOTO and sound engineer and creator SOZEN OTSUBO, the record has drawn attention for its spatial audio technology and distinctive sound design. In this feature, we asked the two of them about the stories behind the making of the record and the details they cared about most.

A World of Sound Expanded by Spatial Audio

Hoshimiya Toto: SOZEN, thank you so much for all your work on this EP! I've been wanting to ask you all kinds of things today, so let's get into it. Thanks for joining me!

SOZEN OTSUBO: Thank you for having me, likewise!

Hoshimiya Toto: SOZEN, you and I first met through your remix of "Timesurf," and then on "POP-AID" you handled the arrangement and Atmos mix for "Mind Replacer." A lot of people think of you first and foremost as an engineer, so what was it like actually making a record together this time?

SOZEN OTSUBO: Well, my main gig is actually being a creator, you know! (laughs) But it's been about two years since I got into spatial audio and started learning engineering. Getting to put those skills to work and turn them into my own record this time really made me happy.

Hoshimiya Toto: Every track on this EP supports spatial audio, right? You've been working with this technology for quite a while now, SOZEN. What first got you into it?

SOZEN OTSUBO: Right around the time Apple properly rolled out spatial audio, all sorts of software came out that let individuals produce it themselves. Back then I was just getting interested in VR and MR, so using this technology on the audio side felt like a natural progression. That's when I started studying Dolby Atmos, and here I am today.

The Challenge of Mixing Atmos with Headphones Alone

Hoshimiya Toto: I have this image that producing Atmos requires a whole bunch of speakers. What's your setup like, SOZEN?

SOZEN OTSUBO: Normally you'd need a speaker setup of 7.1.4ch or more, but I mix using headphones alone. Of course it's a lot of trial and error, but the advances in software have honestly been a huge help.

Hoshimiya Toto: A friend of mine, Arata Oouchi of Philtz, who also does Atmos, was raving about it too—he said, "Pulling this off on headphones is incredible!"

SOZEN OTSUBO: That's great to hear! Arata and I have kept trading notes ever since. Spatial audio is really easy to experience as long as you have Apple Music and AirPods, so I'd love for as many people as possible to give it a listen.

The Feelings Poured into "Beyond the Binary"

The EP "Beyond the Binary," as Hoshimiya Toto and SOZEN OTSUBO describe it, carries a deep reflection on where the music scene is now and where it's heading. In a landscape dominated by flashy, high-octane music, the two took a step back to ask themselves anew: what kind of music does the world truly need right now?

Hoshimiya Toto: When we set out to make "Beyond the Binary," the first thing SOZEN and I talked about was, "Let's make music that's fresh, beautiful, and comfortable to listen to." These days, short-form videos and easily disposable content are the norm, and flashy, in-your-face music stands out. But I feel like if you push that too far, you end up damaging people's ears, and as a form of expression it hits a dead end. I have a sense that the next era to come will call for something more delicate and comforting.

The truth is, I developed mid-range hearing loss myself, and listening to loud sounds became painful for me. That's exactly why I wanted to deliver music you can put on and take in slowly, alone at home, rather than chasing after flashiness. This EP is a record that pursues that kind of "delicate comfort."

**
SOZEN OTSUBO:** Exactly. With this EP, we aimed for music that could accompany the time you spend facing yourself. People say these days that "shorter songs get listened to more," but part of us wanted to push back against that current. That said, to keep the listener's focus from breaking, I think the EP is the ideal format. Not too short, not too long—we packaged it in just the right amount to leave you with that perfect sense of "satisfaction."

On top of that, the title carries a meaning: to move beyond the binary way of thinking—"0 and 1," the smallest unit of the digital world—and turn our eyes toward a more delicate and diverse world. "We don't live in a simple world of 0s and 1s; we live in a far richer, more complex one"—we wanted to make sure we never forget that.

Hoshimiya Toto: I'm convinced that when I make something with SOZEN, it'll be a record people will still be calling "this is really good" ten, twenty years from now. Honestly, it's not the least bit commercial, but the sound is fresh, beautiful, and comfortable, and for us it's a record we're genuinely proud of. That's why I want all kinds of people to hear it! Even if the first reaction is "what is this?", I'd be happy if, in time, it became "I've never really heard anything like this, but... somehow, I think I like it?"

SOZEN OTSUBO: "Beyond the Binary" is the result of shaping the music we truly wanted to make, rather than being swayed by trends. I'd be glad if, by listening to this record, our listeners could find their own "time to face themselves."

Highlights of the Tracklist

SOZEN OTSUBO: Every track is packed with its own distinctive touches. Here are the points I'd especially like you to pay attention to.

• **01. Beyond the Binary
  **The last song we made for this record, and arguably the culmination of the entire EP. It symbolizes the dawn of a new future.

• **02. Hi-fi
  **The first track chosen out of roughly 20 we demoed. To express the duality that is Beyond the Binary, we put TOTONEE on lead and Hoshimiya Toto on backing vocals.

• **03. Origami Angels (feat. N33T)
  **We welcomed N33T as a guest vocalist, and had them handle the lyrics, the second verse's melody, and the vocals. We deliberately placed them in a kind of "sub-Toto" role. It's a really intricate way of building a song (laughs).

• **04. Kioku
  **Actually, the track for this song was made even before this project began. When I had Toto try singing on it as a test, it fit so perfectly that it became the song I personally most wanted to see realized. It's also the first song where I properly wrote the lyrics myself.

• **05. Shade
  **The song we finished in the shortest amount of time. The lyric "if anything's missing, it's maybe just the color" is used in both Shade and Kioku. And not just that—across the whole EP we sample one another's songs, so I think it comes together as a really cohesive whole.

Hoshimiya Toto: Listening in track order, the way it flows seamlessly is honestly amazing! The BPMs and keys are different, yet they connect—it felt like magic. It's like a short film that takes you traveling to all sorts of places!

SOZEN OTSUBO: It's our first attempt at blending experimental elements and pop in just the right measure, aiming to redefine pop. I really hope lots of people give it a listen.

Hoshimiya Toto: There's so much more I'd love to talk about, including TAMURA Ikuho, who handled the artwork, but I think we'll wrap up the conversation here for now. We're already thinking about a second installment, so look forward to it!

Look Forward to the Next Release, Too!

Hoshimiya Toto: We shared a lot of behind-the-scenes stories this time, but we're already dreaming up ideas for the next release!

SOZEN OTSUBO: Yes! We'll keep working hard to deliver something even more evolved. "Beyond the Binary" begins its digital release today, November 20, 2024! It's also available in stores at diskunion, and you can buy the CD through our online shop!

An MV is also set to be released on November 23.

Hoshimiya Toto: Please give our new challenge a listen!

CD mail-order → https://hoshimiyatoto.stores.jp/

diskunion → https://diskunion.net/portal/ct/detail/1008948939

Streaming / download → https://toto.soumaotsubo.com/BtB