Seiho

electronic

OSAKA — Seiho Hayakawa started making music the way a lot of curious kids growing up in the digital age did — by fiddling with his cell-phone ringer. But he eventually plunged headfirst into the world of jazz as a high school student, with a trumpet at his side. Those early experiences stuck with Hayakawa, 24, who now records under his given name. He produces electronic music of many moods, from thumping hip-hop-inspired fare to jazz-tinged chill-outs. This blend of dance music and jazz has made Hayakawa one of the most intriguing artists in a burgeoning Kansai electronic scene, highlighted by his debut album, Mercury. Released on Hayakawa's own Day Tripper label, Mercury rockets from idea to idea. It opens with the relaxing and smooth Previous Night, but soon shifts to hard-thumping beats on Pool. Whether Hayakawa is leaning on jazz-standard instrumentation (stand-up bass) or digital blips, Mercury remains a compelling listen. 'Mercury' was based on the story of a space trip, Hayakawa says. This cosmic vibe and manic pace brings to mind Flying Lotus, while the pitch-shifted vocals on some tracks recall early James Blake. Hayakawa says both those electronic artists are influences, but says Mercury also owes a debt to the likes of jazz musicians Albert Ayler and Ornette Coleman. This mashup of genres has cemented Hayakawa as one of the up-and-comers of Osaka's experimental electronic-music scene. Along with Masayuki Kubo (aka And Vice Versa), he helped found the Innit...