Shugorei updates

Shugorei has been busy with several appearances recently.
On Saturday 17 May, we played at the Kids Carnival at Arana Hills Library. Then on Saturdays 21 and 28 June, we performed for Make Music Month at Caboolture Library. On Saturday 6 July, we were guests on Rusted Satellites on 4ZZZ radio, and most recently, on Sunday 13 July, we joined the World of Music Ipswich event at Orion Springfield Central.

For these performances, we played some Japanese folk songs (which I suggested Tom arrange) alongside a few of our older tunes.

Meanwhile, we released a new single, The Charm, on 10 July. This song features vocals by Shêm Allen, plus internationally acclaimed guitarist Karin Schaupp. We were also joined by our wonderful collaborators from Black Square Quartet: violinist Camille Barry and cellist Dan Curro.

It’s been such a fun and busy time for Shugorei. What made these shows extra special was performing during the day in family-friendly environments—unlike our usual late-night, 18+ gigs. We do love playing late-night shows, but as someone with little kids, it feels great to share Shugorei’s music in settings where families can join in too.

Right now, we’re working towards our album launch for Memories of Magic. We recorded more material last week, and Tom has been busy editing and refining the tracks.

Working with Tom has been a dream for me. I always hoped to find someone like him—someone keen to collaborate and compose pieces with me so closely. I’m good at playing what’s written in the music, but I’ve never been trained to compose or create new works. Tom, on the other hand, is so skilled at exactly what I lack. Together, we balance each other perfectly—Shugorei feels like we’re fulfilling each other’s wishes and creating a little magic.

Tom wrote some beautiful words in Shugorei’s blog too, which I’ll share here:

We’ve mentioned this before, but I’ll say again because it’s so important for us: Shugorei is all about magic. Music, in a way, is a sort of magic. Think about it. We make some sounds, and it makes us feel a certain way, sometimes powerfully. It can make you cry, or it can be part of the day where your life changed forever. What’s more, it’s quite easy. I cry at music all the time. Don’t you? If not, maybe it’s time you let music do that special sort of magic. Try it out! It’s a gentle magic; it needs your willingness to work.

Years ago, it was really nice for me (Tom) to discover that Nozomi is an advocate of magic in music. Before that, it had been a secret I had kept mostly to myself, but Noz is very open about such things, and told me that she too understands that music, when it evokes a mood, or a memory, or a flavour or a smell, is doing something quite like casting a spell. For Shugorei, music is more than a sound, or a thing. It’s something that happens in us; it’s something that we are.

The Charm is about Shugorei’s magic. We’re weaving enchantments, and this is a love song for you and everyone. All of us make choices. Choose to be lovestruck.

Our good friends, Shêm Allen (voice); Karin Schaupp (classical guitar); Camille Barry (violin); and Dan Curro (cello) have helped us to conjure up this tapestry, and we’ll always be grateful to each of them.

Special thanks to Tom and John Russell from 4000 Records for their ongoing support. It means so much to us as we continue this journey with Shugorei.