Memories of Magic (2025)

‘Memories of Magic—魔法の記憶—Mahō no Kioku’ is a spellbinding new album from Shugorei – the genre-defying collaboration between percussionist Nozomi Omote and composer/producer Thomas Green. Bell-like vibes, ritual drums and glitching electronics merge under projected visions of ancient forests and neon-lit spirits.

Shugorei’s new album weaves mythic narratives and urban animism into a tapestry of beat‑driven ceremony and classical lyricism.

Experience pulsing percussive textures, delicate melodies and boundary‑defying soundscapes, while projected visuals guide you through dreamscapes where past and future entwine. Dance among memories, awaken your senses, and step across the threshold into a world where sound becomes sorcery, and memories are of magic.

Released September 25, 2025

“Three Pathways” is a luminous single by experimental duo Shugorei, featuring the extraordinary guzheng artist Mindy Meng Wang. This track offers a magical preview of their upcoming album Memories of Magic – 魔法の記憶 – Mahō no Kioku, blending elements of electronic, cinematic, and traditional music into a vibrant, emotional journey.

Born from a cross-cultural collaboration between Meanjin/Brisbane, Narm/Melbourne, and Kanazawa, Japan, the piece captures the spirit of three artists uniting across borders. Mindy’s delicate guzheng melodies intertwine with Tom’s lush compositions and Nozomi’s evocative visual storytelling—shot amid the snows of Japan and the summer heat of Australia.

Three Pathways is more than a song; it’s a reflection on travel, memory, and the kind of magic that happens when people from different worlds create something together.

“Roboto” is a dreamy, retro-futuristic single by experimental duo Shugorei, taken from their forthcoming 2025 album Memories of Magic – 魔法の記憶 – Mahō no Kioku. Sung in Japanese, this song was inspired by Nozomi’s dream, where she encountered a mysterious figure and a silver robot. Nozomi wrote the melody and lyrics, while Tom crafted the rich, synth-laced arrangement around it.

Blending ‘90s J-pop nostalgia with playful electronic textures and slap bass by guest artist Dan Curro, Roboto captures a whimsical journey through memory, imagination, and the surreal space between sleep and waking.

It’s a heartfelt, magical track about companionship, longing, and the strange beauty of dreams that linger.

The Sounds of Chow Gar (2024)

This album is a studio recorded collection of pieces that were performed at the one-time live event on February 16, 2024.

‘The Sounds of Chow Gar’ is an exquisite cinematic portrayal of traditional Chinese solo kung fu forms, set to original music for percussion, strings and electronics.

The cinema was accompanied by musicians live on stage, matching the performer’s movements and visuals with meticulous timing. Sounds of practitioners’ breathing, heartbeats and footwork combine with painstakingly produced original compositions by award-winning composer Thomas Green to tell the story of a Meanjin (Brisbane) family who, across generations, uphold an ancient Chinese tradition in their community and beyond.

Kung fu exercises performed solo are called forms (similar to kata in Karate). These are used as physical exercises, movement drilling, meditation, and fight training. Beautiful to watch, even for non-experts, Shugorei draws on these forms’ latent musicality – their rhythms and physical sounds.

Five forms were chosen, filmed in superb 4K detail, performed by four incredible kung fu practitioners, and used as the basis of five new musical compositions.

This project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

Presented by Sounds Across Oceans and BrisAsia.

With immense gratitude for our collaborators Black Square Quartet and Australian School of Kung Fu and Tai Chi. 

Released February 20, 2024

The Sounds of Chow Gar is an immersive audio-visual project by Meanjin/Brisbane-based experimental duo Shugorei, in collaboration with the Australian School of Kung Fu and Tai Chi. This work transforms traditional Chinese kung fu forms into a cinematic and musical experience, blending martial artistry with contemporary soundscapes.​

The project features five meticulously filmed kung fu forms, capturing the nuanced movements, breathing, and footwork of seasoned practitioners. These elements are interwoven with original compositions for percussion, strings, and electronics, crafted by award-winning composer Thomas Green. The result is a dynamic interplay between visual and auditory elements, reflecting the discipline and rhythm inherent in martial arts.​

Premiered as a one-time live performance on February 16, 2024, at the Ian Hanger Recital Hall in Brisbane, the event combined high-definition cinematic projections with live musical accompaniment, synchronizing the performers’ movements with the music in real-time. ​

The studio-recorded soundtrack, featuring the Black Square String Quartet, was released on February 20, 2024, and is available on major streaming platforms. ​

“Meet the Sun” is a heartfelt bilingual single by Shugorei, featuring the soulful voice of Shêm Allen. Blending English and Japanese lyrics, the song celebrates the courage of taking risks—like leaving your home to follow a dream.

Driven by Nozomi’s commanding percussion and Tom’s signature blend of electronics and synthesis, the track gains a new emotional dimension through Shêm’s powerful and honest vocal performance. Strings from the Black Square Quartet add lush counterpoint, wrapping the song in warmth and depth.

Released via 4000 Records, Meet the Sun is an anthem for new beginnings—glowing with both vulnerability and strength.

Brisbane-based experimental duo Shugorei presents a heartfelt rendition of Deerhoof‘s “Sit Down, Let Me Tell You a Story,” originally featured on Deerhoof’s 2023 album Miracle-Level. This cover showcases Shugorei’s unique blend of electronic textures and organic instrumentation, offering a fresh perspective on the original track.

In this collaboration, Shugorei teamed up with students from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, fostering a creative exchange between emerging musicians and seasoned artists. Notably, percussionist Nozomi Omote steps into the role of vocalist for this piece, marking a departure from her usual instrumental performances. Despite initial nerves about singing, Omote embraced the challenge at the encouragement of fellow Shugorei member and director Thomas Green. Her vocal contribution adds a distinctive layer to the cover, reflecting the duo’s commitment to artistic exploration.​

Shugorei (2021)

Formed in 2019, the duo is a profoundly adventurous expedition through the realms of live percussion and electronics, performed by Nozomi Omote and Thomas Green.

The sonic collision of diverse influences, broadly IDM and classical music, results in a unique and distinctly vivacious experience. Vibraphone, digital samples, analogue synthesizer, drums, jumbles and bricolage come together in painstakingly composed works as well as free-form improvised pieces.

Shugorei (meaning Guardian Spirit) explores an interplay between Noz’s Japanese background and Western musicianship with Tom’s far-reaching madcappery adding an element of excitement and surprise.

‘Shugorei’ the album has been over two years in the making. Omote and Green have something in common: they collect musical bricolage. The album is packed with a varied assortment of instruments and objects, including a Chinese yangqin, clockwork toys, bells, bowls, roof tiles, tom toms, tam tams, mandolin and more. While Green samples huge sets of sounds to form a bed for a new work, Omote improvises directly with these materials, with the end result being a unique combination of the synthetic and the organic.

Released March 4, 2021

“City Patterns” is a standout track from Shugorei’s self-titled debut album, released in March 2021. This piece exemplifies the duo’s innovative fusion of live percussion and electronic elements, creating a soundscape that mirrors the intricate rhythms and textures of urban life. Through the interplay of vibraphone, digital samples, and analog synthesizers, “City Patterns” captures the dynamic energy and complexity of city environments.​

As one of the early collaborations between Nozomi Omote and Thomas Green, the track showcases their commitment to blending diverse musical influences and experimental techniques. The result is a composition that is both structured and improvisational, reflecting the ever-evolving nature of cityscapes.