The Japanese term “sumi” means “black ink”, “e” means “painting”. 

The Philosophy of Sumi-e is contrast and harmony, expressing simple beauty and elegance. Sumi-e attempts to capture the Chi or "life spirit" of the subject, painting in the language of the spirit. As in Zen practice, reality is expressed by reducing it to its pure, bare form. Sumi-e features simplicity and spontaneity that directly strike the viewers’ sensibility.

The music on this EP is an attempt to capture this concept through simple compositions for piano.

The track titles reflect The Four Gentleman, the first four subjects for students to master. They use the four basic brush stokes used in Sumi-e. Each subject represents one of the four seasons.

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Credits

Piano: Art Davis

Master and post-production: BSR Studio

Artwork: BeatArt

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