At the turn of the new year, in my tiny Tokyo apartment in Sangenjaya, I made a decision: I wouldn’t focus so much on creation, but rather on inspiration.
The idea came from something an artist I respect said in an interview. It was something like, “If I listen to an album a day, it’s a good day.” That stuck with me.
So I set a resolution: carve out time each day for one focused, distraction-free listening session with a new album. A simple and enjoyable goal, right? Just forty-five minutes to an hour of daily music appreciation.
Of course, I had selfish motives. Like most of us, I wanted to soak in as much creative source material as possible, hoping it would spark ideas or direction for future music projects.
The first few months were easy breezy. New tunes daily. How exciting.
But it didn’t take long before it got harder to find music I hadn’t already heard, especially without giving in to the algorithmic overlords. So I started asking friends to share their favorites and dug deeper into the corners of the musical universe.
Long story short: I broke the resolution.
Not as fast as your typical January gym-goer (the ones who disappear by February 1st), but after about five months. I was listening daily…on walks, park benches, in living rooms, on airplanes, yoga mats, across multiple countries and continents. You name it.
At some point, I started to feel a little overwhelmed by the sheer number of directions I could take my own music. I was deep into finishing my latest original album Mori, and listening to something new every day across countless genres and moods started making me second guess my own choices. Still, whatever combination of ideas did seep in, I’m thankful for. I’m proud of how Mori turned out.
But this post isn’t about my music. It’s about the artists who inspired me.
So here it is: a reflection on the music that moved me. Tracks that hit hard in DJ sets, lifted my mood, soothed my spirit, or stayed with me as full length journeys worth revisiting.
Below is a list of featured albums and standout tracks, a stream of sonic memories and creative sparks from those listening sessions, followed by the rest of the 100+ albums I explored in the first half of the year, in no particular order.
Hope you find something new here and it encourages you to dig deeper into the collective consciousness of music!
Featured Albums & Tracks
A curated selection from my listening experiment. Specific tracks and records that left a lasting impression, each tied to a moment, a mood, or a memory.
The Summer Portraits – Ludovico Einaudi
Track: “Pathos”
A soundtrack to your life. Hopeful and optimistic.
Fragmente – Felix Rösch
Track: “Residuum”
Songs to cry to. A haunting, cinematic piece that lingers in the air.
Out of the Pathetic Age – DJ Shadow
Track: “Rocket Fuel”
Blow out the speakers. Dust off your sneakers.
Somersault – Chicane
Track: “Always”
Classic dancefloor euphoria. Capital E energy.
Reclamando Nuestro Espacio – Adolescent’s Orquestra
Track: “Anhelo”
Good vibes in four minutes. Tropical, jazzy, soulful.
Harmônicos – Fabiano do Nascimento
Track: “Chuva”
Instrumental virtuosity. Brazilian guitar meditation.
Chant Music For Paradise
Track: “Libera Me”
Healing and heavenly. Gregorian ambient peace.
This Is It – Celeda
Track: “Be Yourself and No One Else”
This is our house. Let’s dance.
Labcabincalifornia – The Pharcyde
Track: “Runnin’”
A portal to another world. Timeless hip-hop soul.
Buena Vista Social Club
Track: “Chan Chan”
The sound of Cuba. Romance, nostalgia, rhythm.
By the Deep Sea – Federico Albanese
Track: “Boardwalk”
A soundtrack to uncertainty. Dreamlike and distant.
Próxima Estación: Esperanza – Manu Chao
Track: “Me Gustas Tú”
Depression antidote. Feel good anthem.
Lazarus – Bonobo (Adult Swim Soundtrack)
Track: “Rings”
Lost in reverie. Dreaming of Japan.
Knock Knock – DJ Koze
Track: “Pick Up”
Classic house meets disco. Instant uplift.
Under Tangled Silence
Track: “Reprise”
Electronic futurism meets classical. Chaotic yet minimal. One of One.
Never Enough – Turnstile
Track: “DULL”
Angsty teenage feels. Not a phase.
Red Morning – DJ Sodeyama, The People in Fog
Track: “Red Morning”
Peaking on the dance-floor at dawn.
Mexican Alps – Niklas Paschburg
Track: “Moos”
Soundtrack to life. Emotional and reflective.
76:14 – Global Communication
Track:“9:39”
Spaced out ambient bliss. What is the meaning of life?
Remaining albums:
Perceive Its Beauty. Acknowledge Its Grace – Shabaka
Hi Note – Gerargo
Symbol – Susumu Tokota
Underbelly – Kiltro
Sings for Two in Love – Nat King Cole
Break First – Boztown
Good Evening Black Buddha
Silfra – Hilary Hahn
Imagine This Is a High Dimensional Space of All Possibilities – James Holden
Ketteiban!! – Isao Saito
Spirit Walking – Jordan Ireland
Psycho Tropical Berlin
Late Night Tales – Nils Frahm
Kid for Today – Boards of Canada
Perom from a Rooftop
Yoshida Brothers (1999–2004)
Dustland – The Gentleman Loses
Ten Days – Fred Again
Lahai – Sampha
Lifeforms – The Future Sound of London
MTV Unplugged in New York – Nirvana
Everybody Loves the Sunshine – Roy Ayers Ubiquity
In Conflict – Owen Pallett
Chameleon Sunday – Arc De Soleil
Carlos Erasmo Versão Som (Bonus)
Where the Streets Lead – Slowly Rolling Camera
Out of the Unknown – ZG
Music of Documentaries – Lawrence Le Doux
You’ve Got It Bad Girl – Quincy Jones
Talking Book – Stevie Wonder
Don Shirley Trio – Don Shirley
It’s Snowing on My Piano – Bugge Wesseltoft
Simple Things – Zero 7
The Colour and the Shape – Foo Fighters
Welcome to Sky Valley – Kyuss
Who’s Next (Deluxe Edition) – The Who
A Long Vacation – Eiichi Ohtaki
De Stijl – The White Stripes
Samurai Champloo Music Record: Impression – Force of Nature
Magic Seeds II – Leifur James
Songs for the Deaf – Queens of the Stone Age
The Balaclava Diaries – Heron Flow
Stand! – Sly and the Family Stone
DJ-Kicks: The Exclusives – Various Artists
Playgroup – Playgroup
Yuming Brand – Yumi Arai
Utility – Barker
Obscurity Continuum – Fat Jon
Mahal – Glass Beams
The Los Angeles League of Musicians
Stories from Far Away on Piano – James Heather
Ritual: Nothing Is Lost – Jon Hopkins
Nothing – Darkside
The Mountain Will Fall – DJ Shadow
On Being – Max Cooper
The Fat of the Land – The Prodigy
Temple Road (Extended) – Naâman
Scenery – Ryo Fukui
Gravity – Joona Toivanen Trio
Tribal Organic: Deep Dive into European Percussions (’79–’90)
Signals at Both Ears – Gonubie
WE – Laura Masotto
Louie – Kenny Beats
Lucid Dreams – Chihei Hatakeyama
Omura / Fracture – Sam Binga
Almoraima – Paco de Lucía
La Leyenda del Tiempo – Camarón de la Isla
De Aki a Ketama – Ketama
Sunshine – Hector Plimmer
Sincere (Deluxe) – MJ Cole
The Spirit of Things (Rework) – Laura Masotto
Out of the Dust – Hior Chronik
Suite No. 6 – Candy Chic
In a Landscape – Max Richter
Engravings – Forest Swords
Slow Eastbound Train – Daniel Herskedal
Tree – John Metcalfe
Fin – John Talabot
Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? – Of Montreal
Searching – Tristan de Liège
Fractals – Various Artists
Entropy – Asta Hiroki
Blackbirds and the Sun of October – Federico Albanese
Donau – Florian Christl
F♯ A♯ ∞ – Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Cendre – Fennesz & Ryuichi Sakamoto
Windswept Adan – Ichiko Aoba
Angel in Disguise – Leifur James
Music Can Hear Us – DJ Koze
Lazarus Adult Swim Soundtrack (Floating Points)
Stochastic Drift – Barker
Unidad de Desplazamiento – Los Planetas
Phantom Brickworks LPII – Bibio
The Disintegration Loops Remastered – William Basinski
Luxury Problems – Andy Stott
Sound & Color – Alabama Shakes
Malesch – Agitation Free
Isla – Different Populous
Searching for Soul: Soul Funk & Jazz Rarities from Michigan – Various Artists
Piano Day Vol. 1
Piano Day Vol. 2
Piano Day Vol. 3
Piano Day Vol. 4
Think & Change – Various Artists
Friedrich – Stimming
Ruhe – Rubin Henkel
Seelie – CLANN
See You When You Get There – Session Victim
Space Forest Cafe 