Bryn Mawr College graduate Michelle Zauner, better known under her alias Japanese Breakfast, has combined musical ideas from both the East and West in her second album, writes Mark Jenkins for The Washington Post.
“Soft Sounds From Another Planet” was originally planned to be a science-fiction musical, but the final cut’s soft sounds provide something even more unusual.
Zauner, who was raised in Oregon, played in an alt-rock band during her years at Bryn Mawr. This influence can be found in her new work which moves away from her two, more synth-based, solo albums.
She chose to create Japanese Breakfast from a desire to be more productive as a composer. In June four years ago, Zauner wrote a song a day encouraged by her co-producer, Craig Hendrix. The result is a combination of deep emotional vibes and musical balance.
The new album draws listeners in with its sauntering beatbox rhythms and strummed acoustic guitars. These are underpinned by the lushly stacked and sometimes electronically altered vocals along with a saxophone that brings a jazzy vibe to the music.
Read more about Zauner’s new album at The Washington Post by clicking here.
