青い森 IV -蔦屋書店の音楽-

From 2023 to 2024, musician Haruka Nakamura curated the in-store music for several Tsutaya bookstores across Japan for a full year. All the compositions were newly written exclusively for the Tsutaya Bookstore project. Inspired by the concept of bookstores, which handle books, and the forest, the birthplace of instruments such as pianos and guitars, the project was named 'Aoi Mori', connecting it to Nakamura's hometown of Aomori. For this final album, the recording features an acoustic guitar inherited from his father, which he has played since his teenage years, along with a nylon-string guitar gifted to him during the production of his album 'MELODICA' under Nujabes' Hydeout label. These elements are blended with synthesizers introduced in the 'Aoi Mori' series, creating a new sound that evokes early works like 'grace' and 'nica,' reminiscent of the nostalgic sound before Nakamura fully embraced the piano. The cover photograph by Rinko Kawauchi beautifully expresses the warmth of a sunlit garden, making this final installment a euphoric and hope-filled album befitting a grand conclusion. The unified conceptual design of the Aoi Mori series extends to it's physical form, making the CD album a visually stunning piece that one would want to display in their room. all written & mixed by Haruka Nakamura photo: Rinko Kawauchi design: Suzuki Takahisa (16 Design Institute) mastering: Gen Tanabe (Studio Camel House) A&R: Kyoko Yamaguchi (One Cushion, Inc.) collaboration with Tsutaya Bookstore Lighthouse LABEL