Kazu Osumi On the Making Of “Fallen Stars”
What was the initial spark or idea that led to the creation of "Fallen Stars?"
Being my first single, the genesis of the song spans all the way back to my college years. The initial guitar riff that you hear in the introduction and throughout the verses I actually came up with while I had been taking some cello lessons from a good friend of mine in college. I find that inspiration from across genres can lead to more innovative ideas. With regards to the topic, I had read an article online by someone that I found touching-detailing his love for someone who had left his life whom he had randomly run into much later in time. By then she had clearly aged, but despite the aging he had concluded that to him she would always be beautiful. At that point, I thought I'd name the song Always Beautiful. I've always had a love for stringed instruments, which of course is associated with classical music. And to me, as classic as they are, the sounds will always be beautiful and have a place in modern music. So, in a sense rather than a person being my muse it was the sound, which I wanted to juxtapose against modern production elements.
I had let it sit for a long time and quit trying to write originals as I decided I needed to dedicate more time to learning covers to expand my musical vocabulary. I lost my mom in 2021, and to deal with the grief I did a lot of searching spiritually. It's hard to think that someone you loved has completely ceased to exist, so naturally you are searching for them anywhere you can find them. And of course I have no way of validating any of my findings, but a lot of what I've heard and read is that the sensory experience in the afterlife is much more vivid than what you experience here, much like some of our dreams which I believe is the intermediate place between here and there. Essentially, “Fallen Stars” explores that dream state, infused with a sense of separation and longing.
How did you work with the producer or engineers to bring your vision for this song to life?
I knew I wanted someone with a good sense of rhythm to make it almost like dance music, and who better than someone who has a successful track record in EDM? I found Lorenzo Cosi from SoundBetter and I sent him my production of the song. He was able to recreate it with the polish it needed without losing the vibe I was going for. I was very pleased with the first iteration of the instrumental portion, but had to work on the vocal portion more carefully. It's quite a low song for me to sing and so I actually had to record most of it either after I had woken up in the morning or after a nap so I could hit those lower notes. Also, expressively you might say it sounds very sleepy and I had to choose those takes that were after I had just woken up. Otherwise, I felt it was sung with too much energy than what the song was going for.
What impact do you hope "Fallen Stars" will have on your audience or the music industry?
My hope is that it just serves as a reminder of how all of us are sparks of divinity and are here struggling to achieve our dreams. When I was, younger, I didn't have many other Asian American artists to look up to. I hope to contribute to that representation for future generations moving forward. I know the industry has evolved significantly since then, but I am excited to potentially be a part of any further evolution.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in music?
I'm finally coming into music production later in my life. Music was always my fun and safe space to explore and express different moods and feelings. For me, it's one of the things that enable me to feel the most alive and in touch with myself as I do it. It's a medium of not only expression but self-reflection. But, I also realized when I was younger that being able to sustain myself financially doing music, especially for me as I am mostly self-taught, would be next to impossible. So while I was always playing music with various people throughout the years, I had focused on going to school and developing my career. I attended dental school and went on to specialize in dental anesthesiology where I mostly put pediatric and special needs patients under general anesthesia to facilitate the completion of their dental work. I also have a family that I love but is of course all encompassing. The kids are finally at an age where they can entertain themselves, giving me more time to begin exploring music again. Being able to do everything through the internet is also a game changer. I know I wouldn't have the time to go around playing live shows to get my music in front of an audience.
How do you use musical elements to convey mood and emotions in your compositions? Are there specific techniques you rely on?
The instrument choice does set the mood, as certain sounds are associated with moods. Orchestral sounds are always on more of the epic side. Keys and key changes evoke a certain feeling too. It may have been easier to pitch “Fallen Stars” up a little to make it easier for me to track the vocals, but I needed it to be in that key for it to retain the darker mood I was going for. I purposefully incorporated the circle of fifths in the chorus as the moving through the fifths always creates a sense of constant push and pull, mimicking the push and pull of our feelings as we chase whatever it is that each of us dreams of.
