Composers: Hatis Noit | Kunaicho Gakubu | Matmos | Meredith Monk | Yasukatsu Oshima
In this episode of Black & White Radio, lighting designer Nico de Rooij wonders with
Japanese vocal performer Hatis Noit. Hailing from distant Shiretoko in Hokkaido, now residing in London, de Rooij and Hatis Noit will have a conversation in which they are wondering through the world of audible images and visual sounds. Part 1.
Hatis Noit’s accomplished range is astonishingly self-taught, inspired by everything she could find from Gagaku — Japanese classical music — and operatic styles, Bulgarian and Gregorian chanting, to avant-garde and pop vocalists.
The name Hatis Noit itself is taken from Japanese folklore, meaning the stem of the lotus flower. The lotus represents the living world, while its root the spirit world, therefore Hatis Noit is what connects the two. For Hatis Noit, music represents the same netherworld with its ability to move and transport us to the other side; the past, a memory, our subconscious.
It was at the age of 16, during a trek in Nepal to the Buddha’s birthplace, when she realised singing was her calling. While staying at a women’s temple in Lumbini, one morning on a walk Hatis Noit heard someone singing. On further investigation it was a female monk singing Buddhist chants, alone. The sound moved her so intensely she was instantly aware of the visceral power of the human voice; a primal and instinctive instrument that connects us to the very essence of humanity, nature and our universe.
After participating in a memorial and appreciation ceremony tailored to the withdrawal of the evacuation area in Fukushima on 31st March 2017, Hatis Noit collaborated with renowned visual artist Nobumichi Asai on a project titled Inori (prayer) which they premiered live at Mutek Japan in Tokyo.
March 23, 2018 marked the worldwide release of her first enigmatic EP Illogical Dance on Erased Tapes. The arresting 4-track record features Björk-collaborators Matmos and creates unique song-worlds with transcendent vocal interpretations that at once deconstruct and recombine Western Classical, Japanese folk and nature’s own ambience atmosphere.
Having recently moved to London, she’s performed solo shows and appeared at various festivals across Europe, including a special live performance at the Milan Fashion Week 2018. Hatis Noit has collaborated with Kevin Richard Martin aka The Bug, the NYX Electronic Drone Choir and appeared on recordings by fellow countryman Masayoshi Fujita as well as Ukrainian pianist and Continuous Music pioneer Lubomyr Melnyk.
Most recently she’s been invited by David Lynch to perform at his Manchester International Festival takeover, followed by headline shows across Europe and beyond, culminating in a much applauded sold-out London show with the London Contemporary Orchestra at Southbank Centre.
Tipped by The Guardian as One To Watch in 2020, Hatis Noit is currently working on her full-length album to be expected around summertime. She will appear as part of the Erased Tapes 2020 nights in Hamburg, Paris, Nantes followed by a collaboration with cinematographer Vincent Moon for Elevatein Graz, Austria — with more live dates to be announced soon.
She appeared as part of Erased Tapes 2020 events in Hamburg, Paris and Nantes, followed by a collaboration with cinematographer Vincent Moon for Elevate Festival in Graz, Austria. Her most recent performance saw her share the stage with Berlin cellist Anne Müller and Australian saxophonist Daniel Thorne for a label night at London’s Kings Place.
Inori für Graz – Hatis Noit.
0.15- 3.49.
Illogical Lullaby – Hatis Noit.
3.50 – 11.45.
Braid 1 And Leaping Song – Meredith Monk.
11.46 – 19.57.
matematika – Hatis Noit.
21.10-25.10.
Berceuse, Pt. 1 – Aka, Mbenzélé.
26.34-28.00.
Hawsa – MAREWREW.
28.01 – 31.32.
Hosanna, Psalm 23 – Chanticleer.
31.33-35.29.
Gyura Beli Belo Platno – The London Bulgarian Choir.
35.30 – 37.43.
黒島口説 Kurushima Kudouchi – 大島保克 Yasukatsu Oshima.
37.43-42.00.
黄鐘調調子 Oshikicho Choshi – 宮内庁楽部 Kunaicho Gakubu.
42.01-43.51.
Traum – Hatis Noit.
45.55-46.42.
Lulio – Hatis Noit.
46.43-48.32.
Illogical Lullaby (Matmos Edit) – Hatis Noit remixed by Matmos.
48.33 – 54.47.
Ultimate Care II Excerpt Nine – Matmos.
54.52-58.25.
Link – Hatis Noit.
58.26-59.49.