East Fremantle pianist Setsu Masuda and guitarist Duncan Gardiner have been making music together for years, but it was the work of a local artist that became the driving force behind their new album Falling Like Tears.
Masuda said the theme of their debut album drew inspiration from an art book by Fremantle artist Jo Darvall, The Rose, the Butterfly, the Bee and the Moth.
“When we discovered the story we knew we had the theme for an entire album,” she said.
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READ NOW“The story, beautifully written by renowned author Jane Harrison, was later illustrated and turned into an art book and a sculptural art installation which opens up like a concertina, by Jo Darvall.
“We were so taken by the magic of the art book that we decided to set the story to music, Duncan composing nine original works which set various passages of the story to music, which has become the centrepiece for the entire project.”
Embracing the world stage, Mimi Duo will perform 11 concerts in Japan next month, a tour that will include a show in front of 1800 people at charity concert for the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami disaster.
Matsuda said they would become the first international guest artists to perform at the annual fundraiser event.
“We will give a premiere performance of Duncan’s original piece A Thousands Cranes Beat Their Wings, which was composed as a prayer for peace and home for the victims and survivors,” she said.
“We have been holding our own charity home concerts for the cause since 2012 so we are very honoured to be part of this concert.”