RuiijiKun

SAMAKA–an instrumental album by Manila-based artist/producer RuiijiKun. Samaka ("sama ka?") translates from Filipino as “wanna join?” or “come join” – a phrase used as an invitation.

The opening track, which is titled as the album, ‘Samaka’, sets the tone with its invitation to let the music guide listeners into a deep, trance-like experience. Followed by a notable track, ‘Omen’, which is fused by mellow rhodes chords and groovy bass lines. The album is dynamic and diverse as some tracks evoke warmth and gentleness (‘Perfect Days’ & ‘Fluid Reflections’), others could be uneasy or provoke tension (‘Two Tales’ & ‘Oui’d’).

In the process, he characterizes the creation of SAMAKA as both self-confrontational and exploratory. He mentioned, “It felt like wandering, or like going on a long trip, trying every route, being in a constant state of departing and arriving, and in the end of it all you just realize you’ve already arrived at where you always wanted to be–the present moment (‘Yzz Ok’)”.

This is his first project release in two years hence the album is a glimpse of where he has been. The project features jazz drummer, Benny Carrot (Track No. 3) and Bassist Mopifish (Track no. 2, 3, and 12). RuiijiKun envisions the music as a journey within, and SAMAKA is an offering of an intimate exploration of the self through sound.