Kumi Koda is celebrating another milestone in her career!
The “Real Emotion” J-pop icon, who is currently on her greatest hits tour across Japan, is releasing a new digital single, “Jump to the Breeze,” alongside musician and producer Tetsuya Komuro.
Ahead of the 25th anniversary of her debut in the music industry approaching in 2025, Kumi was personally selected by the prolific producer for the track, which was originally released in China last year for the 6th anniversary of the mobile game Azur Lane, and became a hit among gamers and music fans in the country.
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The producer created a new arrangement of the song, featuring a Latin house arrangement with live percussion, marking their first collaboration since the release of “the meaning of peace” with BoA in 2001.
“‘Jump to the Breeze’ was my first chance to collaborate with Tetsuya Komuro in about 22 years!! We’re releasing the song together as Kumi Koda with Tetsuya Komuro!” Kumi says in a statement.
“The song was first released in China about a year ago, but this time we are releasing a newly arranged version. The song has the kind of nostalgic and beautiful melody you’d expect from Mr. Komuro, so I hope you will listen to it over and over this summer.”
Tetsuya Komuro added: “Long ago, I had a recording studio in Bali. When I was producing this song, the scenery and feelings from that place came flooding back, as clear to my eyes as a tapestry. It’s the sound of those good old midsummer days that we haven’t heard in a long time. On a southern island, with no care for time, reflecting on life as an adult and the experiences that led there, walking slowly along the sandy beach, step by step to the rhythm of the waves, swaying to the song… Koda’s voice has finally reached maturity. I think you’ll find this to be a bittersweet song.”
Check out another J-pop superstar’s theme song for Azur Lane!
Watch the music video…
