Japa “Maladroit Android”

Introducing the Turkish duo (sometimes trio), Japa, is like trying to introduce an entire genre of experimental electronica in one sentence. Perhaps impossible, and perhaps – thankfully – too devoid of depth to even try. Formed during the COVID pandemic isolation, both Japa members, Çağla Karaali and Oğulcan Akça, had shaped their creative process through the scarceness of musical tools, and focused on what was available to them at that particular time. The result? An impressive fusion of experimental sounds serving as a backdrop for immensely soulful vocals. 

This contrast between what is organic and what is artificial is the core concept behind “Maladroit Android”, the second track coming from Japa’s EP, “Love Is Never Enough”. Imagine a break-up song written with computerised sounds, purposely creating a dissonant feeling, an out-of-this-world emotion, almost unreal, yet reflecting an actual human experience. Feeling a bit shiver-ish, aren’t we?

“Maladroit Android”, featuring Çağla Karaali’s deeply soulful vocals, which are at the centre of that goosebumps-inducing blend of feelings, for some unexplainable reason reminds me of where Moloko had left off their experimentation just as they entered the world of mainstream back in the 1990s. Pure, purposeful and brutally honest, Japa’s take on experimental electronic will leave you enchanted and in need of more of the same – an unexpected rush of emotion directly in your bloodstream. 

“Love Is Never Enough” was released by an Istanbul-based Resonus Records. This early-stage initiative is aimed at supporting music that falls outside of the mainstream — especially within the independent and underground scenes. Suffice to say, if you start with a bang, you cannot back out. So, here’s hoping for more experiments, more unexpectedness, and more truly genuine emotions produced by the mix of frequencies we commonly call music.

Photo: Press release

Çağla’s Insta: https://www.instagram.com/caglina_

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