As an avid hiker, Kaito draws inspiration from the enigmatic beauty of the Japanese landscape. “I kept returning to the feeling of fog in the mountains: drifting gas, the air turned completely white, and silence. That serene and ghostly world shaped the sound I was aiming for. It’s like seeing something clearly in front of you, yet realizing it may have been a mirage all along. That’s why the word Phantom eventually found its way into the title Mirage”.
Both Phantom and Mirage reflect Kaito’s refined sense of musical quality. Though structurally different, they are bound by a shared axis, listening with that connection in mind may reveal something deeper. Phantom brings back Kaito’s characteristic beat-driven melodies intertwined with guitar layers, a subtle echo of his earlier works as much as a cosmic escape to the ghostly clouds of ethereal Techno. It’s followed by the calm piano of When the Past Dissolves into Light, a serene bridge of reflective spaciousness, guiding listeners toward the EP’s meditative core.
The closing piece, Mirage, immerses audiences into a profound airy soundscape, evoking a bright horizon line of spirituality, depth, and serenity. Phantom Mirage represents Kaito’s ongoing evolution and his dedication to crafting soundscapes that resonate both emotionally and sonically. “I felt a desire to translate what I sensed intuitively into something clear and tangible. There are emotions and images buried deep in my psyche that never change”.
With this EP, Kaito further solidifies his place as one of Japan’s most compelling electronic composers, creating music as a transformative, introspective experience that provides respite and renewal in turbulent times.