Two years as a Susumu Fan. A Retrospective.
Welcome,
I initially intended to make a post where I ranked my favorite songs or albums. But the longer I spent on the list the more difficulty I discovered. Susumu's art has become so much more to me than: "this song goes harder than this one." Because he just has this insane talent to make every song envoke a specific, vivid emotion. On occasion, emotions I didn't even know could appropriately or logically mix at all. Yet they do. They somehow, always do.
"The man from Narcissus space" for instance, makes me feel a whopping six different emotions, all at once. I feel loss, hope, optimism, sorrow, longing, triumph, relief, ( and more ) And I don't even speak Japanese nor know the lyrics!!
I feel an indescribable emptiness and deep longing as I listen to the masterpiece that is Mermaid Song. A longing so intense it can break me to complete tears, and I feel enough sheer power and adrenaline in my veins during the roaring "archetype engine" that I have actively put it in my gym playlist.
Then you take a track like "paranesian cycle" a whirlwind of emotions that constantly seems to shift it's atmosphere almost as if it's organic in nature. A delicate flux of rhythym and song, an eb and flow of the wheel of emotions spinning madly. what starts as feelings of safeness and calm slowly beginning to spiral into ones of unease, which then explodes into what feels like straight terror.
I can go on, and on.
I am also neurodivergent. And I've seen a trend of people similar in this regard finding a kind of peace in his music no other artist can. To me, it's like "our" brains constantly shifting, overstimulated, foggy mess can feel rested for but a moment when an artist can reflect it's natural state at least somewhat accurately, if that makes sense, I've described his music as: "my brain finally speaking freely and fluently in its own, rare language."
And somehow, after every couple of listens, a song gains more and more and MORE depth. Songs that I firmly disliked at first got me chanting along after just five more listens.
I have never in my life felt an artist manifest the intent of their creation in my soul to the degree susumu does, his ability to transport me to another realm with his sounds have kept me firm in my shoes and in control of destiny in the struggles of a mostly stale and grey life of working long shifts to sustain myself. Any emotion I feel at any particular time can be amplified with the right song.
It has made my life feel full of hope and Spiritual whimsy in times where I needed it most. And more importantly, thought me the importance of feeling every emotion you can imagine to its full extent. Because that's how you feel truly alive.
Which makes me very curious,
How was YOUR journey discovering this man, and how did / do you get in touch with your mind on some of your favourite Tracks?