Nº 8 12 & 1 SONG – Janis Crunch & haruka nakamura

“12 songs for the peaceful winters of the world, and 1 song for your soul.”

The project began on a wintery night in 2007 during a candle-lit recording session for haruka nakamura’s solo album grace with vocalist Janis Crunch. In a spontaneous moment, the duo decided to step away from the album’s recording to create a Christmas carol of their own. The result was 12 & 1 song, which was briefly released online during the Christmas season. Inspired by the magic of the moment, the duo continued to create winter-themed songs, quickly becoming favorites among fans of both artists.

Although their creative paths diverged as they worked on separate projects, their bond remained strong, and their year-end tradition continued. Over the years, a collection of winter-themed compositions was formed, recorded between 2007 and 2011.

Janis Crunch’s warm, resonant vocals take center stage, beautifully complementing haruka nakamura’s placid classical guitar and atmospheric soundscapes. Crunch’s vocal contributions highlight the depth of her compositional skills, particularly her solo piano performances on tracks like SOLITUDE and Requiem. Songs such as 12 & 1 song, nuit, and prayer evoke the familiar, timeless sound of nakamura’s grace album. ARAKI Shin, who featured prominently on nakamura’s second album twilight, joins the duo with his delicate flute on insincere love.

With a total of 13 compositions, 12 & 1 SONG encapsulates hazy childhood memories and the quiet beauty of the winter solstice. The album moves between moments of tender innocence and a quiet world-weariness, all glowing with the warmth of a crackling fire. The album marks haruka nakamura’s first venture into production and is mastered by Keith Kenniff (Helios, Goldmund).

CREDIT

Janis Crunch: Vocals, Piano
haruka nakamura: Piano, Guitar, Electronics
ARAKI Shin: Flute

Mastered by Keith Kenniff, USA

Design by Ricks Ang, April Lee
Collages by Sakura Sato