Much of the project was shaped by a pivotal trip to Japan, where Joe performed a series of shows. The experience left a deep imprint on the music, with several tracks composed in anticipation of the tour and others created afterward, still echoing with its inspiration. The opening track, “Osaka,” originated from a sample Joe recorded while in the city. He later shared it with fellow tourmate el., who reinterpreted it in his own way — a version that appears later in the project. Upon returning home, Joe crafted his own beat from the same sample, setting the tone for the album’s journey.
The title Shapeshift reflects Joe Nora’s fluid production style, but also his personal evolution - who he was before the Japan tour, and who he became after. It’s a document of change, both internal and artistic.
From the detailed, high-energy cuts like “Osaka” and “Backflip” to the meditative calm of “Fakie,” a collaboration with longtime friend and collaborator Chief, Shapeshift is a wide-ranging statement. It’s an immersive world built from Joe Nora’s distinct sonic language - a project that reaches beyond words to express an ever-shifting spectrum of emotion and form.
Tracklist:
1. Osaka
2. Backflip (feat. Sara Kawai)
3. Blue Jeans
4. River Loop
5. Balcony Day
6. (Dream) Interrupt
7. Shapeless
8. Osaka (El.'s version) (feat. El.)
9. Rain Or..
10. Fakie (feat. Chief.)
11. Watercolor
