Note

After completing each song, I began casually remixing them in different ways—partly as a change of pace—and continued sharing these remixes on SoundCloud and Bandcamp over the years. Shortly after finishing “If” in July 2022, I naturally started working on its remix as well. During that process, I decided to select a few of my past remixes and compile them into one EP. That idea eventually led to the creation of “Equal: otom remixed”.

While each track preserves key phrases from the originals, they were rebuilt almost as entirely new compositions. Because the remixes were made across different periods, there were noticeable variations in quality. For this release, I focused on enhancing the overall resolution and cohesion of the entire work. Some parts, including a few vocal tracks, were re-recorded, and the volume balance and stereo positioning were thoroughly revised. This allowed me to refine aspects that hadn’t turned out as intended at the time of the original releases. Although I personally like the lo-fi textures of the earlier versions, this time I prioritized a more polished sound suitable for digital distribution.

The title and cover artwork were designed to express equality with the original versions—conveying the idea that these remixes stand on the same level as the originals. (For distribution platform guidelines, the title appears as “Equal”.)

I am also planning “Equal II”, a second volume that will include remixes not featured in this release as well as new works, with a target release sometime in 2023.

1. Novel (Remix)

The original song, released in 2021, has a slightly faster tempo and blends elements of shoegaze and math rock. It features bouncy drums and layered vocals, supported by intertwining guitar and bass lines. The track shifts pace throughout and incorporates fugue-style phrases at key points. In this remix, the drum pattern from the original is looped to create a more intense, driving finish.

2. If (Remix)

The original song, released in July 2022, mixes folk and experimental sounds. This 10-minute piece features a vocal section in the first half and an instrumental section in the latter. Its main elements are acoustic guitar arpeggios and electric guitar textures played with freeze effects. While the first half emphasizes vocal melody in a simple folk style, the second half builds into a dense wall of sound through layered guitars.

The lyrics were inspired by The Grand Inquisitor episode from Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamazov”, one of otom’s favorite novels. This remix focuses on the guitar parts (from the latter section of the original), recorded back in 2014. The simplified mix gives the track a completely different atmosphere from the original.

3. Seasons (Remix)

The original song, released in 2019, carries a mid-tempo post-rock and ambient feel. It is composed of short reversed guitar strokes, melodic and rhythmic piano, faintly arranged xylophone, heavy drums, and overlapping vocals. In this remix, the piano arpeggios and noise loops were re-edited, giving the song a brighter tone compared to the original.

4. You Lost Me (Remix)

The original song, released in 2019, is an up-tempo piece combining distorted and clean guitar ensembles, fast drums, and layered vocals. It was composed using both guitar and laptop, with the use of original Max patches. This remix takes a drastic approach, deconstructing the original sound with a new Max patch, while also adding new piano phrases not present in the original.

5. Lie (Piano)

The original song is from the EP “Cycle” (2021), an acoustic work expressing the four seasons—summer, autumn, winter, and spring—through four contrasting styles. This version focuses on the winter-themed track, composed around strummed acoustic guitar, electric piano phrases, and a melancholic vocal melody. It was originally written to evoke both stillness and intensity. The piano version included here, first released alongside the EP, combines floating reversed piano with string textures.