The Story Behind Kokoro Drift
One day, a cinematographer reached out to me about a short film project involving a well-known Japanese man living in Mexico City. During our conversations, I learned that he taught both bachata and salsa, and that the project would need a bachata soundtrack. That immediately sparked an idea in my mind: what would happen if I combined bachata with Japanese influences? That question eventually became Kokoro Drift.
The foundation of the EP is still bachata, a genre that has been an important part of my life for years. But this time I wanted to experiment by blending Spanish and Japanese lyrics, creating songs that felt familiar and foreign at the same time. I was fascinated by the contrast between Latin rhythms and Japanese language, culture, and aesthetics.
Musically, I pushed the concept even further. Traditional bachata guitars remained at the heart of the project, but I also introduced more energetic rhythmic elements, dancefloor-driven grooves, and influences that added a modern pulse to the music. Some tracks combine the emotional storytelling of bachata with high-energy percussion, powerful bass movement, and even touches of Jersey Club-inspired bounce. The result was something that felt romantic, nostalgic, and exciting all at once.
The visual identity of the EP reflects that fusion. Neon lights, rain-soaked streets, Japanese signage, and the feeling of drifting through a city at night became the perfect backdrop for the music. The title itself combines two ideas that define the project: Kokoro, the Japanese word for heart or spirit, and Drift, the idea of movement, momentum, and letting yourself be carried forward. More than anything, this EP is about release. It's about letting go of the things that keep you stuck. The fears that hold you back. The relationships that no longer help you grow. The expectations that no longer belong to you.
Sometimes we spend years carrying emotional weight simply because we've grown used to it. Kokoro Drift is an invitation to put that weight down, take a deep breath, and move forward. Not with anger. Not with regret. But with gratitude for what was, and enough courage to embrace whatever comes next.
Because sometimes the healthiest thing we can do is stop holding on and finally allow ourselves to drift toward a new chapter.
