Kenichi Iwasa and Naima Karlsson form the duo Exotic Sin. Improvisation and live recording are at the core of their collaborative process, integrating acoustic instruments and simple electronics to play with the contrasts and cohesions of natural, digital and intuitive sounds. The duo collide piano, trumpet, flutes, percussion and two of Don Cherry's "zen saxophones" (woodwinds handmade by attaching reed mouthpieces to plastic plumbing parts), with loops, live sampling, and anachronistic '90s keyboards. The duo first came together in 2018 for a performance celebrating the art and music of Naima's grandparents, Moki and Don Cherry, before continuing as an independent unit that still incorporates some of the Cherrys' instruments as well as their synergetic integration of improvised music with visual art.
https://www.exoticsin.co.uk/
Exotic Sin have performed at Somerset House Studios (London), Bourse de Commerce (Paris), Blank Forms (Brooklyn), Cafe Oto (London), Bergen Kunsthall, EartH (London), Gong Tomorrow (Copenhagen), Lisson Gallery (London) and more.
Kenichi Iwasa (b. 1977) is a London based improviser and multidisciplinary artist from Japan. He plays a variety of instruments including trumpet, flute, percussion and handmade woodwinds, combined with electronic effects. Iwasa is also known for his legendary Krautrock Karaoke night, and has collaborated with visual artists and musicians such as Beatrice Dillon, Maxwell Sterling, Damo Suzuki and Linder Sterling.
Naima Karlsson (b. 1982) is a multi-disciplinary artist and musician based in London. Her practice interweaves sonic and visual forms led by interests in repetition, improvisation and the abstract relationships between language, symbol, image and sound. Naima’s main instrument is the piano, as well as percussion, vibraphone, and keyboards. Improvisation is at the core of the artist's musical process, combined with minimalist uses of tone, arrangement, and an inherently organic approach to playing. Naima is part of the duo Exotic Sin with Kenichi Iwasa, and she is an archivist and coordinator for the Estate of Moki Cherry and Cherry Archive.
