In addition to his solo works, he is a member of the Electronica duo Kimonos, which formed in 2010 with Mukai Shutoku of Zazen Boys. He is also is a member of the band Metafive, formed in 2015 with Yukihiro Takahashi, Keigo Oyamada, Yoshinori Sunahara, Towa Tei, and Tomohiko Gondo.
Alongside his own projects, he continues to contribute a wide range of music and text to various other artists.
Born in Tokyo to a Japanese father and Swedish mother. Educated at SOAS and Oxford University. Settled in Tokyo in July 2006 to launch music career with debut album ‘City Folk’.
Showcasing a variety of styles from heart-rending killer-tunes to angular rap, he not only represents a new style of singer-songwriter in J-Pop, but his blend of lyrical passion and austerity of design may mark something new for the world at large.
Tabula Rasa
LEO今井 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing as white Drawn a line in the sand
真夏の白 崩れそう
もう一回
もう一回 ハートを動かせば
もう一回
もう一回 皮膚を脱ぎ捨てられたら
真夏の白 今にも崩れそう
眩しすぎて
季節の渦に 今すぐ 呑まれそう
もう激しすぎて
もう一回
もう一回 ハートが動いたら
もういっぱい もう一回 One more time
琥珀色の液体 ぶち込めば
真っ暗がりから産声をあげる
蘇ったかの様な白紙のまんま
何にも知らないからただ鳴き出すわ
血の中 ケミカル 急ぎ回った
真夏の白 血管と崩れそう
上がりすぎて
季節の渦に 今すぐ呑まれそう
馬鹿馬鹿しくて
やめてぇ
やめて
The lyrics of LEO今井's song Tabula Rasa are reflective of a sense of emptiness - a sentiment of having nothing in the hands. The artist draws a line in the sand with the only thing left - his/her nothingness. The white color alludes to a sense of purity, almost like a blank canvas ready to be painted on. However, the purity is fragile and is on the verge of crumbling. The artist seems to be living in the moment, caught in the whirlwind of change that is the season, making them feel like they would be swallowed by it at any moment.
The artist longs for a chance to be reborn - to start again, to feel again. The repetition of "one more time" and the desire to shed off the skin and start anew signifies a desire for a new beginning. The artist acknowledges their ignorance - the blank slate that they are - and seems to have reached their limit, as seen in the plea to "stop."
Overall, the song seems to invoke a sense of yearning for a change, a new beginning, but also a sense of fragility and uncertainty that comes with starting anew.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothing I've got nothing in my hands
I don't have anything tangible to hold or show for my efforts or existence.
Nothing as white Drawn a line in the sand
Even though I have nothing concrete to offer, I still have put up a symbolic marker, demonstrating my resolve or intention.
真夏の白 崩れそう
It's like the whiteness or purity that I cling to is crumbling, maybe because it's so fragile or unrealistic to begin with.
もう一回 ハートを動かせば
If I could make my heart feel something, like passion or love, just one more time, maybe it would reignite my will or vigor.
もう一回 皮膚を脱ぎ捨てられたら
If I could shed my skin, get rid of the old, damaged layers, maybe it would reveal something new or pure underneath, something I could work with.
真夏の白 今にも崩れそう
The purity or idealism that I still cling to is almost certain to disintegrate or be shattered by the harsh reality and chaos of the world.
眩しすぎて 季節の渦に 今すぐ 呑まれそう
The brightness or brilliance of my ideals or dreams blinds me completely, and I feel like I'm about to be swallowed up by the uncontrollable forces of life.
もう一回 ハートが動いたら
If my heart could beat with emotion or excitement once again, that would be enough to spur me on and give me hope.
もういっぱい もう一回 One more time
Just one more time, I need to try, to give it my all, to take a risk or a chance, because the alternative is to give up and let everything fade away.
琥珀色の液体 ぶち込めば
If I pour in this amber-colored liquid, maybe it will trigger something, jump-start some kind of reaction or process.
真っ暗がりから産声をあげる 蘇ったかの様な白紙のまんま
Like a newborn baby crying out from the darkness, or like a blank sheet of paper coming to life, I'm starting over, coming back from the brink of annihilation or emptiness.
何にも知らないからただ鳴き出すわ
I don't know anything, so I'll just start making noise, making myself heard, trying things out, experimenting.
血の中 ケミカル 急ぎ回った
Chemicals are churning and circulating through my bloodstream, maybe as a result of my desperation, my fear, my determination, or my hope.
真夏の白 血管と崩れそう
Somehow, my idealism and purity are connected to my bodily functions or being, and they're about to collapse or give out.
上がりすぎて 季節の渦に 今すぐ呑まれそう
My emotions or energy levels are too high or intense, and I feel like I'm about to be swept away by the swirling currents of life.
馬鹿馬鹿しくて やめてぇ やめて
It's all so stupid, senseless, and overwhelming, and I just want it all to stop, to go away, to leave me alone.
Contributed by Thomas M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.