Before We Spoke

Japanese pianist & composer Osamu Fukuzawa returns to Stereofox Records with a new collaborative album, following the success of his acclaimed Afterimage alongside re:plus.

This time, Osamu joins forces with one of the UK’s finest producers & multi-instrumentalists – edbl, whose unmistakable touch you may recognize from Toshiki Soejima’s beloved Carefree EP and their “Resonance,” also featuring jazz legend Takuya Kuroda.

Before We Spoke takes its name from the creative process behind the album. Although the two artists exchanged very few words throughout its making, the music itself became their shared language. Ideas flowed naturally between Tokyo and London, quickly turning into the cohesive yet diverse backbone of the record.

Ed adds, “I’ve always loved working with keyboard players as it complements my own background as a guitarist and beat-maker really naturally. The ideas Osamu sent over from the outset were beautiful and very much aligned with my taste creatively, so the tracks came together quickly and organically.”

On four of the tracks, the duo is joined by an exceptional cast of collaborators – UK singers INDIA BLUE and IYAMAH, trumpeter Jackson Mathod, and Dutch singer Robyn Florence, each bringing their own unique character to the album.

Sonically, Before We Spoke moves fluidly between jazz, beats, neo-soul, and r&b, held together by Osamu’s heart-melting piano and edbl’s groove-driven yet chill production. The album balances warmth and movement with ease – it’s both soft and exciting, intimate and open.

The project’s collage-inspired artwork reflects this same spirit of connection and layering. Flowers, landscapes, windows, and musical instruments intertwine like fragments of memory and conversation, mirroring the way the album was created – different places, emotions, and people slowly coming together into one shared space.