MIZU’s '4 | 2 | 3', takes a sharp turn from her previous work, in favor of a darker, more brutalist concept. '4 | 2 | 3' conjures imagery of abandoned and industrial spaces, like those featured in photographer Tanner Pendleton’s album cover. Against this work’s sinister wall of sound, there are moments of warmth and levity that creep to the surface - shifting from oppressive washes to iridescent prisms of vapor and light. Between the sparse composition and maximalist explorations, '4 | 2 | 3' is an hour-long immersive experience that trades fantasy for horror, all without abandoning MIZU’s signature dreamlike ethos.

Originally conceived as a score for choreographers Baye & Asa’s work of the same title, '4 | 2 | 3' follows the structure of the Riddle of the Sphinx, which asks “what has four legs in the morning, two during the day, three at night?”, and follows the arc of a human life. Commissioned by the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York, and premiered in Spring 2024, the production received critical praise, and is currently touring throughout the United States. Legendary dancer and choreographer Mikhail Baryshnikov said of the piece: “Baye & Asa’s ‘4 | 2 | 3’ is a cathartic and visceral experience like none other. It must be seen.” The New York Times offered praise for the music, stating “The ambient soundscape… is organic in shape, and within the layers of electronics and processing, the scraping and singing cello is a voice in the wilderness.”

Credits
Originally released November 15, 2024

Composed, performed, and recorded by: MIZU
Mixed and mastered by: Ariel Loh
Album art: Tanner Pendleton
Graphic design: Daedalus Li
Original concept and creative direction by: Baye & Asa
Original production premiered at The Baryshnikov Arts Center, March 2024
Special thanks to Dominic Ferrero, Neil Haran, Cody DeFalco and Evan Welsh
Label: Carousel Productions, LLC
Publisher: Philharmony Publishing