Off Shore / On Shift vol.2 Music and the sea remain, unchanged.
Nanamica’s style carries the free and relaxed mood of the sea. That presence quietly lives on in the depths of everyday sensation and expression. Time spent by the shore, and days devoted to music. We visited the roots of expression of singer-songwriter Sarasa, who was born and raised in Shonan.
The sea and music for me “have always been here, unchanged”
Sarasa was born and raised by the ocean, and her music and art have all been created close to it. “Having the sea nearby was so normal to me from the time I was little that, until recently, I honestly couldn’t really understand when people said things like ‘I love the sea’ or ‘I want to go to the beach.’ But when life completely changed during COVID, I realized, ‘No matter how the world changes, the sea stays right here, unchanged.’ That made me aware again of how big its presence really is. From that moment, the sea became something special to me. It’s a place where I feel safe, and something that has shaped who I am. Now, I clearly feel that it’s a part of my identity.”
“Ever since my debut, more and more people have told me, ‘Your music feels like the sea.’ Even when I’m not consciously trying to create that, I think the environment I grew up in naturally seeps into my music. I often write lyrics by the ocean, or listen to finished demos while walking along the beach. At the same time, the sea is something that resets me, so I go there when I’m tired or when I’m bottling up feelings. Because of my dad, who surfs, and my mom, who teaches hula, things like keeping the ocean clean and appreciating nature are just instincts I grew up with. So when I make something, it’s not that I’m deliberately thinking, ‘I should be environmentally conscious’ — it’s simply what feels normal to me.”
The reason she started music was joining the light music club in high school. After she began aiming to become a professional musician, she says there was even a period when she quit music altogether. “But in the end, there was always a part of me that wanted to sing again… That’s when I realized music isn’t something you ‘quit’ or ‘don’t quit’—it’s something that already flows inside me.” From there she began writing her own songs, and the very first one she completed became her debut track, “Nail no Shima.” Before officially debuting, she went through a period of trying many different things—selling vintage clothes, attending art school, exploring different paths. “But in the end, singing was what I loved the most.”
True to her personal motto “Live Bluesy”—live in a bluesy way — Sarasa continues to deliver songs filled with honest, straightforward emotion. “I want to be someone who doesn’t lie as a musician. For that, sometimes you have to protect yourself, and sometimes you have to fight. Even so, I want to keep facing music head-on.” What Sarasa values is not only positive emotions but the human quality that includes negative ones as well. She believes harmony is created only when both coexist. “Even when things don’t go well, I hope people can think, ‘Well, it’s fine,’ and let their shoulders relax. I feel that way myself too, which is why I treat those emotions as an important part of my music.”
Sarasa is wearing a sweat set-up made from nanamica’s original double-face fabric. “In my private time, I make a point of going out — going to museums, reading outside, anything that gets me outdoors. When I stay home, I end up overthinking, so I really value spending time talking with friends and other creatives.” Soft and comfortable, yet not too relaxed, it’s a piece that slips naturally into everyday life — something you can wear as an effortless extension of your daily routine.
The sweatshirt set, characterized by a subtle sheen and a smooth feel against the skin, uses organic cotton for the outer yarn and COOLMAX® EcoMade for the inner yarn in both the top and bottom. The patterning is designed so that the silhouette becomes three-dimensional when worn, giving it roominess and ease of movement while still maintaining a sense of fit. “I feel like I’d end up wearing this every day. Even with a shirt layered underneath, it doesn’t feel stiff or bulky, and I was really impressed by how easy it is to move in. It makes me want to grab my favorite book and head out somewhere on a whim.”
Salasa
Influenced by the music genre blues — born from sorrow and hardship — she coined the phrase “Live Bluesy,” her own expression meaning “live in a bluesy way.” Through this theme, she transforms negative emotions and experiences into creativity, embracing them instead of rejecting them. A singer-songwriter from Shonan, known for her free-spirited ideas and unique perspective.
