Into The Bright Kyoto
Into The Bright – Guided by Kanyō
Sonic Minds collaborated with Saffron Brand Consultants, a global branding consultancy agency, on their second edition of the Into the Bright Series. The event named Into the Bright —Kyoto: Luminaries of Change was a four-day event that brought together global leaders from entrepreneurship, art, architecture, AI, design, and branding to explore the fusion of tradition and innovation, all guided by the Japanese concept of kanyō—tolerance, forbearance, and generosity.
Visit Saffron’s Webpage to get their perspective
https://saffron-consultants.com/journal/into-the-bright-kyoto
https://saffron-consultants.com/
Kanyō – Tolerance, forbearance and generosity
As part of this collaboration, Sonic Minds created immersive soundscapes designed to envelop the audience in an ambient musical tapestry radiating harmony, calm, and balance—an expression of the kanyō philosophy. These compositions were aptly named “Baransu”, the Japanese word for “balance,” reinforcing the event’s central theme.
The ambience of “Baransu” – The foundation to the sonic identity of the event.
Why?
From climate emergencies to widening social divides, everyday life often tends to get overshadowed by crises of trust, identity, and shared purpose. Innovation feels dim, and the need for a thorough on-going discussion about a brighter future seems increasingly important.
In order to spark creative solutions that guide us forward into a brighter future, Saffron invited business executives and creative professionals to help navigate in these shifting times through collective wisdom and meaningful change leading the way Into The Bright.
Timeless Flow
The stage was set in Kyoto, a city rich with cultural heritage and innovative spirit. This inspired the music to be in touch with the traditional heritage of Japan, while still being untied to any concrete cultural characteristics, to remain timeless and progressive in its expression.
The aim was to keep the audience in flow and create a sense of harmony while still being engaging.
We came up with the idea of a timeless atemporal ambience track where we could implement different themes on top without it being tied to the certain beat. That way we could signify and draw the attention of the audience without breaking the flow and state of mind they were in.
“Barensu” was there to keep everything in balance and the different themes called attention to the stage.
Set the scene
Listen to the opening theme, feel the welcoming atmosphere and notice how it seamlessly flows into the main ambience track as a natural extension.
Every theme consists of a melody catching the attention of the listener. The Welcome melody sets the scene. It’s positive on an overall level but has a melancholic tone to it as well which fits the nature of the Into The Bright event.
Inspired by Japanese heritage and Zen meditation included in the event, the welcome theme was accompanied by a sound designed environment bearing a close resemblance to a japanese garden with synthesised chimes and water droplets mixed with human breathing and water. The gentle and natural sound of water evokes a sense of calm and presence, mirroring the Zen principle psychologically soothing the mind.
To further enhance the cultural reference we implemented tongue drum but altered it using tools or techniques to change how it sounds. This way we developed a new progressive sound that stands on the shoulders of the cultural musical heritage fitting the overall event.
Timeless cues
With knowledgeable speakers at the event we designed different pieces for walking on and off the stage. The same atemporal idea applied here making sure there weren’t any musical limitations.
Listen to the following themes signalling Walk On & Walk Off
Open and close
If you isolate the melodies of the two themes you clearly hear how the Walk-On melody opens up and the Walk-Off concludes, musically tying a knot around the speaker.
Music used to Call-In the attendees of the event after a break. Notice the bells resemblance to a theater alarm calling in the audience.
A space to reflect
With In To The Bright and Barensu we didn’t just compose event music; we created a vibe, an immersive auditory experience becoming key to the nerve of the event itself. It wasn’t merely about creating melodies—it was about shaping a state of mind, an evolving ambience that could adapt to the moment while maintaining a sense of harmony and flow.
Beyond the tradition
This approach is redefining event music as a dynamic tapestry that surrounds and enhances every aspect of the experience.
By blending timeless cultural references with progressive techniques, we designed a sonic landscape that resonated with the spirit of “Into The Bright.” The music became a living element of the event, guiding attention, evoking emotion, and reinforcing the themes of balance, innovation, and collective wisdom. This new way of thinking about event music transformed it from background sound into an integral part of the event’s identity—setting a powerful precedent for what event soundscapes can achieve.
From dark into the bright
Finally the ending theme.
You might notice that the melody is the same as the opening melody. This time, however, the harmonic foundation shifts as the theme progresses, symbolising the journey made from dark “into the bright”
The triangle
The Into The Bright Kyoto visuals were all centered on the triangle, the strongest shape symbolizing balance and transformation. Fluid motion graphics brought it to life, blending tradition with innovation. This dynamic motif reinforced the event’s theme, “Luminaries of Change” embodying resilience, progress, and harmony.
Credits
All, except audio, conceptual identity and visual motion work was done by Saffron.
Words From Client
“Thank you very much for your support and partnership. Your sound concept worked very nicely and added a layer of sophistication and immersive quality to the conference. Motion and sound elevated the whole set up and we got very good feedback from the audience.”
Gabor Schreier, Chief Creative Officer, Saffron
