Covers & Extras

‘Meanwhile’ is about the passage of time. It‘s a collection of piano and chiptune duets that have bloomed gradually over the last 10 years of our lives.

We always intended to release a sequel to our first album, ‘The Black Box’, but life kept getting in the way. Slowly but surely, we found little in-between moments to write personal music together. These songs are like our stolen musical kisses.

You can get our album on Bandcamp or stream it on your platform of choice. Thank you so much for listening!

— a&s 🖤

All music composed, mixed, and mastered by aivi & surasshu
Artwork by Genie Liang
Character designs by Julian De Perio
Produced by Infloresce Records 🎹🌸

Buy on Bandcamp

Meanwhile

"Remembering the good old days of Ubiktune, ‘The Black Box’ is an album I personally consider a major highlight of that era. I have always believed that the sound palette of chiptune was meant to be blended with real instruments, and it was one of the rare examples of this being done in such a natural way.

But for me, ‘The Black Box’ is much more than just a music album. It is a perfect match of two souls who made it possible to not only join their musical styles together, but also their destinies in real life. And that’s what makes this album so special.

When all of these wonderful things come together so deeply, ‘The Black Box’ can only become a source of light."

— C-jeff
(Founder of Ubiktune)

🖤 🎹 🖤

— THE BLACK BOX —

All songs on ‘The Black Box’ were composed and performed by aivi & surasshu except for the following:

3. “Lonely Rolling Star”
Composed by Yoshihito Yano

8. “Distance”
Composed by Yoh Ohyama (Asturias)

🖤 🎹 🖤

— THE BLACK B-SIDES —

The music of The Black B-Sides was composed by the following people:

11. “20,november”
Composed by Reo Nagumo (dj nagureo)
Recorded in 2020

12. “Yuri On Ice”
Composed by Taro Umebayashi
Recorded in 2023

13. “Un-Americana” (“mericana.mid” from Windows 98)
Composer unknown
This arrangement was released as a part of ‘STAFFcirc vol 6​.​0 - WINDOWS VARIAT​~​1’ in 2020.

14. “Nebulosa II” (“Cloudy Forest” from Super Ubie Land)
Composed by Calum Bowen
The first version of “Nebulosa” was released as a part of the ‘Super Ubie Land Original Soundtrack’ in 2013.

15. “Downtown by Night” from Happy Home Designer
Composed by Kazumi Totaka
Recorded in 2016

16. Come Back ("Beacon"/"Forgotten" from FEZ)
Composed by Disasterpeace
This arrangement was released as a part of Disasterpeace’s ‘FZ: SIDE Z’ album in 2013.

17. “Mabe Village” from The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Composed by Kozue Ishikawa
Recorded in 2012

🖤 🎹 🖤

ART: Diana Jakobsson
MIXING / MASTERING: aivi & surasshu
PRODUCED BY INFLORESCE RECORDS

The Black Box (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

A selection of songs from the Ikenfell soundtrack 🔮✨

The full soundtrack is now available on Bandcamp! ⭐️
https://aivisura.bandcamp.com/album/ikenfell-original-game-soundtrack

Ikenfell Website: http://ikenfell.com
Steam - https://store.steampowered.com/app/854940/Ikenfell

Ikenfell (Soundtrack Preview)

Composed by Sean Hogan
Arranged by aivi & surasshu

aivi & surasshu - The Emerald Sea (Anodyne Remix)

“Un-Americana” (“mericana.mid” from Windows 98)
Composer unknown
This arrangement was released as a part of ‘STAFFcirc vol 6​.​0 - WINDOWS VARIAT​~​1’ in 2020.

Un-Americana (Based on "mericana.mid" from Windows 98)

“Yuri On Ice”
Composed by Taro Umebayashi
Recorded in 2023

Yuri on Ice (Composed by Taro Umebayashi)

“20,november”
Composed by Reo Nagumo (dj nagureo)
Recorded in 2020

20,november (Composed by Reo Nagumo)

"Here's How!" is the fifth track from the album "The Black Box" by aivi & surasshu

"The Black Box (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)" via @Infloresce:

• https://aivisura.bandcamp.com/album/the-black-box-10th-anniversary-deluxe-edition
• https://soundcloud.com/aivisura/sets/the-black-box

"The Black Box" via @Ubiktune:

• https://aivisura.bandcamp.com/album/the-black-box
• https://ubiktune.com/releases/aivi-and-surasshu-the-black-box

Follow aivi & surasshu:

• https://aivisura.com
• https://soundcloud.com/aivisura
• https://aivisura.bandcamp.com
• https://youtube.com/@aivisura
• https://x.com/aivisura

The Black Box

🔊 Stream / Download

aivi & surasshu - Here's How!

"Diamond Dove" is the fourth track from the album "The Black Box" by aivi & surasshu

"The Black Box (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)" via @Infloresce:

• https://aivisura.bandcamp.com/album/the-black-box-10th-anniversary-deluxe-edition
• https://soundcloud.com/aivisura/sets/the-black-box

"The Black Box" via @Ubiktune:

• https://aivisura.bandcamp.com/album/the-black-box
• https://ubiktune.com/releases/aivi-and-surasshu-the-black-box

Follow aivi & surasshu:

• https://aivisura.com
• https://soundcloud.com/aivisura
• https://aivisura.bandcamp.com
• https://youtube.com/@aivisura
• https://x.com/aivisura

aivi & surasshu - Diamond Dove

"Lonely Rolling Star" is the third track from the album "The Black Box" by aivi & surasshu.

Composed by Yoshihito Yano

"The Black Box (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)" via @Infloresce:

• https://aivisura.bandcamp.com/album/the-black-box-10th-anniversary-deluxe-edition
• https://soundcloud.com/aivisura/sets/the-black-box

"The Black Box" via @Ubiktune:

• https://aivisura.bandcamp.com/album/the-black-box
• https://ubiktune.com/releases/aivi-and-surasshu-the-black-box

Follow aivi & surasshu:

• https://aivisura.com
• https://soundcloud.com/aivisura
• https://aivisura.bandcamp.com
• https://youtube.com/@aivisura
• https://x.com/aivisura

aivi & surasshu - Lonely Rolling Star (Composed by Yoshihito Yano)

"Shapeshifter" is the second track from the album "The Black Box" by aivi & surasshu

"The Black Box (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)" via @Infloresce:

• https://aivisura.bandcamp.com/album/the-black-box-10th-anniversary-deluxe-edition
• https://soundcloud.com/aivisura/sets/the-black-box

"The Black Box" via @Ubiktune:

• https://aivisura.bandcamp.com/album/the-black-box
• https://ubiktune.com/releases/aivi-and-surasshu-the-black-box

Follow aivi & surasshu:

• https://aivisura.com
• https://soundcloud.com/aivisura
• https://aivisura.bandcamp.com
• https://youtube.com/@aivisura
• https://x.com/aivisura

aivi & surasshu - Shapeshifter

"Nucleus" is the opening track from the album "The Black Box" by aivi & surasshu

"The Black Box (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)" via @Infloresce:

• https://aivisura.bandcamp.com/album/the-black-box-10th-anniversary-deluxe-edition
• https://soundcloud.com/aivisura/sets/the-black-box

"The Black Box" via @Ubiktune:

• https://aivisura.bandcamp.com/album/the-black-box
• https://ubiktune.com/releases/aivi-and-surasshu-the-black-box

Follow aivi & surasshu:

• https://aivisura.com
• https://soundcloud.com/aivisura
• https://aivisura.bandcamp.com
• https://youtube.com/@aivisura
• https://x.com/aivisura

aivi & surasshu - Nucleus

“Soft Moon Music” was inspired by reading bedtime stories to our child.

From our new album, ‘Meanwhile’ 🖤
aivisura.bandcamp.com/album/meanwhile

Interlude #3: Soft Moon Music

Maybe if things were different...

From our new album, ‘Meanwhile’ 🖤
aivisura.bandcamp.com/album/meanwhile

Wish

“Time Travel” is about observing years and decades of the past in a flash.

From our new album, ‘Meanwhile’ 🖤
aivisura.bandcamp.com/album/meanwhile

Time Travel

Trapped in a loop.

From our new album, ‘Meanwhile’ 🖤
aivisura.bandcamp.com/album/meanwhile

Interlude #2: Manifest

What you’d hear if you talked to us in a visual novel.

From our new album, ‘Meanwhile’ 🖤
https://aivisura.bandcamp.com/album/meanwhile

Slice Of Love

A rest stop at the far end of the galaxy.

From our new album, ‘Meanwhile’ 🖤
https://aivisura.bandcamp.com/album/meanwhile

Starside

Intermission... please vibe...

From our new album, ‘Meanwhile’ 🖤
https://aivisura.bandcamp.com/album/meanwhile

Interlude #1: 10/10

“Periphery” tells the story of long distance lovers.

From our new album, ‘Meanwhile’ 🖤
aivisura.bandcamp.com/album/meanwhile

Periphery

“Wind Rider” is about traveling new roads in life and not knowing what the future holds.

From our new album, ‘Meanwhile’ 🖤
https://aivisura.bandcamp.com/album/meanwhile

Wind Rider

Steven Universe - Alexandrite

"K.K. Cruisin' (Interstate 5)"
aivi & surasshu
originally composed by Kazumi Totaka
from the game Animal Crossing

aivisura liner notes:

- We love Totaka!
- We worked on this remix in between projects for a year.
- When we lived in separate countries, we played Animal Crossing: New Leaf together all the time, and went to K.K. Slider concerts on Saturdays. We requested "K.K. Cruisin'" every time.
- We started this remix in an attempt to answer the question, "Why is K.K. Cruisin' so great?" After listening to it and studying it, we determined that, for us, the heart of the song was its groove. The same five chords repeat throughout the entire song (five extremely creative chords--Mr. Totaka is always a step ahead of us all), and it never changes in rhythm or energy level. We used that concept as the main inspiration for our arrangement, where instead of ramping up the energy for the chorus like we'd normally do, we pulled back and settled into a comfortable groove. Keeping "still" was a big exercise in confidence for both of us.
- We named our remix after the road trips we'd take together down I-5, between San Francisco and LA. Those trips felt like mini-vacations for us (though we still worked on the road and in our hotel room) and making this song has been a mini-vacation for us, too.

Youtube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VGT5NfBPus

Animal Crossing - K.K. Cruisin' (Interstate 5)

Steven Universe - Enticement

We had the honor of working with Sophie Diao and the Google Doodles team, to create music/SFX for today's Halloween-themed Doodle! We hope you enjoy the game. WITCH team are you on?

Play the game here: http://www.google.com/doodles/halloween-global-candy-cup-2015


Google Doodles - Global Candy Cup (Halloween 2015)

We had fun recording this holiday classic, where our two "singers" are a piano and a chip lead. Although the lyrics of the original song are quite dated, we enjoy the interplay between the characters of the song from a musical standpoint--two adults bantering in a loose, improvisatory manner. We both wish you warm and happy holidays (because baby, it's cold outside!)

Love,
a&s

Originally composed by Frank Loesser
Art by Diana Jakobsson (http://dianajakobsson.com)

★ Free Download

Baby, It's Cold Outside (Piano/Chiptune Cover)

Music by Aivi & Surasshu. Trumpet performance by Lachlan Day. Piccolo performance by Kristin Naigus. Guitar performance by Stemage.

http://google.com/doodles/fruitgames

Google Doodles - Fruit Games (Olympics 2016) - Games Theme

Google Doodles - Fruit Games (Olympics 2016) - Opening Theme

We've been asked what we'd sound like if we switched piano/chiptune roles, so we tried it. Piano by surasshu / chiptune by aivi

In Your Shoes

We were asked to write the music for Google's Halloween Doodle this year--a multiplayer game where you play in a team of four ghosts, against another team of four ghosts!

Our music was very inspired by the Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion soundtrack, especially the work of Ryo Nagamatsu! Thank you to Nate Swinehart and the Google Doodle team for having us, and hope you enjoy the game!

https://www.google.com/doodles/halloween-2018

Music by aivi & surasshu
Guitar performed by Stemage
Art by Nate Swinehart

The Great Ghoul Duel - Those Ghosts Win

The Great Ghoul Duel - These Ghosts Win

The Great Ghoul Duel - Hurry Up!

The Great Ghoul Duel - Spooky Stroll

The Great Ghoul Duel - Spooky Forest

The Great Ghoul Duel - Tutorial / Spooky Mansion

music by aivi & surasshu
violin & viola performed by michaela nachtigall

way to the woods, a game by anthony tan 🦌
website: https://www.waytothewoodsgame.com/
watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDjbZyvvyu0

★ watch the trailer ★

Way to the Woods - E3 2019 Trailer Theme

1. “Forest of Secrets” 🌲🍄
Music/Piano/Chip: aivi & surasshu 
Guitar: @Stemage 

You are headed to Ikenfell to find your sister, who has mysteriously vanished. No one knows what happened to her. To get to Ikenfell, you must first enter the Forest of Secrets…

Ikenfell Website - http://ikenfell.com
Steam Wishlist - https://store.steampowered.com/app/854940/Ikenfell

Ikenfell - Forest of Secrets (Soundtrack Preview)

2. “Rhythm of the Wild” 👻🔥 

Music/Chip: aivi & surasshu
Guitar: @Stemage
Violin: @jeffball

Survival is tough in the forest, especially when you don’t have magic like your sister did. But you’ve been teaching yourself to survive for years. You can do this!

Previous Track - “Forest of Secrets”: https://soundcloud.com/aivisura/ikenfell-forest-of-secrets
Next Track - “Petals in the Wind”: https://soundcloud.com/aivisura/ikenfell-petals-in-the-wind

Ikenfell Website - http://ikenfell.com
Steam Wishlist - https://store.steampowered.com/app/854940/Ikenfell

Ikenfell - Rhythm Of The Wild (Soundtrack Preview)

3. “Petals in the Wind” 🌸🍃

Music/Piano/Chip: aivi & surasshu
Guitar: @Stemage

At last, you arrive at Ikenfell… Somehow, you can feel that many fond memories have happened here.

Previous Track - “Rhythm of the Wild”: https://soundcloud.com/aivisura/ikenfell-rhythm-of-the-wild
Next Track - "In This Together": https://soundcloud.com/aivisura/ikenfell-in-this-together

Ikenfell Website - http://ikenfell.com
Steam Wishlist - https://store.steampowered.com/app/854940/Ikenfell

Ikenfell - Petals in the Wind (Soundtrack Preview)

4. “In This Together” ⚔️ 💖 
Music/Piano/Chip: aivi & surasshu
Violin: @jeffball

Finding your sister in Ikenfell isn’t easy, but you meet new friends along the way who want to help. It turns out you’re not the only one who’s looking for her!

Previous Track - “Petals in the Wind”: https://soundcloud.com/aivisura/ikenfell-petals-in-the-wind
Next Track - “Fireplace Whispers”: https://soundcloud.com/aivisura/ikenfell-fireplace-whispers

Ikenfell Website - http://ikenfell.com
Steam Wishlist - https://store.steampowered.com/app/854940/Ikenfell

Ikenfell - In This Together (Soundtrack Preview)

5. “Fireplace Whispers” 🔥✨ 
Music/Piano/Chip: aivi & surasshu
Violin: @mklachu 
Oboe/Clarinet: Kristin Naigus

The more you learn about your sister, the more confused you feel. You have so many questions…

Previous Track - “In This Together”: https://soundcloud.com/aivisura/ikenfell-in-this-together

Ikenfell Website - http://ikenfell.com
Steam Wishlist - https://store.steampowered.com/app/854940/Ikenfell

Ikenfell - Fireplace Whispers (Soundtrack Preview)

6. “It’s Showtime!” ⚡💕

Music/Chip/Piano: aivi & surasshu
Lyrics/Vocals: @orange-jam

You meet a girl who wants to fight you! Or kiss you! Or both?! You’re not sure which, but there’s no time to think—it’s showtime!

Previous Track - “Fireplace Whispers”: https://soundcloud.com/aivisura/ikenfell-fireplace-whispers
Next Track - “Between the Lines”: https://soundcloud.com/aivisura/ikenfell-between-the-lines

Ikenfell Website - http://ikenfell.com
Steam Wishlist - https://store.steampowered.com/app/854940/Ikenfell

Ikenfell - It's Showtime! feat. Renko (Soundtrack Preview)

7. “Between the Lines” 📚💫

Music/Chip: aivi & surasshu
Guitar: @Stemage

You meet a witch who's more interested in books than conversation. His favorite book? You probably haven't heard of it. You're not sure how to groove along to his theme song.

Previous Track - “It’s Showtime!”: https://soundcloud.com/aivisura/ikenfell-its-showtime
Next Track - “The Stuffs of Legend”: https://soundcloud.com/aivisura/ikenfell-the-stuffs-of-legend

Ikenfell Website - http://ikenfell.com
Steam Wishlist - https://store.steampowered.com/app/854940/Ikenfell

Ikenfell - Between the Lines (Soundtrack Preview)

9. “Memories in the Mist” 🌒🥀
Music/Piano/Chip: aivi & surasshu
Violin/Viola: @mklachu
Cello: Michael Evans
Oboe: Kristin Naigus

The great raven watches over the old woods, where the mists hide an untold story. You wander in, hoping to get closer to the truth about Ikenfell…

Previous Track - “The Stuffs of Legend”: https://soundcloud.com/aivisura/ikenfell-the-stuffs-of-legend
Next Track - "Paint the Future feat. Sammus": https://soundcloud.com/aivisura/ikenfell-paint-the-future

Ikenfell Website - http://ikenfell.com
Steam Wishlist - https://store.steampowered.com/app/854940/Ikenfell

Ikenfell - Memories in the Mist (Soundtrack Preview)

@aiviwave – piano & production
@surasshu – chiptune & production

aivi & surasshu

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