I chose "Searcher" as the title track due to the deep emotional resonance I feel with it. The melody aligns beautifully with my current vibe, capturing a sense of peacefulness, majesty, and evolution. It’s a naturally flowing melody that emerged as I played on the keyboard, and as I wrote the album, I felt drawn to the name "Searcher," reflecting my personal evolution and quest for clarity.

Searcher

I improvised drum parts first, trying to maintain a consistent tempo and feel before layering the bass, guitars, and synths. I adopted a jazz-like philosophy of capturing one or two takes, embracing the energy of the moment. One song, “Harmony Thought,” made it onto the album from this process.

Harmony Thought

“Proof,” is inspired by my interest in modular sound design and unique instruments. The bassline creates depth and fills the space powerfully. I remember writing it with a passionate mindset, obsessively focusing on the composition. I named it “Proof” because I often undervalue my abilities. Every artist occasionally needs to prove to themselves what they’re capable of—passionate and driven.

Proof

Last year, I developed a habit of playing the bass first thing in the morning. I recently acquired a beautiful bass from a friend that has the best tone, and its fretless design feels so natural to play. This morning ritual made it easy to create consistently; I would often record basslines and layer guitars and drums over them, or sometimes save them for later. Examples of this approach can be found in “Restart” and “Since Sonar,” where the catchy and infectious basslines seemed to write the songs themselves.

Restart

Since Sonar

“Never the Same River” was written, starting with electronic drums. I am drawn to the emotional energy of live instruments; they evoke a powerful connection to the magic of music. The title reflects a message I heard about how each moment is unique, even in the same place or river. It’s a little humorous for me to create a juxtaposition with that idea, but I believe in it wholeheartedly. It’s easy to get lost in the mundane or become stuck in repetitive patterns, questioning the boredom we experience. Why can’t every moment be inspiring, profound, and fresh, even when surrounded by the same people and places? Each moment is new, after all.

Never the same river two

“Impulse Drive” represents another bassline that essentially wrote the entire song. I named it “Impulse Drive” because it evokes a primal, animalistic feeling—as if exploring a dark forest and venturing into the unknown. I see this as a reflection of the internal searches and adventures we all experience as we navigate life, driven by our impulses to find our way.

Impulse Drive

Some are guitar samples that I recorded straight from my acoustic guitar at moments when I needed to capture a feeling on the spot. Later, while working on the songs, I discovered these guitar samples fit perfectly

Transfer

I made this for loop sessions using samples from de_vinchee. Surprised myself.

Backseat

Imaginator is a collection of 11 songs that follows a thematic mood change from dawn to twilight. It features the unique sounds of a diverse cast of musicians surrounding Choo; they explore voice, keys, guitar, bass and electronics. The uniquely layered songs are the result of live mixing the electro orchestra with the real sounds of a musician’s life, like loose ended riffs of late night jams and the honest quirkiness of field recordings.

Imaginator

Guardian Oh Mammoth

Fruit Looper

PREDRIFT is Choo-Kien Kua’s experimental electronic project from Vancouver. Originally from Calgary, in the 2000’s he toured and recorded in various punk bands and is currently playing in Kilo. In 2018 he started electronic music project PREDRIFT and soon released an album called Imaginator. He is releasing a follow up EP called DRIFTER on May 25th 2023, created by recording synths through tube amps and influenced by meditation.

PREDRIFT

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