Single Review—Japanese Onsen
Japanese Onsen: A Sonic Journey Through Japan’s Tranquil Landscapes
‘Japanese Onsen’ is Monster Taxi’s precious accomplishment. The maestro’s latest instrumental release immediately envelops us in a serene and cinematic soundscape. Playing just under four minutes, the track effortlessly blends Chill, New Age, and Trip Hop elements. The result is an experience that is meditative and emotionally resonant. The composition invites us to slow down, immerse our hearts in its inspiring notes, and let each layer nurture our inspiration. Feelings of nostalgia, serenity, and discovery naturally arise. This song is a perfect piece for focus, study, or reflective listening and demonstrates Jason Klein’s mastery in translating travel memories and emotional landscapes into music that is both lively and deeply personal.
Artist Overview
The creative force behind Monster Taxi, Jason Klein, is a Miami-based composer, producer, and keyboardist whose career spans both major and indie labels. Having worked with Ministry of Sound, Universal, Sony, Fania, and BMG Records, Jason has showcased his versatility across electronic dance music and atmospheric instrumental genres. His originals and remixes have charted on Billboard and DJ Times, while his productions have earned radio airplay across global platforms. His extensive experience includes reimagining classics from the disco era, such as Foxy’s Get Off, and Cuban legend Beny Moré, transforming these into contemporary pop and dance tracks.
Known for his eclectic style, Jason draws inspiration from artists like Vangelis, Air, Massive Attack, Khruangbin, Radiohead, and Lana Del Rey. This diverse palette informs his current focus on Trip Hop, New Age, Downtempo, and Cinematic compositions. Tracks such as Reflect and Field of Dreams have received frequent play on Sirius XM’s SPA Channel, while his catalog boasts over 1.8 million streams on Spotify and inclusion in more than 115 playlists spanning chill, new age, trip hop, and deep house genres. Monster Taxi’s work reflects both technical prowess and an innate ability to convey emotion, making every release a distinctive listening experience.
Inspiration & Story Behind the Track
Japanese Onsen was inspired by a once-in-a-lifetime journey Jason took with his son to Japan, where the beauty and cultural richness of the country left an indelible mark. The track evokes the steaming hot springs of Kinosaki, the serene temples and shrines of Kyoto, and the artistry of Kaiseki meals savored along the way. Beyond Tokyo and Osaka’s urban vibrancy, the song captures quiet moments of reflection and discovery, the subtle harmonies and rhythms reflecting Japan’s balance of tradition and modernity.
Each note carries the memory of shared father-son experiences, including the laughter, awe, and quiet contemplative moments that make travel a transformational experience for them. Through melody and ambient textures, Jason transports listeners to landscapes both real and imagined, echoing the hillsides, waters, and rituals that shaped the trip. It’s a sonic homage not only to Japan’s physical beauty but also to the emotional resonance of travel, memory, and family connection.
Musical Composition & Style
Musically, Japanese Onsen is a layered, textured masterpiece. Jason Klein’s keyboards weave melodic motifs that ebb and flow like gentle streams, while the understated bass guitar by Jason Zack grounds the composition with warmth and depth. Franklin Socorro’s mixing creates a seamless balance between atmospheric synths, soft percussion, and melodic highlights, while Felipe Tichauer’s mastering ensures every sonic element resonates with clarity and presence.
The track’s tempo of 70 BPM, paired with its ambient New Age and Trip Hop elements, crafts a meditative rhythm that feels natural and unforced. It’s as if the listener is meandering through quiet Japanese streets, feeling the pulse of the environment, observing the subtle interplay of nature and culture. Every harmonic choice, rhythmic nuance, and textural layer serves to create a holistic sensory experience, transforming memory into melody and landscape into sound.
The Listening Experience
Listening to Japanese Onsen is an immersive journey that transcends the conventional boundaries of instrumental music. The composition flows like a narrative, each passage revealing a new emotional or visual tableau. The accompanying video extends this sensory experience visually, capturing fleeting moments of Japan’s serene beauty as the music unfolds.
As Bill Kelly of the Winter Music Conference notes, the track “draws you gently into the depths of your emotions, each encounter awakening a different place, a different moment in time.” Listeners can sense the layers of serenity, nostalgia, and quiet excitement embedded in the music, making it a compelling companion for reflection, meditation, or simple listening pleasure. Japanese Onsen doesn’t just provide a soundtrack; it creates a space to inhabit, a journey to undertake with each note.
Take Away
Japanese Onsen by Monster Taxi is a remarkable testament to Jason Klein’s artistry, capturing the spirit of travel, family, and cultural immersion through masterful composition. Its blend of ambient textures, melodic nuance, and meditative rhythm offers an unforgettable sonic escape. Whether for focus, contemplation, or pure enjoyment, the track exemplifies how music can transport, inspire, and resonate. For listeners seeking a rich, emotionally compelling instrumental journey, Japanese Onsen stands as a pinnacle of modern Trip Hop and New Age music, firmly establishing Monster Taxi as an artist whose work transcends genre and touches the heart.