By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – Chicago, the sprawling metropolis known for its rich tapestry of jazz, hip-hop, and avant-garde indie rock, continues to be the fertile ground from which Sen Morimoto draws his unique inspiration. Just one year after the critical success of his 2023 full-length effort, Diagnosis, the multi-instrumentalist and songwriter has officially announced his next chapter. Titled Time Is on Your Side, the upcoming LP is scheduled for a global release on October 23. The project will be issued through Sooper Records, the fiercely independent label Morimoto co-founded, which has become a cornerstone of the Chicago DIY music community. Alongside the announcement, Morimoto has invited listeners into a lush, atmospheric world with the release of the lead single, "Overthinker," accompanied by a music video that explores the quietude of the natural world.
Morimoto’s career has been defined by a refusal to stay within the lines of a single genre. Since his debut, he has masterfully blended the complex harmonies of jazz with the rhythmic sensibilities of modern rap and the melodic accessibility of bedroom pop. With Time Is on Your Side, he appears to be leaning further into the conceptual, treating the very notion of duration and legacy as a physical component of his songwriting process. In a recent statement regarding the record’s underlying philosophy, Morimoto explained that he has shifted his relationship with the clock. Rather than viewing time as a constraint or a foe to be battled, he now views it as a fundamental "ingredient" in his creative kitchen. This perspective allows for a fascinating dichotomy in the album’s construction: some tracks are the result of immediate, raw improvisation, while others have been allowed to ferment and mature over several years, evolving alongside the artist himself.
This duality of "the instant" versus "the aged" suggests an album that is both a snapshot of Morimoto’s current state and a retrospective of his growth. By allowing certain songs to sit "like wine in a barrel," Morimoto bridges the gap between his past experiences and his future aspirations. This approach is intended to offer listeners a sense of reprieve from the modern world’s frantic pace, encouraging a "freedom to slow down" in an era dominated by rapid consumption and immediate gratification.
The lead single, "Overthinker," serves as the perfect gateway into this new sonic philosophy. The track captures the internal monologue of a restless mind, yet it is delivered with the smooth, sophisticated arrangements that have become Morimoto’s trademark. The accompanying music video reinforces the album’s themes of reflection and stillness. In the visual, Morimoto is seen navigating a wooded landscape, moving through the trees as the light shifts, suggesting a journey toward clarity amidst the density of one’s own thoughts. The choice of a forest setting provides a stark, grounding contrast to the digital noise of contemporary life, mirroring the song’s attempt to find peace within a cluttered psyche.
As with his previous works, Time Is on Your Side is a communal effort, drawing on the immense talent found within Chicago’s tight-knit music scene. Morimoto has never been a solitary creator; his work thrives on the synergy of his peers. The new album features contributions from several long-time collaborators and luminaries of the local circuit. Kaina Castillo, a celebrated singer-songwriter in her own right whose work often intersects with Morimoto’s, lends her vocal and creative presence to the project. Joining them are Ryan Person, Elijah Bradford, and Brok Mende—musicians who have helped define the "Sooper Records sound" through their technical proficiency and willingness to experiment. This ensemble cast ensures that while the vision is Morimoto’s, the execution is bolstered by a collective spirit that feels distinctly Midwestern and deeply personal.
The tracklist for Time Is on Your Side reveals a nine-song journey that begins with "Leave It All Behind," a title that suggests a clean break from the anxieties of the previous year. From there, the album moves through evocative titles like "Flashback" and "Chewing Gum," before hitting the midpoint with "Lucky Strike" and the curiously titled "Moves Like a Drunk." The inclusion of tracks like "The Devil" and "I Saw You" hints at a narrative that might explore darker or more haunting themes before concluding with the reassuring title track. Each title feels like a fragment of a larger conversation about memory, habit, and the passage of years.
Looking back at Diagnosis, released in 2023, that album was often viewed as a sharp, satirical, and occasionally biting critique of social systems and personal identity. It was dense with internal conflict and external observation. If Diagnosis was the feverish examination of the "now," then Time Is on Your Side feels like the cooling period—the moment of Zen that follows a frantic realization. By moving from the diagnostic table to the expansive woods of his new single, Morimoto seems to be advocating for a more holistic, patient approach to living and creating.
The role of Sooper Records in this release cannot be understated. As a co-owner of the label, Morimoto has created a sanctuary for artists who don’t fit into the narrow boxes of the mainstream industry. This independence has allowed him the luxury of time—the very thing he is celebrating with this new LP. In a landscape where artists are often pressured to release content at a breakneck speed to satisfy algorithms, Morimoto’s decision to let songs "sit for years" is a radical act of artistic defiance. It signals a commitment to quality and emotional honesty over mere visibility.
The Chicago music scene has long been a bastion of this kind of independence. From the post-rock innovations of the 90s to the hip-hop renaissance of the 2010s, the city has always prioritized the "player" and the "community" over the "brand." Morimoto stands as a modern torchbearer of this tradition. His work with Kaina and the rest of his cadre represents a modern-day collective that functions more like a family than a business arrangement. This warmth and mutual respect often bleed into the recordings, giving his music a "lived-in" quality that is hard to replicate in high-budget, sterile studio environments.
Technically, Morimoto remains a formidable producer. His ability to layer woodwinds—most notably his own saxophone playing—over synth-heavy foundations creates a sound that is both organic and futuristic. On "Overthinker," one can hear the meticulous attention to detail in the percussion and the way the bassline anchors the more ethereal vocal flourishes. If the rest of the album follows suit, listeners can expect a masterclass in home-studio high-fidelity, where every "pinch" of improvisation is balanced by hours of careful refinement.
As the October 23 release date approaches, the anticipation within the indie community is palpable. Time Is on Your Side isn’t just an album title; it feels like a mission statement for an artist who has finally found his rhythm. By embracing the slow burn, Sen Morimoto is not just making music; he is documenting the process of becoming comfortable with himself. Whether he is "trudging through the woods" or standing on a stage in a crowded Chicago club, he remains one of the most vital and thoughtful voices in the contemporary landscape.
The upcoming LP’s full tracklist is as follows:
- Leave It All Behind
- Flashback
- Overthinker
- Chewing Gum
- Lucky Strike
- Moves Like a Drunk
- The Devil
- I Saw You
- Time Is on Your Side
With this new collection of songs, Morimoto invites his audience to step out of the race and into his world—a place where the past is a resource, the future is an open field, and the present is something to be savored, one "pinch" at a time. As the leaves begin to turn this October, Time Is on Your Side promises to provide the perfect soundtrack for a season of transition and reflection.
