COMA-CHI & MeccaGodZilla - Spiritual Bitch EP
Combining the spiritual words and song of COMA-CHI and music production from Brooklyn-based artist MeccaGodZilla, the “Spiritual Bitch” EP is a collaborative effort that furthers the evolution of the fusion of Japanese tradition, Hip-Hop, and spirituality that was shown in COMA-CHI’s previous works. While Japanoia was a celebration of Japan with a sophisticated, lush style and Shades of Yellow was a more earthy, eclectic collaboration with Australian artists, sonically Spiritual Bitch is representative of the prevailing trends in American hip-hop with booming beats and trap touches, but also effectively incorporates Japanese scales and sounds. COMA-CHI and MeccaGodZilla make it sound like a perfectly natural combination, it works because the production leans minimalist and therefore fits the Japanese aesthetic well.
The title "Spiritual Bitch" is a paradox that juxtaposes two incompatible elements of "spiritual" and "bitch" to express the strong, fierce, and spiritually discerning heart that women can embody as they continue to navigate an ever-changing, and sometimes toxic, male dominated world. COMA-CHI elaborates further: “‘Spiritual bitch’ is also my personal concept, but it expresses the inner duality that many women may have. The word "Spiritual" is usually used for being “good” at doing things and having to live cleanly, but I think it is possible to live in harmony with the universe, nature, and the energy of God, even while having a personality that associated with the word "bitch" (a personality that is faithful to desires and has impulsivity). I feel that living with this balance is the real pleasure of life.”
Lead single "Watch Your Mouth" shares gems of the ancient Japanese motif of kotodama (言霊) and the importance of women "protecting one's heart from the negative words of others and breaking the chains of self-invalidation." To COMA-CHI, kotodama “means the simple rule that ‘the words you speak come back to you as they are’". Accordingly, the message of "Watch Your Mouth" is that "if you despise or disrespect someone, it will come back to you someday", and is a denunciation of men who despise women. Being an outspoken female rapper, she often gets a lot of negative comments on social media, but for all those who want to disrespect her, she’s built a successful career and her words have the impact to move the whole world, which can’t be said of the haters. Being a hater only reflects badly on yourself, and typically the men that spit abuse will get theirs, through justice or karma. In that sense, to listen to others is good advice, but also to listen to the words you say yourself, to understand how they reflect on you and may hurt others. Unfortunately, you imagine that the message would be lost on people who lack empathy in the first place.
It’s unfortunate that our society is still grappling with misogyny and the entitlement associated with a patriarchal system. The theme continues with “Paper Doll”, which comes across as a familiar story of escaping an abusive relationship, being held down and hiding everything with a smile. The symbolism of the "Paper Doll" is inspired by the ceremony of writing wrongdoings, sin, or troubling thoughts on a white paper doll and releasing it into the flowing river to wash away, which is called "hitogata-nagashi" in Japanese Shinto rituals. This is something COMA-CHI often does in her songs, to take images inherited from ancient Japan and substitute them into situations that people in modern times can experience. In this case, “Paper Doll” is an awakening, a desire to move on from an oppressor and set all the images and bad memories down the river, releasing the weight of negativity and having it dissolve away. Accordingly, with the ascending/descending synths, airy reverb and intermittent use of sub bass, MeccaGodZilla’s dreamlike production evokes the eerie feeling of a paper doll or corpse floating on water, bobbing up and down on the currents. Normally phrases like “going with the flow” and “water under the bridge” can seem trite when describing relationship situations, but COMA-CHI and MeccaGodZilla have managed to imbue the words with greater depth and meaning through the use of sound and symbols.
The last track of the EP, Astrology Rap, is a little more playful and is like a zodiac version of Chemical Calisthenics as COMA-CHI goes through each of the star signs in order from Aries to Pisces. The staccato snares and deep bass hits mean you could blast this out your car stereo in the hood and people might mistake you for a cosmic G. But personally I love this one for the 007 vibes and the wordplay.
On Spiritual Bitch, MeccaGodZilla proves an excellent partner with his inspired production combining both exotic and urban elements for a unique sound to fit COMA-CHI’s cosmic force. It’s definitely not something you hear in Japan normally, and it’s wonderful that COMA-CHI is able to work with people from all over the world to explore her full talent as singer, rapper, and spiritual guide. It’s a shame that the EP is only three tracks in length, but it’s a great demonstration of their potential as a partnership, and if ever either of them make albums we certainly hope they work together again. Facing a world like this full of injustice and inequality, no doubt they have much more to say.
From the archives: Interview with COMA-CHI
More from COMA-CHI: Japanoia, Shades of Yellow