inner light. OUTER SPACE.

inner light. OUTER SPACE. is a 10-track concept album that follows a female protagonist journeying through space to remember who she was before the world told her who to be. Inspired by Rumi's philosophy and Carl Jung's shadow work, the album explores self-knowledge, desire, and the integration of the shadow self.

The protagonist is voiced by Singaporean vocalist Rachelle Ruby throughout the album, creating a cohesive emotional arc. She encounters characters including the Enchantress (Malaysian-Canadian rapper Masia One), who tests her with temptation and illusion, forcing her to confront the parts of herself she's rejected. The album's thesis track, "The Destination," features Substantial (Nujabes' most frequent collaborator) delivering three verses that chart the journey from external searching to internal integration.

The album is non-linear by design. Either way, the destination is the same: remembering who you are.

Produced, arranged, and composed by Kiyan Foroughi, the album blends neo-soul, conscious hip-hop, trip-hop, and jazz across collaborators in Singapore, Virginia, Montreal, Taiwan, Yokohama, and Kuala Lumpur. Mastered by Taiyo Shirai, the album features actor Darius Homayoun (Succession, Tehran) as narrator, singer-songwriter George Azzi, and MC Jude. Artwork by Ivan Afandi completes the visual mythology.

inner light. OUTER SPACE. has been featured in Bandwagon Asia (Asia's biggest independent music publication), Metal Magazine, Diggin' in the Digits, Kindline Magazine, Zillions Magazine, JeJune, &Asian and Wordplay Magazine.

A concept album built for deep listening in an era of algorithmic playlists: a mythology designed to be experienced front-to-back.