Krokodile (Ryuichi Hayashi)
Turning to Gold
Krokodile released their track Turning to Gold in early 2025 and received great reviews for the piece. It’s a song that came together quite naturally and changed shape along the way rather than following a fixed plan from the start.
The track is the shortest song that the band have written and that is intentional, as the band "tightened their songwriting" and it has definitely kept the track centred and focussed. When creating the song, the phrase "summer breeze" came along early on in the writing process and helped to set the tone for the track. This is something that you can hear the influence of with a gloriously inviting guitar part from Kam Williams, which was originally on an acoustic guitar. It works to give the track its dreamlike vibe while the groovy bassline holds the track together courtesy of Japan-born, UK-based bassist and composer Ryuichi Hayashi.
The track is the shortest song that the band have written and that is intentional, as the band "tightened their songwriting" and it has definitely kept the track centred and focussed. When creating the song, the phrase "summer breeze" came along early on in the writing process and helped to set the tone for the track. This is something that you can hear the influence of with a gloriously inviting guitar part from Kam Williams, which was originally on an acoustic guitar. It works to give the track its dreamlike vibe while the groovy bassline holds the track together courtesy of Japan-born, UK-based bassist and composer Ryuichi Hayashi.
The recording saw Kam take on the vocals and rhythm guitar with Pablo Flores on drums. Joel Oldham contributed to the songwriting and overall structure while Hayashi played bass and also oversaw the musical direction of the track. Instead of adding to parts to the song, the recording sessions saw sections being skilfully stripped back and allowed to shine.
Hayashi’s background in live performance plays into that approach. He has toured internationally with artists including FLOW and MAN WITH A MISSION, a band that we have covered previously here at Music News Monthly. That experience and influence certainly shows in how the track is put together. Turning to Gold is short, direct, and is one of those songs that will work just as well on stage as it does on record.
You can check it out for yourself right now and you most definitely should. It is a true all rounder, perfect for chilling out on hazy summer days and the perfect track to brighten a gloomy winter's day.
Hayashi’s background in live performance plays into that approach. He has toured internationally with artists including FLOW and MAN WITH A MISSION, a band that we have covered previously here at Music News Monthly. That experience and influence certainly shows in how the track is put together. Turning to Gold is short, direct, and is one of those songs that will work just as well on stage as it does on record.
You can check it out for yourself right now and you most definitely should. It is a true all rounder, perfect for chilling out on hazy summer days and the perfect track to brighten a gloomy winter's day.
