Ryota Katayama (片山凉太 RYOTA) has become one of the most compelling voices in contemporary Asian music. After his moving ballad A Walk to Remember《一路以来》 for Abang Adik《富都青年》 won him the 35th Golden Melody Awards – Best Single Producer and a nomination at the 60th Golden Horse Awards – Best Original Film Song, he now returns with another evocative composition. His latest work, Goodbye, Until the Next Life《下辈子，再见》, serves as the theme song for Astro Originals’ upcoming drama Bride From The Past《幽冥新娘》.
A Song of Unspoken Goodbyes
When director Jason Kok(郭福华) and producer Chan Yoke Yeng(陈钰瑩0 approached him for the project, RYOTA admits he initially had no direction. But one simple question — “If you had to leave one day, what would you wish to say?” — unlocked a flood of emotions. The result was a piece that carries quiet regret, longing, and a gentle courage to finally say goodbye. With the solemn sound of the suona, traditionally present at weddings and funerals, the arrangement intertwines joy and sorrow, echoing the duality of love and loss within the drama.
The Drama That Inspired the Music
Bride From The Past《幽冥新娘》 draws inspiration from the ancient ritual of “spirit marriages.” The story follows documentary filmmaker Xi Chi, played by Jordan Sen(盛天俊), who awakens the century-old ghost of A-Dou, portrayed by Chan Tze Yiin(陈子颖). As they journey together to uncover long-buried truths, their intertwined destinies reveal a love that transcends lifetimes. With co-stars Wilson Lee(李伟燊) and Xiaodong Guo(郭晓东), the series blends mystery, supernatural allure, and period drama into a hauntingly beautiful narrative.
The Art of Saying “Thank You” and “I’m Sorry”
RYOTA rewrote the lyrics nearly ten times, striving for a song that could voice hidden regrets—not only of lost love, but also family bonds, friendships, and even fragments of one’s younger self. He reflects, “I wanted to finally say ‘thank you’ to those who guided me, and ‘I’m sorry’ to those I’ve hurt. Words often said lightly became meaningful through music.”
Music as a Living Presence
During filming, the song was played on set during emotionally charged scenes. Actors reportedly wept as the melody carried them into character, and RYOTA himself confessed that the final cut felt so perfectly aligned with the visuals that he would score it a nine out of ten. “The song came alive,” he smiled, “not just as music, but as part of the story itself.”
Between Lifetimes and Timeless Music
Though Bride From The Past《幽冥新娘》 delves into reincarnation and ghostly encounters, RYOTA himself laughs that he has never experienced the supernatural—and hopes never to. Instead, if given the chance to time-travel, he would choose the 1960s and ’70s: the golden era of The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, and Paul Simon. For him, that was when music carried not only rhythm but freedom and soul.
