Most of the music on "Koan" consists of new compositions. All the songs are dedicated in some way or another to family members, friends, and musicians, but most of all to the Japanese people. Koan is a method of questions and answers to evaluate a monk's state of spirituality, such as "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" For me, music is a kind of Koan; the experience of it and how music affects people is beyond our rational understanding. I have always loved and respected the Japanese people and their culture. I would like to honor the victims of the 2011 tsunami with this music. (Lars Jansson)