The term Wabi-sabi refers to a Japanese aesthetic which has been described as finding beauty in that which is imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. Wabi Sabi the band is a collaboration between Alex Roven, the French multi-instrumentalist and composer, and Scots lyricist Stuart Mudie, who under his smudie pseudonym has penned lyrics for numerous artists including NADJ, eliotE & the Ritournelles, General Bye Bye and Rivkah. In late October 2012, Alex replied to Stuart's Craigslist ad seeking someone to flesh out his spoken-word "poem songs", and the Wabi Sabi project was born.