Posts Tagged ‘interview’
Thursday, November 17th, 2011 by Jen Wang
Tokyo-born songwriter Mio Soul makes her debut with In My Skin. The EP contains the heavy drum beats and smooth melodies of contemporary R&B with flavors of pop, dance, and jazz. Simple yet candid, the lyrics are in English, except for the rap in “Let’s Party” where Mio effortlessly flows in and out of her native language. “Promise” chronicles Mio’s pursuit of her dreams in New York City and features sensual vocals complemented by airy piano trills. The final track, “Out of My Life”, takes a complete 180 from the sweetness of “I Wish” in the beginning. Mio engages an ex-lover in a showdown with passionate vocals and sexy Spanish guitars. Even though she sings that her “story’s ended” for that person, it has only just begun in the music world.
I had the opportunity to ask my fellow biologist via email about her career change, the “I Wish” PV, and her involvement with music-related charities.
What made you change from being a biologist to a musician?
When it comes to biology, I had a huge influence from my father. My mom, however, is a pianist, so music was always around me as a child. In college I was so curious about the connection of brain function and soul (heart)…I enjoyed all of the field work. I did, however, want to do music more than anything else. I started performing more and attending singer and dancer showcases, and these live performances just really fueled me to continue pursuing music.
Science is a real academic thing. You use instruments and theories to find the truth. When it comes to music, singing or making beats is the art of using your own instrument (your body and soul) to express your truth.
Did you have any formal vocal training?
Yes, I had two amazing vocal coaches since moving to NYC: Stacey Penson and Jamelle Jones. The best vocal training was…wait, should I mention this secret? I can give a hint: it has to do with going to church on Sunday.
How did you overcome the challenges you faced when you moved to New York City?
All my determination has made me stronger and stronger I think. I talk to God often. I still have a lot to learn but I have kept going and now I have got some great people around me. Meeting great people and being around people with good energy is so inspiring.
Why did you decide to rap in Japanese in “Let’s Party”?
I was planning to do something else during the song’s break down, but I started fooling around with actually rapping in Japanese…and it fit perfectly, in my opinion, so I just recorded it!
What did you want to convey through having female vampires in the “I Wish” PV?
I wanted to give people a totally different visual image for how “I Wish” sounds. MeccaGodZilla helped me create the idea and write the script for something that just challenges the mind and what people normally would go with. We were inspired by The Lost Boys, but we made this into a love story.
Do you have any favorite vampire stories or movies?
Oh yes! I’ve watched Bram Stoker’s Dracula recently. I also really like Queen of the Damned since I’m a huge fan of Aaliyah.
Your songs and your blog posts are very honest. Are you ever afraid of revealing too much about yourself?
Thank you for noticing that. I actually don’t mind doing it because it’s me, it’s my life, I don’t really have anything to hide. As the title of my EP expresses, my songs are a part of me. I just want people to have dreams and share good times as much as possible…just like me.
How did you get involved in the Domo Arigato Festival and Music 4 Orphans?
My friends from New York came up with the idea first because they toured Japan together a few months prior. They really appreciate my country so they wanted to do something for Japan in return. I wanted to assist them and be part of the show, and they let me help.
I joined the Music 4 Orphans project shortly after a business contact introduced me to the organizer of the project. Music 4 Orphans helps to give the youth an opportunity to learn music education so I am really excited to assist them.
What’s next for Mio Soul?
This is just, just, just the beginning. I am working on the next videos so those might be coming soon. I will make more music, more videos, and I want to do more live performances…you know, visit way more cities and connect with people. That’s very important to me and my focus at the moment.
Purple SKY, thank you so much for this.
Mio Soul’s official website – http://www.iammiosoul.com/
Tags: album review, Domo Arigato Festival, interview, Mio Soul, Music 4 Orphans, New York City, r&b, vampires
Posted in interview, r&b, review | 5 Comments »
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011 by Jessica_Hodgins
Kanon Wakeshima, a beloved gothic Lolita model and protégé of Mana, keeps busy. She released her second album Shoujo Jikake no Libretto – Lolitawork Libretto last July. It’s a fairy tale and coming-of-age story that carefully works love, frustration and hidden messages into its pop sound. Wakeshima collaborated with another Kanon, the former bassist of An Café, and released the single Calendula Requiem in November. During a short break from her 2011 tour, Kanon answered questions about fashion, her sophomore album and Kanon x Kanon via e-mail.
What was the inspiration behind Shoujo Jikake no Libretto?
Picture books that I liked in my childhood inspired me while I was creating this album. In every song on this album, I tried to express the feelings as if you and I were the lead characters of the story, and I hope you can feel that excitement. Another motif of this album is a pair of girls. One of them is a shy girl reading the story, and the other is a girl who enjoys traveling freely inside the picture book. Both roles are inherent in yourself and myself. Using them, I tried to describe the place between dreams and reality.
How did you end up collaborating with French singer Solita?
Since my debut, I have formed many good memories of France and connections with the country. For example, I held a concert and participated in an event in Paris [to celebrate the French release of Shinshoku Dolce]. Also, I met many fans there. So, it was kind of natural that I decided to collaborate with Solita, who is a lovely French singer.
Do you speak any French?
I studied it a little! Bonjour! Je suis japonaise. Vous aimez bien la cuisine japonaise?
One of the themes I noticed on this album is “hidden love.” Have you ever had a crush on someone and couldn’t tell them?
Yes–many times! This may be a bit different from a crush in an ordinary person’s life, though. For example, there are some artists who create great drawings or sing great songs. I admire them–almost love them–but I don’t want them to notice me. Because I also create drawings and songs as an artist, I am a bit afraid that they know who I am and how I express myself through my works.
In “Princess Charleston” you sing, “There’s nothing good about being a girl!”. Have you ever thought this yourself?
I sometimes wish I were born a boy. I guess boys face many difficulties in their lives just like girls do, but I think girls have much more tough lives!
Did you need to take any vocal training for your new album?
I usually take vocal training. During live shows, I sing and play the cello simultaneously, but it’s difficult–so I train for that, too. In this new album, several songs have particularly difficult phrases to play on the cello. Accordingly, I had to practice those phrases so that I can play them standing and singing!
In the CD art, you wear a red dress and a black one. What does this symbolize?
The girl with the black dress symbolizes the girl in the real world, who is a bit shy and loves reading books and stories. That girl always imagines she is the protagonist of the stories she reads and fantasizes about becoming a person like that character–capable, able to go anywhere, free to express herself and living as she chooses. The girl in the red dress represents this idealized version of herself. These girls are two sides of one character, and each of them represents her in the real world and in her dream.
Did the designer for Alice and the Pirates [a sub-label of Baby, the Stars Shine Bright] make those dresses especially for you?
Yes, Alice and the Pirates’ designer based those dresses based on my illustration of what those girls would look like. Later, the “black” one was added to the Alice and the Pirates’ dress line, and I noticed some fans wearing that dress at my concerts. I was so glad!
I saw your PV for “Calendula Requiem,” the opening theme to the anime Shiki. In the video, you wear traditional Japanese clothes, and the song also has Japanese influences. Were you interested in traditional Japanese culture before?
Yes, I have been. My father is also an artist. He makes traditional Japanese lacquer crafts and works with Japanese paintings. So I have been familiar with traditional Japanese arts since my childhood. I love Japanese kimono in the Edo era. Many of them are really splendid.
Please give us a message for people you want to hear your album.
First of all, I want to thank you for your warm support to me. I hope you like this new album. I would love to go abroad again, and I hope I can see you all there!
Editing by Victoria Goldenberg
Translation by Yurie Yamamoto
Tags: Alice and the Pirates, an cafe, Baby the Stars Shine Bright, calendula requiem, cello, gothic lolita, interview, jessica hodgins, kanon wakeshima, kanon x kanon, mana, princess charleston, shiki, shinshoku dolce, Shoujo Jikake no Libretto, solita, visual kei
Posted in interview, rock, visual kei | No Comments »
Monday, October 18th, 2010 by Victoria Goldenberg
Rika Ishikawa wears an H. Naoto dress adorned in illustrations by alternative artist Gashicon. A blue streak in her hair and heavily applied eye shadow signify darkness and rebellion. Feathery false eyelashes extend far past her petite face and make a rustling sound every time she blinks. Ishikawa is dressed as Angry, her persona in the rock-inspired pop duo Hangry & Angry. Since 2008, she and fellow Morning Musume alumna Hitomi Yoshizawa have performed as real-life avatars of fashion designer H. Naoto’s kitten characters. But Ishikawa is not acting in character for the interview, and she exhibits the mannerisms of her cheery Hello Project days—soft speech, a smile coupled with a swift point of a finger as punctuation, a friendly brush against translator Yaz Noya’s arm.
“Hangry & Angry’s music is very heavy dance and rock, so I probably couldn’t sing it without becoming the character,” Ishikawa says. “When I wear Angry’s makeup and outfit, then I turn on the switch to become her.”
And yet, Angry’s personality is not entirely foreign to Ishikawa. “When Angry gets hungry, she gets angry,” she giggles. “I’m very irritated when I’m hungry. But lately, I’m growing up and getting better.”
Ishikawa’s career began in 2000 when she joined Hello Project, the love it/hate it idol collective that has churned out cute and campy female idols since 1997. Ishikawa and Yoshizawa debuted as part of the fourth generation of flagship group Morning Musume, first appearing on their typically euphoric single Happy Summer Wedding. As was de rigueur for Hello Project members, Ishikawa simultaneously participated in a number of other groups assembled from the idol pool, such as Tanpopo, Country Musume and V-u-den. Because Morning Musume is a revolving door, Ishikawa ‘graduated’ from the group in 2005 and continued leading V-u-den until 2008.
Later that year, she and Yoshizawa underwent a drastic makeover to promote H. Naoto’s Hangry & Angry line, which Ishikawa had never worn before. They took on the personas of the mascots, which Gashicon designed, and released music that matched the brand’s image. Their debut single Kill Me Kiss Me is a dance-rock track whose music video is packed with tongue-in-cheek gothic imagery. Hangry & Angry released their first full album, Sadistic Dance, in November 2009.
Ishikawa went to the New York Anime Festival solo to participate in the Hangry & Angry fashion show and a panel with Gashicon. Though Ishikawa did not perform musically, as she did with Yoshizawa at Sakura Con last year, she did not mind. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a fashion show or concert—Angry is Angry,” she explains. “To me, it’s the same.”
She fantasizes about the ways she wants to spend her first visit to the Big Apple. “I’d definitely like to see the Statue of Liberty,” she says. “Shopping,” she adds with a laugh. “After that, I’d like to see Broadway if I have time.”
In March 2009, all the Hello Project veterans graduated the collective en masse. Ishikawa misses participating in the yearly Hello Project concerts. “It was like a reunion where we all saw each other,” she laments. But she’s still in touch with all her Musume peers and enjoys her newfound freedom. “After I left Hello Project, I could be independent,” she says. “I can get more work independently.” On follow-up, she clarifies that she doesn’t actually receive more work, but she feels like she does.
Morning Musume, like many other idol groups, is infamously rife with with ’scandals’ that disrupt its pure image, and Ishikawa herself caused a minor stir in 2004. Fans surreptitiously recorded her backstage during a concert and caught her describing screaming adult fans as “stupid.” Her remarks were not meant to go public and, depending on your perspective, were arguably justified. But many fans were jolted to find out their idols might not appreciate them as much as it seems. “I change a lot,” Ishikawa says, distancing herself from that incident. “To me, I’m myself on stage and I’m myself backstage. I express myself as is. For Hangry & Angry, it’s a totally different story. When I wear the outfit and makeup, I have to become the character.”
Because nearly a year has passed since Sadistic Dance, Ishikawa wants to release a new song. She also hopes to return to the United States. “Last year I performed at Sakura Con with Hangry, so I’d like to come back with Hangry and perform again,” she says.
Tags: angry, country musume, gashicon, gothic lolita, h.Naoto, hangry, Hangry & Angry, hello project, Hitomi Yoshizawa, interview, morning musume, New York Anime Festival, rika ishikawa, sakura con, tanpopo, v-u-den, victoria goldenberg
Posted in interview, pop, rock | No Comments »
Monday, October 4th, 2010 by Sarah
If (or when) cyborg aliens ever crash land to earth, demanding to steal the pinnacle of human technology, I ‘m not going to show them NASA’s most advanced rocket or the creepy robot that can lie. I wouldn’t even show them the iPad. No, I would hand them the band BOOM BOOM SATELLITES, particularly fresh after their live on October 2 at Makuhari Event Hall in Chiba.
After witnessing one of the most intense, psychedelic electronic noisefests I’ve ever experienced, I think our future cyborg overlords will be quite pleased.
Electronic music is often written off as robotic and soulless, relying too heavily on computers to do most of the musical leg work. But that’s not the case for BBS, particularly live. There’s persistent electric warmth to BBS’ sound that translates into an ambient blanket, like the comforting glow of a sleeping motherboard. This is created through various synthesizers and to some extent Michiyuki Kawashima’s calm, semi-mumbling voice.
But that isn’t the most enticing aspect of a BBS live show. Underneath that protective layer lies a certain amount of caged chaos. For one split second, bassist Masayuki Nakano hit a single string, and the sound produced at that moment mimicked that of a fighter jet breaking the sound barrier. A few members of the audience clasped their hands over their ears, in pain but enjoying the jolt. There’s a cybernetic monster locked up deep inside their music and every innocent human being can hear it blasting at the walls of its synthesized prison. The audience is afraid to let it out, but oh-so-very curious as to what it will do when it gets its first taste of freedom.
The music alone could easily lull even the most sober listener into a trance, but BBS cleverly added striking lighting and visuals to this particular live. A translucent veil dropped in front of the band midway through the show during the song “STAY.” Images of an eternally magnifying world projected over their silhouettes like dreams within dreams within dreams. I wish I could tell you not a single face could look away from the stage, but I was so transfixed on what was happening before me, I can’t say for sure. All I know is that I didn’t blink for a good ten minutes.
BBS’ performance was all things the digital age lives for: electronic, curiously chaotic, and all around audio-visual stimulation. And with their upcoming U.S. tour, this is a small piece of music genius BBS will let us use to represent our generation. (more…)
Tags: BBS, Boom Boom Satellites, electronica, interview, j-pop, j-rock, Masayuki Nakano, Michiyuki Kawashima, Moby, New York Comicon, OVER AND OVER, Public Enemy, Sony
Posted in Electronic, interview | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010 by Sarah
It’s been two years since D’espairsRay’s last appearance in North America, and they’re back with a fresh outlook and a sound that leans more towards the dance-beat side of music. But don’t worry; they’re still the dark visual kei band overseas fans have grown to love. Just before the release of their new album, MONSTERS, on July 28 and the start of their North American tour in August, the band gave purple SKY the lo-down on what it means to be the monster that is D’espairsRay.
pSKY: You’ve been together as a band for over ten years now. What do you attribute that longevity to?
HIZUMI: Is it usual to have member changes in the US? Japanese bands don’t really seem to change as much. I don’t think Japanese bands change it up that much anyway.
pSKY: You’re about to embark on your next US tour. Your first experience overseas was kind of unusual for Japanese bands, especially visual bands. Instead of playing anime conventions, you played at small live houses. Why did you decide to do smaller venues instead of a big convention that might attract many people?
Karyu: A convention has a lot of people for sure, but it’s mostly for people who just like Japanese culture. It doesn’t feel like rock music. We figured if we played with other rock bands, we’d attract a rock audience instead, and maybe get some new fans that wouldn’t have found us otherwise.
pSKY: Actually, it seems like the fans have a lot of respect for you guys for playing at sort of “real” rock venues.
All: Thanks!
(more…)
Tags: D'espairsRay, HIZUMI, Human-Clad Monster, interview, j-rock, Karyu, MONSTERS, Sarah Dworken, TSUKASA, visual kei, vk, ZERO
Posted in interview, rock, visual kei | 13 Comments »
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010 by Sarah
MIYAVI is a samurai guitarist, conquering the world for Japan with the only weapon he knows how to use: his guitar. But this visual kei idol turned CEO of a management company hasn’t always been his own feudal lord. Starting out in the short-lived band Due le Quartz, MIYAVI had to go through being just another struggling guitarist to a guitar ronin before he could set his sights on ruling Japan and lands overseas.
Before he launches his North American Circuit tour, MIYAVI made some time for an in-depth chat with purple SKY about the beginnings, music, business, and future of this fierce musical warrior.
pSKY: You just got back from Kyoto, right?
MIYAVI: Yeah yeah.
pSKY: You’re in the middle of your Japan tour. So how is that going so far?
MIYAVI: Everything’s going well. It’s been a while since I had a Japan tour like this. And actually, I’m feeling kind of different from the usual tour. I think in part because the environment and I have changed. You know, I just made my company and became independent. I have my family now. I have a daughter. So it feels kind of different from before when I had my usual tour. During this tour, I have a new style: only a drummer, keyboard player, and me on stage. So it feels brand new.
pSKY: Before you used to do all-out rock. The whole thing with rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass, drums. A very traditional set. So why did you decide to take all of that away and do something new?
MIYAVI: It’s not that I just took it away. I’m just trying to be an original artist. This is one of the options. One of…
pSKY: One of many options?
MIYAVI: Not so many, but I tried to make an original style with beat boxers, Kavki Boiz. It was a good tour, but after that I realized that I should have made a more original style as a guitarist. So now there are only drums and keyboard. And mainly I only play with drums. Two players. Including me there are just two people on stage. So everything is going well. Even the audience in Japan. In my opinion Japanese fans are kind of quiet, quieter than fans overseas. But on this tour they’re so enthusiastic, because I’ve been playing some old songs with a new style.
pSKY: Do you think with your new style you’re gaining a different kind of fan? Maybe some artsy people or people who like that independent style? Maybe before you had those visual kei kinds of fans…
MIYAVI: I’m still visual kei.
(more…)
Tags: CEO, Due le Quartz, Gibson, guitar ronin, interview, J-glam, j-rock, Japan, japanese music, Kyoto, miyavi, New York City, punk, S.K.I.N., samurai guitarist, Sarah Dworken, Tokyo, visual kei, vk
Posted in interview, rock, visual kei | 5 Comments »
Sunday, April 11th, 2010 by Victoria Goldenberg
Aiha Higurashi’s music always bears her unmistakable stamps. Both the experimental punk of her bands, Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her and Loves, and the soft introspection of her solo records, are honest about life’s struggles, yet delivered with confidence and a middle finger. Higurashi has a knack for writing unpredictable song structures and incorporating a stunningly broad palette of influences into rock, such as yodeling, hip-hop, ambient, country and disco. And of course there’s her unmistakable guitar style–brash, tender and daring all at once.
Higurashi formed Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her in 1992, taking its eye-catching name from an XTC song. The band was best known for its lineup of Higurashi, bassist Nao Koyama and drummer Takaharu Karashima from 1994 to 1999, although Higurashi and Koyama continued as a duo until 2002. The band became a cult favorite overseas, touring with Modest Mouse, Yo La Tengo and Mogwai and releasing a compilation CD in the UK. After SSKHKH broke up, Higurashi contributed songs to Judy and Mary singer Yuki’s budding solo career and then launching her own solo career with the single Fantasy in 2003. After recording two albums on her own, she formed the band Loves. in 2005, later changing the name to Aiha Higurashi and Loves! (Exclamation included.) Higurashi has released two albums with Loves and revived her solo career with the album Perfect Days last November. She is currently working on a new album for Ravolta, her hip-hop/new wave project with Tsutchie from Shakka Zombies.
That’s quite a busy schedule, but Higurashi was able to answer a few questions in English by e-mail.
pS: Your solo music’s usually softer than your band work. But even by those standards, Perfect Days is notably sparse and acoustic. Why did you choose this stripped-down approach?
A : Yes, that is very simple. I usually listen to Donovan , Elliot Smith, Rickie Lee Jones, Daniel Johnston, etc., so I wanted to do this simple sound even since I started Seagulls. I always put at least one acoustic song or quiet song in Seagull’s album, too. I just adore listening to those sounds so it is probably best time came to write and perform. That is because, my band is formed and Ravolta is doing great, so why not? Now I have enough space to let my mind open.
pS: You’ve said you formed Aiha Higurashi and Loves because you were tired of being solo after 2005’s Platonic. But then you released Perfect Days last year. What changed over those four years?
A: As I mentioned that Loves. is finally formed so tight as a band now. It took us so long to gather the right members and tighten up, get together and be a band that we wished which I wished.
pS: What was going on in your life when you were making the album?
A: I am a single mother of a lovely daughter so I do live usual everyday life. But I met a guy at the very beginning. He is the biggest reason why I could open my mind and let the brand new air into me. Then naturally the melodies came up into my head and heart. I fell in love.
(more…)
Tags: a tribe called quest, aiha higurashi, aiha higurashi and loves, daniel johnston, donovan, elliot smith, hiroshi nakamura, interview, j-rock, judy and mary, kanye west, kc, loves, manic depressive, modest mouse, mogwai, naked me, nao koyama, number girl, perfect days, punk, ravolta, rickie lee jones, seagull screaming kiss her kiss her, shakka zombies, sonic youth, takaharu karashima, takahiko akiyama, takape, the quiet room, the roots, tsutchie, u.s. tour, victoria goldenberg, yo la tengo, Yuki
Posted in indie, interview, pop, rock | No Comments »
Monday, December 7th, 2009 by Catherine Catanzaro
The weather’s getting colder, the holidays are approaching, and somewhere in midtown there’s a line of young women with multicolored hair sleeping on cardboard boxes outside a concert hall. By now, every Jrock fan knows what that means: Dir en grey is back in town.
The metal monarchs’ 2009 American tour brings them to New York once again, this time for three consecutive shows at the Gramercy Theater. It’s the night before the first performance and this evening they’re gracing Japanese bookstore Kinokuniya with their presence, sitting down with Miz Diva Vélez of The Diva Review for an interview followed by an autograph session. The event is private and exclusive: only about sixty lucky fans — winners of an online contest — and their guests are able to attend.
The reason for the exclusivity is soon made clear. The “event space” at Kinokuniya is more accurately a corner of the bookstore with all the displays pushed off to the side. Press is herded into the adjacent café area, where photographers battle sandwich shelves for a decent view. The band sits at a table wedged into the corner; a few feet in front of them is stretched a black velvet rope, behind which approximately a hundred fans are packed into the spaces between the bookshelves. The environment is certainly cozy, and I can’t think of another instance of this infamously aloof band presenting themselves to their fans in such an informal, personal way.
The interview portion of the event lasts just under a half an hour. Like most interviews with Dir en grey, the discussion is pleasant but bland. Host Diva Vélez is personable and well-spoken, and to the delight of the excited crowd — some of whom have taken a break from waiting on line at the theater to come to this event — many of her questions focus on the upcoming concerts. Towards the end of the discussion she gives the fans the microphone, inviting them to tell the band how they feel about Dir en grey’s music and performances. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that a few brave fans jump at.
(more…)
Tags: Die, dir en grey, event, Gramercy Theater, interview, j-rock, Kaoru, Kinokuniya, kyo, Manet, new york, Samurai Beat Radio, sandwiches, Shinya, The Diva Review, Toshiya
Posted in rock | 15 Comments »
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 by Victoria Goldenberg
Dance music usually evokes an image of communality—people shaking and grinding in a club to a recognizable pop song, possibly remixed. Miho Hatori’s take with her band New Optimism is about dance as an individual, cathartic expression. Alternately swaying gracefully and thrusting her fists to surreal music with tribal-sounding rhythms, the ex-Cibo Matto singer turned the personal into performance at New York City’s Santos Party House on Oct. 16. Even when audience members joined Hatori onstage at her request, each displayed an idiosyncratic dance style instead of moshing collectively. (Costumed musician-designer Bad Brilliance stole the show, headbanging with the giant, yellow balloon atop his outfit.)
Hatori is a fascinating person—creative, opinionated, quirky and direct. She’s also self-aware and considers her New York City residence a good match for her personality. I began the interview by asking how she felt about performing later that night, a throwaway question that usually nets a canned response about being excited but works well as a lead-in. Hatori repeated the question with a chuckle, shrugged and said casually, “I don’t know.”
She grew up in Tokyo, where her early experiences with music included a DJ gig and working at a record store. She moved to New York City in 1993 and got involved with its thriving local music scene. She met Yuka Honda and formed the legendary duo Cibo Matto, a satellite band for Japan’s burgeoning pastiche music scene, Shibuya-kei. Their music combined hip-hop, bossa nova, swing and more with food-fixated lyrics, such as those of 1995 single “Know Your Chicken.” (more…)
Tags: bad brilliance, barack obama, bossa nova, brazilian girls, cibo matto, dance, ecdysis, food, hip-hop, interview, jesse murphy, know your chicken, live report, miho hatori, new optimism, new still life, New York City, one of one, santos party house, shibuya-kei, swing, the killing of a chinese cookie, Tokyo, victoria goldenberg, yuka honda
Posted in Electronic, interview, pop | 6 Comments »
Friday, October 16th, 2009 by Victoria Goldenberg
Swinging Popsicle makes an unlikely link between indie music and anime/video game fandom. While its laid-back retro rock isn’t the typical soundtrack for animated entertainment, the unassuming trio has played at conventions in North America and composed the music for the well-regarded 2009 PC game Sumaga/Star Mine Girl, introducing their 12-year catalogue to a new audience. But singer Fujishima Mineko, bassist Hirata Hironobu and guitarist Shimada Osamu make indie pop with broad appeal: It’s cheerful, melodious and driven by soulful yet understated vocals. As Hirata puts it, “everyone from kids who like to watch anime to older generations can enjoy our music.” On Sept. 27, they performed their second New York City gig at The Studio at Webster Hall as part of the Far East to East Showcase, a concert connected to New York Anime Festival.
The cold weather caught Swinging Popsicle off guard this time. When they played a solo show at the Knitting Factory in 2007, it was on a balmy May night. Shimada soon regretted wearing short sleeves in an unusually biting September.
Sumaga’s manufacturer organized Swinging Popsicle’s appearance at NYAF. For Hirata, it was a chance to return to a city whose talented people inspire him. Or, as Fujishima describes New York: “It’s cool.” (more…)
Tags: 2ch, 2channel, 32º Convención de Juegos de Mesa y Comics, Add new tag, amuro namie, anime, B'z, beatles, beatles: rock band, CD, cosplay, devilman, digital download, english, Far East To East Showcase, flavour of sound, fujishima mineko, german, hamasaki ayumi, hirata hironobu, independent label, interview, japanfiles, knitting factory, korea, l.a.m.f., l.a.m.f. ii, like a mineko fujishima, loud cut, madonna, major label, matsui hideki, melt banana, mexico, new york, New York Anime Fest, New York Anime Festival, New York City, rolling stones, shimada osamu, Sony, star mine girl, sumaga, Swinging Popsicle, taru, the studio, utada hikaru, victoria goldenberg, video games, visual kei, Webster Hall, wham
Posted in Photo, interview, pop, rock | 1 Comment »
Tokyo-born songwriter Mio Soul makes her debut with In My Skin. The EP contains the heavy drum beats and smooth melodies of contemporary R&B with flavors of pop, dance, and jazz. Simple yet candid, the lyrics are in English, except for the rap in “Let’s Party” where Mio effortlessly flows in and out of her native language. “Promise” chronicles Mio’s pursuit of her dreams in New York City and features sensual vocals complemented by airy piano trills. The final track, “Out of My Life”, takes a complete 180 from the sweetness of “I Wish” in the beginning. Mio engages an ex-lover in a showdown with passionate vocals and sexy Spanish guitars. Even though she sings that her “story’s ended” for that person, it has only just begun in the music world.
How did you overcome the challenges you faced when you moved to New York City?