Posts Tagged ‘interview’
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 »
Friday, June 19th, 2009 by Victoria Goldenberg
Ken Lloyd, frontman of Oblivion Dust and Fake (typeset Fake?), is a man of dualities. He is British and Japanese, commercial and experimental musically, and outsider and insider to different aspects of Japanese culture. Just two hours before his alt-rock outfit Fake made their U.S. debut at Anime Next, Lloyd sat down with purple SKY to discuss his upcoming album, sideline interest in anime and why he thinks Vamps is crazy.
On the trip to New Jersey, Lloyd’s band mates in Fake were reading manga and playing video games. Anime Next had invited them to be the convention’s musical guest, and they agreed. Yet Lloyd himself isn’t an anime fan. “I was never brought up in that environment,” he says. He grew up in England, where he had little exposure to Japanese animation, although he did find it cool and advanced. “It’s almost intimidating because I hardly know anything about it,” he admits.
But observing American anime culture fascinates him. “It’s really different from Japan,” he says. “It’s the same vibe but it’s got this Western twist to it. I think it’s really cool.” He also appreciates how the Internet helps blend different cultures. “Everywhere, it’s becoming borderless, and all the countries don’t matter,” he says. “It’s just whether or not you find what you want, and if it’s in a different country it doesn’t matter.” (more…)
Tags: anime, animenext, commercial, dj bass, english, experimental, fake?, fire, hiatus, hyde, inoran, interview, japanese music, k.a.z, ken lloyd, language, luna sea, lyrics, masuo, mine, new jersey, oblivion dust, paul mccartney, pop culture, rock, vamps, victoria goldenberg, youth
Posted in interview, rock | 8 Comments »
Monday, May 18th, 2009 by Victoria Goldenberg
The circumstances were unkind to purple SKY’s interview with J-pop star Kawashima Ai at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Sakura Matsuri. We had to shuffle from location to location as the Cherry Esplanade Stage was shut down, and break when one of the many TV reporters wanted Kawashima to deliver a video message for her fans.
But despite the inconveniences, Kawashima’s kindness and eagerness to help shone through. At one point, the translator had to step aside, and Kawashima and I cobbled together an answer through her decent English and my broken Japanese.
“American people is very lively,” Kawashima said in describing her stateside audience. She felt they showed their energy more than her Japanese ones did.
Kawashima, the 23-year-old with a million-selling hit, three books and a charity project to her name, had always wanted to perform in New York. Her experience living in New York City at the end of 2008 strengthened her interest in singing here.
Her Brooklyn concert is part of a series of American appearances that also includes performances at a Sakura Matsuri in Washington, D.C., and Japan Day in New York City on May 31. Kawashima chose to perform at these festivals because they facilitate a communicative exchange between Japan and America. Moreover, she feels Japanese energy in the cultural activities like cosplay, making these events appropriate places for her to send her message.
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Tags: america, brooklyn botanic garden, interview, j-pop, japan day, kawashima ai, new york, ozaki yutaka, sakura matsuri, victoria goldenberg
Posted in interview, pop | No Comments »
Sunday, March 29th, 2009 by Sarah
(left to right) Takeshi Kajiyama, Abe Kousei, Abe Mitsuhiro, Itou Shinichi
Armed only with musical talent and a good sense of humor, Sparta Locals lands on American soil to perform their no-frills live show across the nation.
The band first broke out on the Japanese music scene in 1998, releasing numerous albums before moving to a major label. After gaining US fans with the alternative indies crowd, Sparta Locals finally deem themselves ready to grace us with their presence. Following their stint at Austin’s famed SXSW, the band took a few minutes to sit down with us in New York right before their performance at Japan Nite.
Photo by Kathy Chee, Translation by boo
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Tags: interview, j-rock, new york, sparta locals
Posted in interview, rock | 6 Comments »
Sunday, March 29th, 2009 by Victoria Goldenberg
While other Japanese artists tour the United States, Zazen Boys leader Mukai Shutoku is making the New York-New Jersey area his own. His acclaimed avant-garde rock group, the successor to his legendary hard rock band Number Girl, played two shows here last fall (with one detour to Maryland) and another three in March, and they plan to return in September. Before his Mar. 8 show at Pianos NYC, the indie rock king took some time to chat with purple SKY about language differences, his plans for a world tour, and his favorite beer. Watch out, New York City: This is Zazen Boys town now.
Call Mukai Shutoku and New York City kindred spirits.
Until he feels ready to embark on a national tour, the aloof, beer-guzzling rocker wants to cultivate an audience in New York by playing shows there. He’s drawn to the city because of the freedom he perceives in its people. “They don’t care what others think,” he says, “they just care what they think.”
The same could be said of Zazen Boys and their challenging layers of aggressive rock, chants and dub. The band dispenses with tonality, hooks and even songwriting at will.
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Tags: indie, interview, j-rock, new york, victoria goldenberg, zazen boys
Posted in indie, interview | 8 Comments »
