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.
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