Showing posts with label japan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label japan. Show all posts

INTERVIEW 63. masami tsuchiya (wallflower)



There's a group of artists in the roots of indie music, that decided to make music because they wanted to sound like their favorite band.
While some may see their sound as a simple copy or homage, I tend to approach this issue a bit differently.
I'm constantly talking about "universes" here. And the bands that I tend to fall for, usually are successful - at least in my subjective eyes - in creating this "musical zone" that is theirs.
If every person is different and everyone has an unique reality, is not stupid to think that what may sound similar actually holds an aesthetic that came from one mind in a particular environment that has no parallels with anything else. That's where you'll find the value of creation. And this may seem naive but, the simple fact of getting in touch with someone's creation is already a valid and worthwhile experience. Specially if that creation sounds good as hell and is catchy as a bubblegum stuck under your shoes.
This introduction leads us to Wallflower: a 4-piece band from Osaka, Japan creating catchy tunes and following the paths of The Field Mice, Brighter and  - the most direct and obvious comparison - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart.
Wallflower's music takes me back to early TPOBPAH music - remember 'Orchard Of My Eye'? - and its naivety.
While the shadow of TPOBPAH is always there, Matsumi, Ryuka, Haruyo and Naohiro own their haven of noise and delicacy with jangly guitars, soft vocals and indie beauty.
Either way, never let comparisons lead you to rushed conclusions. Awesome, catchy music will always be welcomed and praised.

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After the jump, you'll find Masami's interview.

best for guests. ray kimura

One of Ray's self portraits

Our next guest is an illustrator from Tokyo, Japan. Ray Kimura's work may be very familiar for indie pop kids around the world, thanks to her very personal, colorful and delicate aesthetic (and awesome taste in music). Ray's work combines her passion for indiepop bands and illustrations.
In 2012 - apart from her famous band illustrations/portrayals - she did the Japan tour poster for The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart and all the artworks for Alpaca Sports releases (her aesthetic is already part of the band's imagery).


You can check and follow her work on facebook.



BEST ALBUMS 2012 TOP 10
01 TOY Toy
02 THE ICE CHOIR Afar
03 THE BILINDA BUTCHERS Regret, Love, Guilt, Dreams 
(Mini Album Japan special edition)

04 MY BLOODY VALENTINE Ep's 1988-1991
05 RIDE Going Blank Again: 20th Anniversary Edition
06 WILD NOTHING Nocturne
07 DIIV Oshin
08 RINGO DEATHSTARR Mauve
09 LETTING UP DESPITE GREAT FAULTS Untogether
10 VIOLENS True


BEST ARTISTS 2012 TOP 10
*Except The Pains, most of following bands are new comers!

*Wallflower is from Japan, which is gonna be 'Japanese pains' 

01 TOY facebook
02 SULK  facebook
03 HONEYSLIDE facebook
04 THE BILINDA BUTCHERS facebook
05 ALPACA SPORTS facebook
06 THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART facebook
07 ICE CHOIRfacebook
08 THE HISTORY OF APPLE PIE facebook
09 ERIKA SPRING facebook
10 WALLFLOWER facebook

BEST TRACKS 2012 TOP 5
01 TOY Motoring

02 THE BILINDA BUTCHERS Hai bby (ft. Tiny Microphone)

03 ALPACA SPORTS Just for fun

04 ICE CHOIR A Vision of Hell, 1996

05 WILD NOTHING Shadow


BEST GIGS 2012 TOP 5
*Instead of 'labels', I chose my personal 'BEST GIGS' in 2012 
'Cause during this year, I went to 5 music festivals and 15 headlining shows.
 In total, saw the gigs of 37 bands!! (haha, I'm a gig-junkie!)
THE STONE ROSES @Fuji Rock Festival 12 (Jul 27)

2 THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART @Shibuya Quattro (Feb 17)

3 PRIMAL SCREAM @Rocks Tokyo (May 27)
4 PAUL WELLER @Zepp Diver City (Oct 27)

5 THURSTON MOORE (with CHELSEA LIGHT MOVING) @Hostess Club Weekender (Nov 4)

INTERVIEW 59. wool strings


Wool Strings is the delicate, minimal, dreamy and über organic project of japanese musician Ryohei Ameda.

Ryohei started recording his songs when he was a teenager and after being part of a few bands, he decided to release his solo work into the world.

He releases his music via Sea Song, his own label. And also appeared - and here's where I got to know his work - on A Good Crop - Eardrums Autumn Compilation, from 2008 and released via Eardrums.

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He creates instrumental landscapes, and it's impossible not to think about cherry blossoms, bamboo forests and calm streams hidden in the woods, somewhere in Japan's countryside. Not that his music sounds traditional or something; but it has an acoustic and - as I said before - organic atmosphere.



(Our Spring To Their Summer is a free ep from 2010 available on bandcamp). To learn more about his latest work - after blue - released last February, see the last question of our interview.

china blue

ELEN NEVER SLEEPS. CHINA BLUE EP (independent, 2011)

Elen Never Sleeps comes from Tokyo but also from a dreamy landscape between shoegaze mountains and dreampop oceans.
Soothing, somehow ethereal and with a certain 80s feeling.
China Blue EP was released last June and can be downloaded on bandcamp.


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