What is the biggest challenge for emerging artists in music?
“There are a lot of different types of music already so I just want to try and find new things that can make people notice something that they have never noticed before.”
Do you have a favourite instrument or piece of equipment?
“One thing is the piano of course, which I have played for a long time. Now I really like the toy instruments like the melodica, they’re nice and cute!”
What got you interested in electronic music?
“After I graduated from university I was working at a company in Tokyo that makes new music for commercial works, so I needed to use computers, synthesisers and other studio equipment. From there I started making music with electronic sounds and later I became more interested in making my own music with these sounds.”
Academically speaking, you have a classical background, how much does this feed into your electronic productions?
“I think this helps me to construct each sound in a practical way, especially when making harmonies which is the one of the important things on my music.”
“I use elements from traditional and acoustic instruments as well as electronic sounds since I still believe there are some more possibilities among them…”
The podcast sees you blending traditional instrumentation and acoustic sounds with electronica which is something that is common in your work – what is it about the use of both of these elements that interests you?
“Nowadays, there are already lots of kinds of music which were made by people in the past, and also the globalization of the world is going on because of the internet. Those environments always make me want to create something new and I want to make people notice something new. I come to use these elements from traditional and acoustic instruments as well as electronic sounds since I still believe there are some more possibilities among them for music.”
How do you see electronic music developing in the future?
“I am not sure! Now is the time of the crash of the music industry but also there’s the possibility of the internet to expose these types of music for free so I just hope that the people in the world get to know the different kinds of music as much as possible. I don’t know how electronic music will develop in the future, I also want to see how it goes!”
Can you tell us a bit about the soundtrack work you do / other projects?
“Now I’m composing for a film and working on a new album, of course. The film is from an English director called Ether Johnson, she filmed it in Japan, focusing on the Cherry Blossoms. It’s very beautiful.”Â
What do you have planned for 2010?
“This year I hope I can visit London to play a show at some time. I also hope I can finish my new album this year, there’s no name yet, but it’s more electronic sounds.”
Louise Brailey
alphavillefestival.co.uk
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