Mike Vest (Bong, 11 paranoias, Haikai no ku and more) interview

Interviewer:Fumimasa Hori

  Although some artists are highly valued in Europe, they’re not reported in Japan. Mike Vest who I interview this time is one of them. He is vigorously playing in a number of projects, including psychedelic drone group Bong, 11 paranoias, Haikai no ku, Basillica, Blown Out, Nun, etc., but how many Japanese know his activity? Mike broke off his busy schedule to respond to my interview through Facebook. I’m proud to promptly interview him and report his activity in Japan.

―Your current projects I know are Bong, Haika no ku, Blown out, Nun, 11 Paranoias, Lobster Priest, Basillica. Actually, how many projects you take part in now? If you've worked other than the above projects, could you tell me the project name and the concept?

Mike: There is one more called Space Victim, Jackal...its all here dude.

Virginia Genta (Jooklo Duo) interview Part2

Interviewer:Fumimasa Hori

― I don't know why, but it was decided that both artists who I interviewed would come to Japan immediately after interview. So, I'm looking forward to watching your performance in Japan soon! Is there Japanese musicians you want to play together? Well, how was the collaboration with Takehisa Kosugi? Just as you say, we can find a point in common among music in the world. For example, It is said that Enka (Japanese old popular songs) and Ethiopian music are really resembled. I think it's important to seek the Universal Sound too. But, I also think it's important to seek the sound peculiar to the local simultaneously. Have you think to play the sound peculiar to Italy？

Virginia Genta (Jooklo Duo) interview part1

Interviewer:Fumimasa Hori

The most hardcore free jazz unit in the wolrd is absolutely Italian duo Jooklo Duo. I asked a female sax player of Jooklo duo Virginia Genta who plays aggressively by e-mail. I will upload this interview devided in two because I had endless questions and the interview was considerably long.

Cammisa Buerhaus Interview

Interviewer:Fumimasa Hori

　NY artist Cammisa Buerhaus who is free from specific territories, such as fine arts, music, media. Even if we see only the activity for the past several months, it is protean like self-made pipe organ, performance using a radio, mix-tape with emphasis on the voice, and it is also difficult to predict what next she will do. I tried the interview by e-mail to her who is an artist the writer pay attention to most now.  

－The first time I knew you was when I watched a video which was you were playing chroma color organ (self-made pipe organ). I was so astonished your originality. When and how did you get an idea of chroma color organ? 

Cammisa: The Chroma Color Organ was born from the fantasy of a multipurpose + person sculpture. I’ll describe it now.The center is an immense wooden turnstile, so heavy that eight people were needed to turn it. The turnstile pegs are connected to matching fan blades by a tall pole. When the turnstile spins, the fan blades generate an inverse air tunnel, acting as cooling agent and action repellent, in that it would literally blow the people away.

Cyril M. Interview

Interviewer:Fumimasa Hori

  
In mid-July,I interviewed with French multi-instrumentalist Cyril M.via e-mail.When I contacted Cyril M. through Facebook,he gave me a free download code of his new solo album「Vertiges」.I listened to it just after that. Then, I replied my impressions. The interview begins when he exchanges chat with me.

 

 ― It is great that the contrast between stasis and dynamics is clear on your new album. I also feel Japanese sense from your music. I think you have listened to a lot of Japanese music, especially Keiji Haino.

Cyril: I'm very glad you like this album, thanks. It's true that I listened to a lot of Keiji Haino, but my great fear is to sound like a copy from him. With this album I tried to get a little away from his influence. I also listened a lot to Otomo Yoshihide, Kawabata Makoto, and more recently Taku Sugimoto. Recently, I tried new directions on electro-acoustic guitar, and maybe you have seen the video on my YouTube channel.But whoever my music sounds like, I really care to be honest in what I'm doing towards my audience. That's the most important to me.