Episodes
-
A conversation with Mikolas – pop star who represented the Czech Republic in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018, and in 2024 was in Japan recording his new collaboration with J-rapper SKY-HI. Mikolas shares stories about his life journey starting out cleaning music studios in return for recording time, busking his way around Europe, the challenge of modeling, and getting back up on the horse when life dumps on you.
-
A conversation with Soness Stevens - voice actor, writer and stand-up comedian, who has been the voice of anime character Hello Kitty, written for TEDx talks, and made her debut appearance at Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2024. Stevens shares stories from her creative journey, how living in a car as a child with her mother shaped her writing and performing, the sense of community at a beachside town in Japan, and her love of skateboarding and surfing.
-
Episodes manquant?
-
A conversation with Matthew Halsall - trumpeter and founder of Gondwana Records label who creates beautiful, dreamy ambient music and was in Japan for live shows at Peter Barakan's Live Magic and Blue Note Tokyo in October 2024. Halsall discusses being inspired by the spiritual side of Japan, recording the sounds of nature for his music, the power of silence in music, and some recommended music and food spots in his hometown Manchester.
-
A conversation with Lisle Wilkerson - AKA Lisle Weapon, Blonde Geisha - former Tokyo and now Los Angeles based radio DJ, voice actor, game & animation convention MC, and red-carpet reporter. Wilkerson shares the time we first met as in-store DJ's in Tokyo back in the 90’s, plus moments as a pioneering bi-lingual radio broadcaster, showbiz moments with Prince, Shaggy, Glenn Close, Christopher Cross, and how being brought-up in Japan has moulded her character.
-
A conversation with Chris Mosdell – poet and lyricist who has written for a vast array of musicians including Yellow Magic Orchestra, Michael Jackson, Sarah Brightman, Tatsuro Yamashita and many more, and in 2023 was honoured with Japan's Classics Day Cultural Foundation Prize, presented by a member of the Imperial family. Mosdell shares the process of writing words for music, the story of why one of his most famous pieces was locked in Michael Jackson’s vaults for decades, being inspired by Kyoto's 10th century "social media", and how the hum of cities has an impact on his words.
-
A conversation with Plush – all female rock group from the US on a mission to bring rock back to the forefront of the music industry, who were in Japan for the first time for live shows in October 2024. All four members talk about the joy of being in a band and getting inspiration from each other, supporting some legends in rock including KISS and Slash, and what from Japan they want to take back home with them.
-
A conversation with Timmy Byrne – dance music lover, DJ and owner of dance music radio station Kiss FM in Melbourne Australia who was in Japan in July 2024 to talk, walk, go clubbing and dance. Byrne expresses his love for the shared communal experience of listening to radio and being on a dance floor, and delight of being in Japan for the first time after studying the language and culture back in his school days.
-
A conversation with Jimmy Mullins – music loving teen student at the School of Rock in Portugal who is discovering the joys of becoming a future rock star and was in Japan for summer break in August 2024 together with his parents eating their way around the world. Mullins talks about why music is such a powerful way to make teen life and the world happier and healthier and spontaneously sings a bassline for us.
-
A conversation with Maisy Kay – singer inspired by fantasy worlds, the oceans of our real world, and emotions of the heart including challenging teen years moving from rural England to the hub of showbiz Los Angeles, who was in Japan for live shows in August 2024. Kay shares her thoughts on why adults need a little more whimsy, why we all need to take care of our oceans, and enjoying a spicy bowl of ramen in Tokyo.
-
A conversation with Jordan Dobson – stage / screen actor and musician whose Broadway debut was as the standby in the role of Tony in West Side Story, and movie debut was in Maestro the story of Leonard Bernstein West Side Story’s composer, and was in Japan in August/September 2024 starring in the role of Angel in the Broadway and Japanese production of the stage musical Rent. Dobson shares serendipitous and painful showbiz moments, why musical theatre and music is so important for life, plus there's even an unscripted backstage moment minutes before Dobson is due on stage.
-
A conversation with Mikah - singer born and raised in Hawaii who moved to Japan after being scouted for boyband Intersection, then to China for audition reality show and joining the group Into1, now pursuing a solo career and was in Japan to perform live at Summer Sonic music festival in August 2024. Mikah shares thoughts on his musical journey so far including facing a stadium audience when being extremely shy, why he closes his eyes when singing, why music is therapy, and living life as a true internationalist.
-
A conversation with Olivia Dean – soulful singer/songwriter who creates some beautiful smooth soul, was named BBC Music Introducing Artist of the Year 2023, and was in Japan to perform at Summer Sonic music festival in August 2024. In our allotted five minutes (standard for music festival press) Dean shares thoughts on her favourite theatre musical, how songwriting is about finding understanding between people, and being an "old soul" why she loves long-form music videos.
-
A conversation with Stephen Sanchez - singer inspired by the music of the 1950's & 60's with the swagger of Elvis to match, who was in Japan to perform at Summer Sonic music festival in August 2024. In our allotted five minutes (standard for music festival press) Sanchez shares his thoughts on performing with Elton John at Glastonbury Festival, why music, and indeed the world, needs to be more loving and less selfish, and what goes through his mind with eyes closed while singing.
-
A conversation with Ricardo Bacelar - composer and multi-instrumentalist who has collaborated with an array of musicians and released a number of albums inspired by the vast range of Brazilian music who was in Japan for a series of live shows in July 2024. Bacelar talks passionately about how composers "feel" music flow, why the first take when recording is the best, and recommends some Brazilian music destinations.
-
A conversation with Joao Caetano and Francis Hylton - percussionist and bassist respectively with legendary acid jazz group Incognito and side project Citrus Sun who were in Japan for shows at Blue Note Tokyo in July 2024. The two discuss how performing with Bluey's two major music groups has given them the chance to see the world and build a global community, provide them with a platform to launch their own solo projects and discover what soul music really means.
-
A conversation with Kitty Liv – one third of sibling music trio Kitty, Daisy & Lewis who released her debut solo album Easy Tiger the same week as her live show at Fuji Rock Festival in Japan in July 2024. Kitty shares thoughts on her solo venture, music festivals, why she loves Fuji Rock and how a bad relationship can inspire good music.
-
A conversation with Carlos O’Connell guitarist of Fontaines D.C. – UK chart-topping, Brit Award-winning Irish rock stars who were in Japan for Fuji Rock Festival 2024. Three days before their Red Marquee set at the festival O'Connell shares his favourite music festival moment, thoughts on purposely not looking at the band's global tour schedule, walking up stairs in Japan, and a lucky horseshoe on his skin.
-
A conversation with Mark Johnson – co-founder of Playing For Change, a foundation and global collective of musicians who offer education and opportunities through the power of music. Johnson shares human success stories from his travels and how music is used not only for education, entertainment and healing but also in an African village for conflict resolution, something the world could learn from.
-
A conversation with Ai Futaki – Guinness World Record holding free diver, speaker, documentary maker and oceans advocate who talked at a World Ocean Day 2024 event at the Canadian Embassy Tokyo and in summer 2024 has an exhibition creating an ocean in an inland town in Japan. Chatting on the beach at Hayama, Kanagawa prefecture near Tokyo Futaki shares her observation of sea lions being like little puppies, dolphins cool teenagers and whales wise shaman, and gives advice about how we can all help the oceans and how the oceans can help us.
-
A conversation with Nick Wood – musician, composer, music producer and SYN Studio in Tokyo founder who has created the audio for a vast array of projects and collaborated with artists including Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran, Julian Lennon, Maxi Priest, Bebel Gilberto, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry and more. Wood shares stories of the joys and challenges of the creative and business sides of music, a "happy accident" success story in Japan, and the undervalued perception of music.
- Montre plus