Haruomi Hosono and Yuka Mizuhara . Their relationship cannot be expressed in words.
When people meet and interact with each other, how many words are needed? In some cases, a lot of explanation is required, while in other cases, if there is something in common, a conversation can be established with a few words. In the relationship between Haruomi Hosono, a world-renowned musician, and Yuka Mizuhara, a model and DJ, the latter is definitely true. The two regularly meet on the radio program "Daisy Holiday!" that Hosono navigates, and their ongoing dialogue, while looking out over the horizon of music, seems to be deeply committed to the music, even though it is only sensual in nature. This time, we focus on their relationship. On a warm spring day in April, we spoke with the two, dressed in Lacoste clothing.
Born in Tokyo in 1947, he made his debut in 1969 as the bassist of "April Fools" and formed "Happiendo" the following year . He started his solo career in 1973 and launched "Tin Pan Alley", and in 1978 he formed "Yellow Magic Orchestra". . Currently, in addition to his own solo activities, he also composes and produces music. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the start of his music career.
Yuka Mizuhara
. Born in Hyogo, Japan in 1994. She started her career as a model and has been featured in fashion magazines, commercials, and advertisements. . Known as a music lover, she has appeared at numerous events as a DJ. He regularly releases mixes on NTS RADIO, an internet radio station in the U.K., and attracts attention not only from within Japan but also from overseas.
I feel like I'm talking to someone of my generation. (Hosono)
When did you two first meet?
source of riverLast year, when Mr. Hosono performed in Taiwan and Hong Kong, my sister and I took a group of Hosono fans with us. It was a chase (laughs). (laughs) I had the opportunity to greet him at that time.
small fieldWas it like that? Didn't we know each other before that?
source of riverI myself had been going to gigs in the country before that.
small fieldAh , I see. . I knew that you used to come to my gigs often. Since then, she has often appeared on my radio show. She and I share a similar musical sensibility. She has a soundtrack that makes me say, "How do you know this stuff? She brings me music that makes me wonder, "How do you know this? . I feel like I am talking to someone of my generation.
source of riverThat's right! I like psychedelic music and spacey sounds, and that's why I love Hosono's "Harayso". I also like the psychedelic sounds in Herbie Hancock's "Rain Dance.
small field. sensitive to sound.
source of riverMr. Hosono's music is just so groovy, and I was just so inspired by the whirlpool of groove at the live show.
small fieldThey're also very sensitive to groove. It's not often you find a young girl like that (laughs).
This time we have both of them wearing Lacoste clothes. What is your impression of this brand?
source of riverLacoste" is all about crocodiles, isn't it?
small fieldIt's a brand that's been around for a great long time, so I might have worn it when I was younger.
source of riverI used to wear it a lot when I was in high school . I paired it with a mini-skirt and looked like a tennis girl (laughs).
Ms. Mizuhara, I heard that you were inspired by Chisato Moritaka today.
source of riverI love "Tokyo Rush" by Chisato Moritaka and Hosono, and I found an image of Chisato wearing an aloha outfit online. I found an image of Chisato wearing an Aloha outfit on the Internet and when I saw it, I knew this was the one for today! (Laughs)
You produced Moritaka-san's album.
small field. I see that you have been playing "Tokyo Rush" at your live shows recently. We were a married couple for a while, for the commercial. But we got married right after that. I thought, "He's taken" (laughs).
When you played "Tokyo Rush" at last year's concert in Brighton, Mr. Mizuhara was also on stage.
source of riverI was really very happy.... When I told them that I liked singing, they asked me if I would sing with them. I told them that I liked singing, and they asked me, "Well, will you sing with us? He said, "What? Are you sure? I was like, "Really?
small fieldIt's not often that such things come true when I say them, but you and your sister got out right away. Our gigs are always all men, so we don't have a lot of flair. . but suddenly it was like a flower bloomed. But suddenly, it was like a flower bloomed. And she has a great sense of rhythm. There is an instrument like a trumpet that makes a puffing sound when you hold it down with your hand, and she played it for us. She played it for me, and it was surprisingly difficult. You have to play it in time with the rhythm. But I was surprised that she played it without any difficulty.
. You are trying a new instrument now, aren't you?
source of riverYes, that's right. This, I brought it today.
small fieldAh, this. I used to like this one too and used to practice it. When I walked around Shibuya, I used to hear young people playing this as they walked around. What do you call it? I only know it as pachiko.
source of riverAsarad. I always forget this name, too (laughs).
What made you decide to do Assarad?
source of riverI wanted to develop a sense of rhythm. The movements are complicated . I thought that was kind of cool.
small fieldYou can't do that without practice. . we have a lot of things to practice in this studio. Like this one , which makes a rattling sound when you spin it in your palm. It's not a musical instrument, it's really a health tool, but it's hard to get this sound.
source of riverIt sounds like relaxation music, or ambient. It relaxes both body and mind. May I touch it too? . I also like the sound of bells and other sounds.
small fieldYou like things that make noise, don't you? You are just like me. I bought this toy because it makes noise. I buy anything that makes noise (laughs).
Do you incorporate the sounds of these toys into your works?
small field. after all, I'm tempted to put it in. . not pop music, but I would use it for movie music or something like that.
Hosono's music can be heard from many angles. (Mizuhara)
Do you always do your productions in this studio?
small fieldYou've been here for a long time. I think it's been more than 20 years . I also do radio from this seat.
You mentioned earlier that you invited Mizuhara to join you on the radio, why did you decide to invite him?
small field. I have great taste in music. I always look forward to seeing what he will choose to play. It's exciting and thrilling. Then, how could I not invite him?
source of riverI love Hosono's world anyway , so I am very happy to hear you say so. The first time I came into contact with Hosono's music was when I was watching a Tin Pan Alley video on Youtube with a friend and thought it was tropical and comfortable. From there, I was drawn in more and more, and recently I listened to "Akuma no Hatsumei" on Apple Music.
small fieldHuh? It's out already? That's fast. That's the one I rejected. That's why it's unreleased. In other words, it's just an orchestra, but there's no song in it.
source of riverIt was really cool! . I wanted to make dance music, so I got a lot of inspiration from it. All of Mr. Hosono's music has a pleasant rhythm, his voice is wonderful, and he makes me feel in tune. He is already a god (laughs).
small fieldWell, maybe God is exaggerating (laughs). But when it comes to rhythm, I sometimes wonder if I am of African descent. I think I have African people in my distant ancestors.
source of riverYou can still look it up, can't you? I'm curious!
small fieldBut you're scared (laughs).
Rhythm is an important element in music.
small fieldI am not particularly conscious of it. I just like what I make, and that's what I end up doing.
source of riverAlso, Mr. Hosono's music has a mysterious world, doesn't it?
small field. Sometimes I don't even know how I did it. When I listen to it later, I wonder, "How did I do that?" I wonder.
source of riverI am attracted by the mysterious atmosphere of the cool world! I can listen to Mr. Hosono's music from various angles, and even when I listen to the same song, I feel differently at different times. It is always fun to discover new things!
small fieldThat's what I've been told. It depends on where you listen to it.
source of riverMr. Hosono's music is highly respected by musicians, isn't it? Kuruan Bin, who visited Japan recently, also covered YMO's "Firecracker," and Mac DeMarco sang "Honey Moon.
small field. that hasn't really sunk in for me yet.
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Is that because you yourself are still a creator?
small field. That may be part of it. You can listen to my past works as much as you want, but I don't think people know much about what I am doing now. I don't think people know much about what I am doing now, such as boogie-woogie. I have the impression that people haven't heard me yet, so I am anxious about performing at my upcoming concert in New York.
source of riverNo, no, no, it's absolutely fine! Everyone is waiting for Hosono-san!
Do you always have such concerns?
small fieldThere is . I am full of anxiety. That's because I always work alone in my studio. I don't think about what will be popular if I do it. I don't think too much about whether or not my work will be popular. I do what pleases me, or rather, I let myself listen to it. I have been doing this for decades, and only recently did I realize that young people were listening to my music. I have become a little more aware of it.
Is there any influence from Mr. Mizuhara?
small fieldYes, of course there is, of course . They represent the younger generation. These people are important to the music world. They are influencers. People in their 20s today have a good sense. I have a feeling that they will do good things, not only in music. I feel safe.
Does Mr. Hosono ever listen to Mr. Mizuhara's DJ?
small fieldThat hasn't happened yet. I'd like to visit the site this time around.
source of riverI recently played "Shambhala Correspondence" on DJ .
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What do you keep in mind when selecting songs?
source of riverDon't be too specific and solid. Choose something that fits the atmosphere of the venue , and always mix it up according to my mood at the time.
small fieldWhat's the reaction?
source of riverI have been doing monthly mixes for a radio station in London called NTS RADIO! The first time I brought my favorite YMO record and played it, it was very well received. I also play Japanese 80s New Wave and cool artists from Hosono's label "YEN RECORDS," and people are interested in the music. I sometimes play music that I think is too minor. Sometimes I think it's too minor (laughs). (Laughs) I try to include some fun pop music, or simply cool and rhythmic tunes, all genres are fun to dig into!
small fieldHow many records do you have?
source of riverI think I have about 2,000 records. I've been buying records all my life, and I haven't bought any clothes (laughs). . Anyway, I would go to record stores and buy jackets.
small fieldJackets are important.
source of riverI guess that's true! I think visual perception is also an important part of listening to music. It influences our sensibilities. When I see a jacket, I sometimes think, "This is it! and when I go home and listen to it, the music is exactly as I imagined it would be, and I feel good about it.
small fieldIn the past, it was really a series of that. Analog vinyl and all that stuff you didn't know about, right? In those cases, I would buy the jackets. And my intuition was usually right. But nowadays, all CDs have cool jackets. So I don't know anymore.
. I think the music of the 20th century is a treasure trove. (Hosono)
Music is an essential common denominator between the two of you. Why do you think you resonate with each other despite being from different generations and genders?
small fieldFor a long time, musicians didn't talk to each other about their lives. When I ask them, "What do you like? I would ask, "What do you like?" and they would generally know. Once she brought me an original Savannah band, and that was all I needed to know. I could tell just from that. She said, "It's amazing that you can understand the quality of this! She said, "It's amazing that you can understand how good this is!
. it's already a common feeling, isn't it? It's hard to describe it in words.
small fieldMusic cannot be fooled. As a composer, I can tell when I hear the first 1 or 2 bars, for example. I can tell if it is good or bad, or how the person is feeling when he or she is making the music. I can't lie about my work. A work of art cannot lie. It is a work of art, and it is a work of art. Because I genuinely love music, there is no calculation involved. Therefore, age and gender are irrelevant.
source of riverToday, I brought a magazine of which Mr. Hosono was the editor-in-chief. It is called "H2," and the statement on the first page says, "Water can be fused with anything. I was very much attracted by the statement on the first page, which said, "Water can fuse with anything, and music has that kind of freedom.
small fieldHeh, I didn't know you wrote that. I must have forgotten about it (laughs). People I know say to me, "You said this in the past," but I don't remember it at all.
Is that because it is still changing day by day, or is it because your senses are being renewed?
small fieldYeah, I'm sure you're right , I'm sure. We say things on the spur of the moment, and we forget and change. Sometimes they say the same thing from beginning to end.
. recently, I read in one of your interviews that you want to pass on the DNA of good music.
small fieldEven in the band I am currently working with, I can feel the groove in the members. I tell them, "This is what a real boogie-woogie is like. And now they are able to do it easily. I hope that good music can be transmitted in this way.
I'm feeling a bit of a crisis. Many things are disappearing, and not just music. In my case, I feel that the music I like is not being passed on. I think the music of the 20th century is a treasure trove. There is a lot of good stuff buried in it.
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. It is the DJ's role to discover them.
source of riverYes, it is . I enjoy digging infinitely! I want to play more and more as a DJ when I find great music that is still unknown from "There are such cool bands in history!" . I also want to make my own music, so I've been playing a lot recently. I also want to make music by myself, so I recently got a sampler and a keyboard! I am going on a trip to Thailand, and I want to record the sounds of the natural world! For example, I would like to record birdsong, the sound of waves, the quiet but mysterious sound of the wind at night, and various other sounds to build a beautiful track.
small fieldI guess we are thinking the same thing (laughs). (Laughs) I am sure we will come up with something good.
It would be interesting to have a collaboration or something in the works.
small fieldWell, maybe there will be one day.
source of riverI was hoping we could get together next time we are in LA . in June. You are going on a tour in the U.S., right? I will be DJing at that time, and I was thinking of doing a B2B with you if possible, on my own (laughs).
small fieldAh, that's nice. Now it all depends on the schedule, I guess.
source of riverYay! I'm so happy . Please do. Then I will bring a lot of Dr. John's songs!
small fieldIf it happens, it's a battle (laughs).
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