PROFILE
DJ, MC, and producer known as "King Of Diggin'. He is also active as a DJ unit CAPTAIN VINYL with DJ NORI, one of the leading DJs in Japan, and runs a web shop under the same name. He also operates a web store under the same name, and has been working as a designer for the brand "RECOGNIZE" since 2020.
I want to support the record store in town.
. Today I would like to ask you about your fascination with the record culture. Have you been digging records lately?
MURO:In my case, I am like a sleepwalker, going from place to place every day (laughs). (Laughs.) I always ride my three-wheeled bike from Kichijoji in the west to Jimbocho in the east, and there is no end to it.
I'd like you to dig in a record store today with a budget of about 10,000 yen.
MURO:I tend to stop by large stores such as Disk Union and HMV Record Shop because they are located in various places. However, I also want to support local record shops as much as possible. I often stop by old-fashioned stores.
What kind of restaurants do you go to?
MURO:For example, "Faith Records," which was in the neighborhood when the store was in Udagawa-cho and is now in "Miyashita Park," and "Era Records," which is run by a staff member who used to work at the same store. I want to support stores that are run by people who have roots in Udagawa-cho, Shibuya Ward (laughs). It's where I grew up, and I was introduced to all kinds of music from long ago.
Today I visited "Cocoa Isle Music Market" in Shibuya at the request of Mr. MURO.
MURO:This place specializes in reggae and Hawaiian music. They have a wide range of music from Lovers Rock to earthy roots reggae, and when I have a record I'm not sure about in reggae, I immediately inquire.
. I guess the stores you visit change depending on your purpose and mood.
MURO:Yes, we do. For example, "Era Records," which I mentioned earlier, has two stores, one in Shimokitazawa and the other in Hatagaya, and they carry all genres of music. On sale days, they have a huge lineup of records, and I look forward to finding bargains there. Faith Records also deals in all genres. They also have a store in New York, and I think it's great that they are promoting Japanese records overseas. Jet Set is also good.
Do you make a list in advance when you go looking for something?
MURO:I used to do that. I used to make a want list and fill it up to the point that my wallet would be full. Dev Large and I used to show each other our lists, which were as detailed as a phone book.
I didn't know there was such a time...!
MURO:That was when he was living overseas. When I went over there, we exchanged lists and bought and traded records that we both wanted.
