KANDYTOWN is a hip-hop crew from Setagaya, Tokyo that released its first album "KANDYTOWN" from Warner Music last year. They are gaining momentum with the release of core member IO's 2nd solo album "MOOD BLUE" and DONY JOINT's 1st solo album "A 03 Tale, ¥ella", as well as their upcoming performance at SUMMER SONIC in Osaka, Japan in August. RYOHU and YOUNG JUJU, representing the members, gave us a solid talk about "G-SHOCK" and their current mindset and commitment to fashion.
#NIGHTCRUSING / KANDYTOWN
KANDYTOWN
INSTAGRAM :. @kandytownlife
Hip Hop Crew. A hip-hop crew consisting of 16 members, all of whom were born and raised in Setagaya, Tokyo. 2016 saw the release of their first album, "KANDYTOWN", which was followed by the release of their second album, "KANDYTOWN".
Looks good with B-boyish fashion.
First of all, what is the image of "G-SHOCK" for you two?
YOUNG JUJUThe brand image of "tough" comes to mind immediately. Like a tank. It is hard to break, can be used for sports, and can be used for outdoor activities. Originally, I had an image that it was worn by nautical types who surfed, and by young, clean-cut men, but as I delved deeper into the brand, I realized that there are many different lines.
RYOHUI have a similar image of G-Shock in my mind, but the image of the old-fashioned "G-Shock" goes well with the B-boy look of fashion. I think it would go well with that kind of simple, slouchy style.
Have you two ever actually used a "G-SHOCK"?
RYOHUYes, there are. I wore the so-called basic one.
YOUNG JUJUI have too. I think the first time was when I was in junior high school. I guess I wanted to be fashionable. The first watch I picked up at that time was a G-Shock. I think I liked the sporty, casual look of the watch, and the ease with which I could wear it. Recently, I was given a G-SHOCK when I appeared on Rip Slyme's radio program (ed. note: "RIP SLYME SHOCK THE RADIO - Powered by G-SHOCK" broadcast on TOKYO FM) last year, and I wore it as well.
RYOHUI remember I got it secondhand from my cousin's brother.
It's not like I'm making a lot of money, and I don't want to lie.
Do you always wear a watch these days?
RYOHUI am not sure why I was invited to participate in this project, but I am the type of person who almost never wears anything, even among KANDY members (laughs). I don't wear earrings, and I don't wear a watch. But recently I have started wearing sunglasses or glasses. I am on stage more than before, and I think that accessories such as sunglasses, necklaces, and watches are becoming more important than I thought. I think it is better to wear them with everyday clothes.
How was the "G-STEEL" that you were asked to wear this time?
YOUNG JUJUIt has a sense of luxury. But it is not obnoxious. I wear gold accessories, so I like the details of the "G-STEEL" with gold parts.
RYOHUIt would be just right for a young girl or someone to wear and not look suspicious. It would also be a good gift for a girl to give to a boy as a birthday present.
You mentioned that you wear your regular clothes plus α. Are you aware of any differences between what you wear on stage and what you wear in everyday life?
YOUNG JUJUI have started to think about it recently. I used to think it was cool to go on stage as I was. I used to wear plain white T-shirts most of the time, so it was normal for me to go on stage as I was. But then people started asking me to change it sometimes, or wear a necklace or something. Of course, unlike US artists, I don't make a lot of money, and I didn't want to lie, so I went with that style.
But recently, I've come to like dressing up a bit, so I try to dress up on a regular basis and bring it straight to the stage. So I try not to make a big difference, but sometimes I want to wear something flashy on stage.
Do you have a favorite brand or something?
RYOHUI also go to exhibitions at Fingalin and Cider House.
YOUNG JUJURecently, I have been looking at high-end brands, and I aim for them. I started going to a store called "Jackpot" when I was about 19 years old, and the items they sold were very expensive. The first sweater I bought cost about 40,000 yen. When I bought it, I thought I would take very good care of it, and in fact, I have taken very good care of it.
At that time, I started to learn to take care of expensive things that I like, like washing clothes, and to take good care of things. Recently, I have been collecting suspenders from Ralph Lauren and looking at belts from Hermes. I look at things that make me want to do my best.
YOUNG JUJU's hairstyle has changed a lot, hasn't it? He used to have a braided haircut that looked like a rapper's haircut, but now he has a much more relaxed look.
YOUNG JUJUI don't want to be treated like a normal person. I don't like it when people say "Yo! I want to be able to talk to normal people and live a normal life. I want to live a normal life and be able to talk to normal people. Maybe that's why I've been feeling that way lately, and I felt that way when I met with tofubeats and others. That's how I've been feeling lately.
IO there is something that only you can see.
I would like to ask about KANDYTOWN's commitment to your music videos and visuals. Many of your music videos are shot at night.
YOUNG JUJUI don't think any of the members of KANDYTOWN like the sunlight in Japan. In America, even if you just roll the camera around, it's totally different. The air is three-dimensional and has a sense of warmth. But Japan is cold, so everything looks cold, and daylight makes the pictures look cheap. If you take pictures in daylight, they look cheap.
But I also dislike streetlights because they are orange on the other side but fluorescent-like white on this side. So I try to find orange streetlights as much as possible. I also try to avoid showing Japanese-language signs, light trucks, and other Japanese-style passenger cars. Well, I am not the one filming, but I think IO and his team, TAXi FILMS (a video production team of which IO is a member), do things like that with that in mind.
RYOHUThey have been so thorough that we have all become like them.
I see. Then, what about your commitment to arthouse photography?
YOUNG JUJUI basically learn a lot from IO-kun when it comes to visual aspects. First of all, I consult with IO-kun about everything. I consult with IO-kun about everything, even about art photos. For music, I often consult with RYOHU, but for visual aspects, IO immediately comes up with ideas.
RYOHUIsn't that what happened with JUJU's solo album?
YOUNG JUJUYes, that's right. I am working with IO on the album covers and artwork for my albums. We are also working together on the Dony Joint album that just came out, as well as the MUD album. We are learning as we go so that we can do everything on our own. I am also paying attention to the lighting and other factors in the artwork and photographs as well as in the videos.
RYOHUI think there is something that only he can see.
I guess those small differences are important.
YOUNG JUJUIO you are amazing.
To be able to collaborate on a variety of projects in a larger frame.
Last year, KANDYTOWN released an album and YOUNG JUJU released a solo album. What is going on in terms of music for all of you at the moment?
RYOHUYes, I think so. These days, I think I tend to play more with a band set. I don't really like events with many performers, and I think I can express myself more musically when I play a 2- or 3-man show with a band for a longer period of time. I have been saying this in interviews since last year, but I think that in 2017, solo performances will be my main focus. Last year we all concentrated on KANDYTOWN, but this year I hope to be active as a solo artist and raise the level of KANDYTOWN even higher. We are all active, including those that have not yet come to the surface.
Each of us could show what we could not show in KANDY as a solo artist. It would be uninteresting if everyone did the same thing, so it would be great if everyone could change their characters exquisitely and support each other within KANDYTOWN. It's not a different way from last year, but rather than everyone doing KANDYTOWN together, I think the main movement will be to support someone. Basically, everyone is just trying to do their best (laughs). (Laughs) Everyone is aware of this as a matter of course.
YOUNG JUJUI want KANDYTOWN to be famous, so in order to do that, I need to become famous myself, and I hope to be a part of the attention that other people can't get, so I'm going to do it this year with the attitude of "please hit me. I think that I will be able to release a lot of good news until around the summer, but after that, I haven't decided what to do at all.
I am still in a state of waiting and searching, rather than creating something of my own from scratch as a solo artist. I am still not in the position of creating my own solo music from scratch, but rather I am waiting or searching for something new. I'm just doing what I have in front of me now and working to get results so that I can give back to KANDYTOWN.
True to his word, YOUNG JUJU's guest performance on "Lonley Nights," one of the songs in tofubeats' new album, has become a topic of conversation not only in the hip-hop community but also among a wider audience of listeners. I often hear it on the radio.
RYOHUI also think it's really interesting that JUJU participated in that song.
YOUNG JUJURYOHU-kun is very complimentary (laughs).
RYOHUNo, I personally think that event was amazing. I think it's great that these guys, who in the past would not have tried to play songs with anyone outside the group or even release them, have been working together for the past year or two, and as a result, are now working as solo artists in the outside world. I think it is a good thing to play music with various people who are on the same field. I think it is good to play music with various people who are like me.
YOUNG JUJUI think that these two are the ones in KANDY who can do it without being isolated. The other members are all in a state of seclusion (laugh), and we are looking forward to seeing that change. I hope that we can do something new, and that the members of KANDY will receive offers from various people, and that I can do something that will make people think that there are other people who can do this kind of thing.
RYOHUTo this end, we should not only collaborate with musicians, but also with other artists, such as the model for G-Shock, and if we call each and every cultural movement a collaboration, then I hope that everyone will have the qualities and the presence of mind to be able to collaborate in various ways. I hope that everyone will have the ability and the presence of mind to collaborate in a variety of ways. That is what I am thinking about now.
G-SHOCK
g-shock.com
INSTAGRAM:@gshock_jp
Contact for consultation on functions, operation, where to buy, etc.
0570-088955
03-5334-4869 (from PHS, IP phones, and pay phones)
