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Interviews Archives
March - April, 2009
Let's take a trip to the darker side of Japanese rock. The Kyoto-based rock group Rikugo began making a name for themselves with the release of
the album "Yu-En" in 2005 and "Yoiyami no Zanko" in 2008. Their stage show displays a mix of harder, darker edged rock music interspersed with a
more melancholy, almost pop sounding musical style.
They are currently working on their next album, due out later this year, featuring Shimpei Tsumita on vocals, Yusuke Murata on guitar, Shunsuke
Yagi on keyboards, Kiyotaka Masudo on bass and Shingo Uchida on drums.
On April 27, 2009 Rikugo was kind enough to give an interview to J-Pop World.
Rikugo Interview.
- Posted April 30, 2009.
You know you're doing something right when fans devour your publicity pictures. For Japan's singer/songwriter MEG, the appeal of her provocative
album cover art goes hand-in-hand with the impressive quality of her music. Whether it's her new single Freak or her classic
"must-run-to-dance-floor" siren song Supersonic, MEG is bringing a fresh attitude to Japan's J-pop and Electronica dance
scene.
The multi-talented MEG also has her own fashion line, Carolina Glaser,
and runs a clothing store (1 of 3) in Tokyo's famed Harajuku district.
So come take a look at the art, popping music and fashion of this talent from the land of the rising sun.
On February 4th, 2009 MEG was kind enough to give an interview to J-Pop World.
MEG Interview.
- Posted April 24, 2009.
Few people can ever forget the emotional power of a solar eclipse. For Hideyo Blackmoon, they would become a spiritual obsession, beckoning
her year after year to countries across the globe. A staple of the Japanese dance scene for many years and a successful DJ in the world's
trance and chill out scene, Hideyo Blackmoon is poised to release her first album later this year.
So fill your mind with the thought of that astronomical spectacular and take a look at the music they have inspired in the spiritual heart
of a very special Japanese lady.
On March 24, 2009 Hideyo Blackmoon was kind enough to give an interview to J-Pop World.
Hideyo Blackmoon Interview.
- Posted April 15, 2009.
Ever since the release of Denki Candy's first mini-album back in 2006, fans have fallen in love with their upbeat, high-energy pop sound. In
2008 the cousin duo decided to go their separate ways, with Milky starting a solo project as Milky Way and Marilyn aka Ritsuko joining Shonen
Knife as their new bass player.
But if you thought Denki Candy had come to an end forever, think again. Busy though they may be with their current projects, somewhere on the
j-pop horizon the two plan to work together again. Until then, enjoy the fruits of their separate talents as Milky Way and Shonen Knife.
On March 23, 2009 Milky and Ritsuko (Marilyn) from Denki Candy were kind enough to give an interview to J-Pop World.
Denki Candy Interview.
- Posted April 6, 2009.
If its Ska music you crave then you've come to the right place. Oreskaband features six talented young ladies from Osaka, Japan. With a new
album to be released on April 15th and a mammoth touring schedule for the rest of the year you might think they'd be busy enough. But
this inexhaustible sextet will be staring later this year in a feature film created by alumni from the
highly successful High School Musical movie series entitled "Lock and Roll Forever."
So heads up Tokyo Ska Orchestra, the competition is in the house and Ikasu, Tae-san, Leader, Moriko, Saki and Tomi are aiming high, so high you
might be tempted to say... the Ska's the limit!
On March 3, 2009 Ikasu and Tae from Oreskaband were kind enough to give an interview to J-Pop World.
Oreskaband Interview.
- Posted March 24, 2009.
"I was first into some Japanese pop bands, but one day I saw Sid Vicious on some magazine..." And that's all it took for a young Hiroyuki Koike
to be thrown into the world of punk rock. With an unusual upbringing in Wales starting at age 5, Hiroyuki is now fronting a very Japanese punk
rock group along with Yoshitaka Shinmura on bass and Kozo Kurosawa on drums.
Their 2008 debut album, "At Pop Speed" was produced by former Suicide Machines guitarist Dan Lukacinsky and features a snappy lineup of punk rock
songs like No Excuses and Tell Me.
On March 16, 2009 Hiroyuki Koike from MUGWUMPS was kind enough to give an interview to J-Pop World.
MUGWUMPS Interview.
- Posted March 18, 2009.
We interviewed Rino Nakasone on January 29, 2009 while she was competing on MTV's 3rd Season of
America's Best Dance Crew.
Her crew Beat Freaks fought all the way to the final episode, coming in second to the equally impressive Quest Crew. On March 12 Rino was kind
enough to give us a follow up interview to talk about the competition, which can be found at the end of our regular interview:
Rino Nakasone Interview.
- Posted March 13, 2009.
If it's hard rocking garage band style music you're looking for, then detroit 7 might just fit the bill. With Nabana on vocals and guitar,
Kotajima on bass and Yamaguchi banging the drums, these three Japanese musicians bring a lot of heart and soul to their high energy brand of music.
With their March 10th, 2009 release of the self-titled "detroit 7" album from the new Daruma Label and upcoming shows at South by Southwest, there could
be no better time to take a look at this fiery Japanese group with the very American name.
On March 6, 2009 the members of detroit 7 were kind enough to give an interview to J-Pop World.
Detroit 7 Interview.
- Posted March 10, 2009.
Interviews Archives: 2009 February
J-Pop World 2008-2009 is run by Andrew of
Indianapolis. Send comments to
comments@j-popworld.com or contact me at
MySpace.com.
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