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Its so good when someone follows you on soundcloud, who is a real person and you like the music too, added bonus, as opposed to being some made up account with the picture of a scantily clad person. This is my soundcloud life, normally, but alas (sometimes I like to write like I am from another time!) today Meatbingo followed me and I discovered some new tunes I like.

I am sharing a couple below so you can enjoy too and perhaps peruse the links at your leisure. The name is memorable 'Meatbingo' which I mentioned already but wanted to type it again because it has a good ring to it and look at the artwork - I love a bit of neon.

There is an album called 'Trendy Robots' out in 2013 on Skam Records.

Enjoy!

Please more interesting, decent, real musicians follow me so I can be perked up by new music that makes me glad the internet exists.

Enjoy!

bleep.com/release/45742-meatbingo-trendy-robots
soundcloud.com/meatbingo
skam.bleepstores.com/

As I sift through loads of old photos, writings and musings I rediscovered this interview I did with Anchorsong absoutely ages, like years, ago. A little out of date I am popping it on here to inspire me to do more. Perhaps I will try and do an update very soon!

Enjoy!

Anchorsong: 'I never feel I'm being a part of particular scene or movement. I'd rather watch it from the outside, and I want to create something nobody else can make.'

Anchorsong a.k.a Masaaki Yoshida creates music live using a MPC2500 sampler and a keyboard, mainly performing solo but often playing with a string quartet. He has spent the past few years based in London and for the moment is back in his native Tokyo, Japan. He released his debut album 'Chapters' on the Truthoughts label back in November 2011.

Anchorsong has supported DJ Krush, Bonobo and Prefuse 73 to name a few and has performed at SXSW, Maida Vale, Boiler Room and more.

His music and style stands out to me for many reasons, including the way in which he fuses different genres. It was for that reason I wanted to find out a bit more about the man behind the music, what inspires him and life back in Tokyo.

MUSICAL BACKGROUND AND INSPIRATIONS

How long have you been producing music and where did it begin?

It's been nearly 9 years since I began to make music as Anchorsong in Tokyo. I had been in a rock band before that but decided to quit and pursue a solo career.

You take you name “Anchorsong” from a Bjork track.

What is your favourite Bjork tune and why?

There are many but one of my favourites is Joga. I think she is one of the first artists who successfully combined something raw and traditional with modern technology, and that track is a perfect example.

What would you say is your “Anchor”?

Sticking to my simple live set up, just MPC and Keyboard. All the tracks I produce have to be able to be performed with those 2 instruments, and that rule gives me some restrictions about the music I produce. I consider it as a creative directive rather than a limitation.

Who were the musicians and DJ’s that inspired you?

Bjork, DJ Shadow, Jimi Hendrix, CAN, J Dilla etc. There are too many to mention here but these artists are my primary inspirations.

What inspires you to create and produce music?

Things I experience in my daily life, meeting new people, reading books, eating nice food and attending great gigs.

I have read that you previously sent a demo to Truthoughts, the label you are currently signed to and they initially said, no. Do you feel that you needed the time to evolve as an artist and develop your own style?

Yes I do. I'm aware that the demo I sent them was so immature, and it just wasn't at the level of being released worldwide. Nowadays record companies expect new artists to send them pretty much finished product, and I wasn't capable of providing it back then.

MUSIC AND PLAYING LIVE

You create your music live using a MPC2500 and a keyboard in front of an audience, do you ever feel intimidated by the freshness of this format (in terms of glitches) or prefer the more organic way of playing music and why?

I've always been into live music of bands, so it was only natural for me to choose hardwares instead of a laptop. I hardly ever enjoy seeing electronic music live, I don't even like bands using laptops on the stage. There's nothing wrong with using computers in the studio, but I believe its dexterity can ruin the thrill of live music.

How much is pre planned when you play?

Although some people seem to believe I'm improvising on the stage, 90% of my set is pre planned (not pre-recorded). Improvisation is something I do in the process of making tracks, but I'd rather perform completed tracks on the stage as the outcome of those experiment. The live versions are sometimes quite different from the recorded one though.

You sometimes perform with a string quartet. Do you enjoy it when you are joined by them or prefer playing solo?

I enjoy both, and I change the set depending on the situation. I tend to play with strings if I'm playing at an outdoor festival during the daytime. I prefer playing on my own for a small club gig after midnight because I can be more edgy and dancey.

COLLABORATION, EPS AND ALBUM

Do you enjoy collaborating with other artists and remixing tracks?

I do enjoy collaborations but I'm not so keen on remixing or being remixed. The former one is about creativity and requires a lot of effort, the latter one is about being lazy and irresponsible. Remixing might be useful in terms of creating jobs for musicians, but I don't think it's healthy musically.

Does your musical output change depending on your surroundings?

Definitely. I returned to Japan recently after living in London for 5 years, and it's already affecting my music. I'm feeling that I can see what's happening in the underground scene in the UK more objectively now and the music I'm currently making is less influenced by it.

Who carved the apple on the cover of the "Lost and Found EP"?

A friend of mine, Daigo Nagahara carved it for real. Some people seem to think it's CG, but it's a real apple and we ate it after the photo shoot. He's a very talented designer.

Is there any relevance in the difference in colour of the pills on the ‘Chapters’ album and single releases? and if so, what do they represent?
There is but I'd rather not reveal it cause I want listeners to speculate. It's provocative, isn't it?

JAPAN AND LONDON

Are you part of an electronic music scene in Japan and London?

Mmm, its hard to say. Although I describe my music as electronic, I never feel I'm being a part of particular scene or movement. I'd rather watch it from the outside, and I want to create something nobody else can make.

What is the London music scene like compared to that in Japan?

It's musically more diverse, and more audience friendly. A nightclub is a common place for Londoners to socialize, while that in Japan it is only for young music lovers. The average entry fee for venues in Tokyo is £20, which isn't cheap.

The thing you miss the most about being in London?

The drunk audience, I love the noise they make when they're happy.

And when in London, what do you miss about Japan?

The food, which I'm pretty happy with it at the moment, also a musical instruments shop in Shibuya.

JUST FOR FUN SECTION

What do you listen to to relax?

Joni Mitchell “Blue

How do you spend your days off?

I cycle in Tokyo without having particular destination. Tokyo is full of the places to explore.

When you’re not making music, what is your favourite thing to do?

Making a building with Lego block.

Do you like listening to your own music?

Yes of course. I'm making music exactly how I want to hear it.

What album do you have on repeat at the moment?

Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo de Cotonou “Vol.1 The Voudoun Effect” and lots of other Nigerian Funk records.

Classic album that you love?

Fleetwood Mac “Rumours”

Favourite record shop? London? Japan?

Flashback In London, Tower Records Shibuya in Tokyo.

Vinyl or CD?

I've been a CD collector for a long time, but I'm thinking switching to Vinyl recently.

Dancer or dancefloor gazer?

Latter for sure

Favourite Darkrum?

Captain Morgan

Favourite season?

Spring, not in Tokyo though cause I suffer from hayfever

Favourite cartoon?

Princess Mononoke or Laputa Castle in the Sky

Most enjoyable English food?

Fish and chips, without a doubt.

Thanks to Anchorsong for taking the time to do the interview and I can't wait to hear what he produces next.

A lovely bit of linkage:

anchorsong.com

soundcloud.com/anchorsong

Audio Carousel

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Thursday, 28 July 2016

Old Anchorsong interview

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