L?K?O
L?K?O is a singular artist who fuses the ritual instinct of a club DJ with the experimental spirit of a turntablist, creating a language entirely his own.
Drawing from an almost National Geographic-like breadth of musical sources, his sets transform unlikely sounds into new narratives. Though his approach is sometimes described as delightfully eccentric, or even downright strange, it has earned praise from internationally acclaimed artists such as TTC, Lightning Bolt, and Jason Forrest.
Through collaborations with boundary-pushing figures including OOIOO, Original Love, KILLER-BONG, and Keiji Haino, he has continually explored the outer limits of the turntable as a musical instrument.
This rare balance between adventurous experimentation and artistic coherence has made him a truly distinctive presence within the scene.
In 2008, he released Borshakaal Brakes, the debut original album by Oigoru, a project formed with U-zhaan, the tabla player of ASA-CHANG & Junray.
Since then, he has continued to pursue his work at his own pace, following a path uniquely his own.
Drawing from an almost National Geographic-like breadth of musical sources, his sets transform unlikely sounds into new narratives. Though his approach is sometimes described as delightfully eccentric, or even downright strange, it has earned praise from internationally acclaimed artists such as TTC, Lightning Bolt, and Jason Forrest.
Through collaborations with boundary-pushing figures including OOIOO, Original Love, KILLER-BONG, and Keiji Haino, he has continually explored the outer limits of the turntable as a musical instrument.
This rare balance between adventurous experimentation and artistic coherence has made him a truly distinctive presence within the scene.
In 2008, he released Borshakaal Brakes, the debut original album by Oigoru, a project formed with U-zhaan, the tabla player of ASA-CHANG & Junray.
Since then, he has continued to pursue his work at his own pace, following a path uniquely his own.
Artist Interview
What are your musical roots?
I grew up listening to the AOR and R&B channels playing over cable radio at my mother's coffee shop, along with 7-inch records on the jukebox.
Artists like Prince, Michael Jackson, and Bobby Caldwell formed the foundation of my musical roots.
Artists like Prince, Michael Jackson, and Bobby Caldwell formed the foundation of my musical roots.
Which artists or labels are you most excited about right now?
- 1.V/Vm
- 2.Noodles
- 3.FrogsNot necessarily artists or labels I'm focused on right now, but these are the three labels most central to the concept of this mix. They're wonderfully strange, and I love them for it.
Tokyo's Local Scene
What is happening in your local music scene right now?
The younger generation of DJs should never be underestimated. I seem to encounter more amazing DJs every year, and I truly believe that Japan has the best DJ culture in the world.
What local spots would you recommend?
Listening Bar
FORESTLIMIT— 幡ヶ谷 / Hatagaya
Soup— 落合 / Ochiai
bar bonobo— 神宮前 / Jingumae
虎子食堂 / Toranoko Shokudo— 渋谷 / Shibuya
梅ちゃんバー / Ume-chan Bar— 三軒茶屋 / Sangenchaya
グラスルーツ / Grassroots— 高円寺 / Kouenji
Anywhere is fun when a DJ I love is playing.
Record Shop
Disk Union
Los Apson?— 高円寺 / Kouenji
Pianola Records— 下北沢 / Shimokitazawa
RANA-MUSICA RECORD STORE— 下北沢 / Shimokitazawa
Wherever I go, I mostly spend my time digging for second-hand records.
Café
SUPER DOMMUNE— 渋谷 / Shibuya
It's not a cafe, though lol
Label / Series
SLIDE MOTION
I support them because they keep putting out wonderfully weird things.
Murder Channel
It feels like we're growing together.
Which local DJs/artists would you recommend?
There are simply too many to name, so I'll leave it at that. Really, there are a lot of them.
Showcases
Artists from Tokyo
Born in 2001. Began DJing and organizing events in January 2024.
Builds his sets primarily around techno, footwork, and ambient, guided by physical sensation.
Currently organizes the world-music party MINGLE, based on the concept of "traveling the world through music."
Builds his sets primarily around techno, footwork, and ambient, guided by physical sensation.
Currently organizes the world-music party MINGLE, based on the concept of "traveling the world through music."
Played in a band during the 2000s.
Started DJing around 2015.
Since late 2023, has been a regular DJ at Ponpoko Mountain, a party organized by Tentenko and imagined as a gathering of tanuki deep in the mountains.
Started DJing around 2015.
Since late 2023, has been a regular DJ at Ponpoko Mountain, a party organized by Tentenko and imagined as a gathering of tanuki deep in the mountains.
Yumi Iwaki is a Tokyo-based electronic sound artist.
Her work traces immersive soundscapes that feel like drifting through imagined landscapes.
Since encountering modular synthesis, she began shaping her practice around organic textures, where her voice, acoustic instruments, field recordings from daily life, and electronic sounds intertwine and dissolve into one another.
Since 2019, she has released works on labels in Japan and abroad, including collaborations and compilation albums.
Her releases include Juniper and Spin a Tale on Muzan Editions, and Nocturnal and Carpet & Sound Rec Vol.2 on Kankyō Records.
Based in Tokyo, she continues to create music and perform live.
Her work traces immersive soundscapes that feel like drifting through imagined landscapes.
Since encountering modular synthesis, she began shaping her practice around organic textures, where her voice, acoustic instruments, field recordings from daily life, and electronic sounds intertwine and dissolve into one another.
Since 2019, she has released works on labels in Japan and abroad, including collaborations and compilation albums.
Her releases include Juniper and Spin a Tale on Muzan Editions, and Nocturnal and Carpet & Sound Rec Vol.2 on Kankyō Records.
Based in Tokyo, she continues to create music and perform live.
akii is a Tokyo-based DJ and selector.
Moving fluidly between Roots Dub, Steppers, Dub Techno, Experimental Bass, and Ambient, with a distinctive sound centered on deep bass and expansive spatiality.
Rooted in sound system culture, selections and dub mixing create immersive experiences that blur the boundary between the club and focused listening.
Regular appearances on radio programs and at clubs in Japan and abroad continue to showcase Tokyo's underground bass scene.
Moving fluidly between Roots Dub, Steppers, Dub Techno, Experimental Bass, and Ambient, with a distinctive sound centered on deep bass and expansive spatiality.
Rooted in sound system culture, selections and dub mixing create immersive experiences that blur the boundary between the club and focused listening.
Regular appearances on radio programs and at clubs in Japan and abroad continue to showcase Tokyo's underground bass scene.
Born in 1992, she began DJing in March 2019 at ZUBAR in Shibuya, Tokyo.
Her play style is rooted in world music, while fluidly branching into bass, techno, disco, and house, adapting seamlessly to different floors and audiences.
As an organizer of the nationwide project MOMO, she is involved in curating and connecting DJs and artists active across Japan.
From March 2022 to June 2024, she held a residency on the second Thursday of every month at Tunnel in Aoyama, Shibuya.
A founding member of GAMPEKI MUSIC FES.
Her play style is rooted in world music, while fluidly branching into bass, techno, disco, and house, adapting seamlessly to different floors and audiences.
As an organizer of the nationwide project MOMO, she is involved in curating and connecting DJs and artists active across Japan.
From March 2022 to June 2024, she held a residency on the second Thursday of every month at Tunnel in Aoyama, Shibuya.
A founding member of GAMPEKI MUSIC FES.
Born in 2001. Began DJing and organizing events in January 2024.
Builds his sets primarily around techno, footwork, and ambient, guided by physical sensation.
Currently organizes the world-music party MINGLE, based on the concept of "traveling the world through music."
Builds his sets primarily around techno, footwork, and ambient, guided by physical sensation.
Currently organizes the world-music party MINGLE, based on the concept of "traveling the world through music."
Played in a band during the 2000s.
Started DJing around 2015.
Since late 2023, has been a regular DJ at Ponpoko Mountain, a party organized by Tentenko and imagined as a gathering of tanuki deep in the mountains.
Started DJing around 2015.
Since late 2023, has been a regular DJ at Ponpoko Mountain, a party organized by Tentenko and imagined as a gathering of tanuki deep in the mountains.
Yumi Iwaki is a Tokyo-based electronic sound artist.
Her work traces immersive soundscapes that feel like drifting through imagined landscapes.
Since encountering modular synthesis, she began shaping her practice around organic textures, where her voice, acoustic instruments, field recordings from daily life, and electronic sounds intertwine and dissolve into one another.
Since 2019, she has released works on labels in Japan and abroad, including collaborations and compilation albums.
Her releases include Juniper and Spin a Tale on Muzan Editions, and Nocturnal and Carpet & Sound Rec Vol.2 on Kankyō Records.
Based in Tokyo, she continues to create music and perform live.
Her work traces immersive soundscapes that feel like drifting through imagined landscapes.
Since encountering modular synthesis, she began shaping her practice around organic textures, where her voice, acoustic instruments, field recordings from daily life, and electronic sounds intertwine and dissolve into one another.
Since 2019, she has released works on labels in Japan and abroad, including collaborations and compilation albums.
Her releases include Juniper and Spin a Tale on Muzan Editions, and Nocturnal and Carpet & Sound Rec Vol.2 on Kankyō Records.
Based in Tokyo, she continues to create music and perform live.
akii is a Tokyo-based DJ and selector.
Moving fluidly between Roots Dub, Steppers, Dub Techno, Experimental Bass, and Ambient, with a distinctive sound centered on deep bass and expansive spatiality.
Rooted in sound system culture, selections and dub mixing create immersive experiences that blur the boundary between the club and focused listening.
Regular appearances on radio programs and at clubs in Japan and abroad continue to showcase Tokyo's underground bass scene.
Moving fluidly between Roots Dub, Steppers, Dub Techno, Experimental Bass, and Ambient, with a distinctive sound centered on deep bass and expansive spatiality.
Rooted in sound system culture, selections and dub mixing create immersive experiences that blur the boundary between the club and focused listening.
Regular appearances on radio programs and at clubs in Japan and abroad continue to showcase Tokyo's underground bass scene.
Born in 1992, she began DJing in March 2019 at ZUBAR in Shibuya, Tokyo.
Her play style is rooted in world music, while fluidly branching into bass, techno, disco, and house, adapting seamlessly to different floors and audiences.
As an organizer of the nationwide project MOMO, she is involved in curating and connecting DJs and artists active across Japan.
From March 2022 to June 2024, she held a residency on the second Thursday of every month at Tunnel in Aoyama, Shibuya.
A founding member of GAMPEKI MUSIC FES.
Her play style is rooted in world music, while fluidly branching into bass, techno, disco, and house, adapting seamlessly to different floors and audiences.
As an organizer of the nationwide project MOMO, she is involved in curating and connecting DJs and artists active across Japan.
From March 2022 to June 2024, she held a residency on the second Thursday of every month at Tunnel in Aoyama, Shibuya.
A founding member of GAMPEKI MUSIC FES.