Gifu
2 artists
Picks
Local Scene
DJ MOTIVE
What is happening in your local music scene right now?
I'm really happy to see local government starting to engage with cultural communities like ours. In fact, I just ordered This Must Be the Place: How Music Can Make Your City Better by Shain Shapiro today. I hope Japan becomes a place where the importance of culture is embraced and supported on a city-wide level.
What local spots would you recommend?
Listening Bar
aLFFo— 岐阜 / Gifu
This is the café bar I run. We play great music from all genres.
Record Shop
aLFFo Records— 大阪・新町 / Shinmachi, Osaka
A record shop in Osaka run by my younger brother. The selection is second to none.
Café
Takuro Coffee— 岐阜 / Gifu
My friend Takuro's café. He has an excellent ear for music.
HUG COFFEE— 静岡 / Shizuoka
A legendary spot run by a friend of mine in Shizuoka. I occasionally put together playlists for them.
Label / Series
STONES THROW
Not in Gifu, they've always been effortlessly cool, never confined to a single style.
Kotaro Horiguchi
What is happening in your local music scene right now?
In my local scene, reggae and dub have always had a strong presence. Rather than constantly changing, it has more of a slow-life atmosphere. When I first started going to events, they would often let me in for free simply because I was young, and I really appreciated that.
What local spots would you recommend?
Record Shop
OBSCURO— 高山・有楽町 / Yurakucho, Takayama
I only discovered it recently, although it's apparently been around for a while. They carry a great selection of records, mainly techno, and almost every sleeve is beautifully designed. They even had cassette tapes, which I'm a huge fan of.
Café
if珈琲店 / if Kissaten— 高山・花里町 / Hanasatomachi, Takayama
The reason I don't buy records is simple: they're expensive, and this place exists. The sign outside says "Coffee ¥1,000," but once you step inside, you'll understand.
Label / Series
I don't pay much attention to labels. I prefer to trust my intuition when listening to music.
Artists
Artist Interviews
What are your musical roots?
JAZZ / ROCK / TECHNO / HIPHOP / BREAKBEATS / AMBIENT etc...
Which artists or labels are you most excited about right now?
- 1.54 ULTRAI've been listening to them a lot lately. I really love their Chicano soul-inspired sound.
- 2.deadbundyThis is the unit I'm part of. All three of our albums are classics, if you ask me.
What are your musical roots?
When I was in elementary school, I first heard The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" in an English class, and it left a lasting impression on me. I also played wadaiko (Japanese taiko drums) from before I can remember until I was about twelve years old.
Which artists or labels are you most excited about right now?
- 1.∈Y∋ + C.O.L.OBoth the installations and the sound are extraordinary.
- 2.MerzbowI saw his live performance for the first time at Berlin Atonal, and it completely moved me.
- 3.JOETAROA friend of mine who is a painter and is always creating and showing me things I never thought possible.