Nagoya
9 artists
Picks
Local Scene
Rica
What is happening in your local music scene right now?
Club(O)Utopos, a sister venue to Sound Bar Normal that works as both a live house and a club, opened this past May, and I've had the chance to DJ and host parties there. I haven't managed to go yet, but around the same time, a gallery and shop called Cane Cane also opened, dealing in music, art, publications, apparel, and more. It looks like they're holding events too, which seems fun.
What local spots would you recommend?
Listening Bar
outrecord— 栄 / Sakae
It's a series released under one of Dave Huismans's alter egos, and I love how the beats sound almost acoustic but come out dubby and heavy, there's something strange about it that really appeals to me.
Record Shop
greatest hits— 大須 / Osu
outrecord— 栄 / Sakae
らくだレコーズ / Rakuda Records— 栄 / Sakae
hair & music parlour FAM— 覚王山 / Kakuozan
slowroom— 岐阜 / Gifu
CAN BUY RECORDS
decibel— 黒川 / Kurokawa
There are too many to name them all, but in the Tokai area, I've been indebted to places like greatest hits, outrecord, Rakuda Records, FAM, slowroom, can buy records, and decibel.
Label / Series
2++
GRAY MART
abentis's 2++, and goemon & TAIHEI's GRAY MART.
CazU-23
What is happening in your local music scene right now?
One of the key hubs of Nagoya's experimental music scene is spaziorita/DUCT, run by the exceptional producer Baptisma. Sotaro Fujiwara, who managed the venue until recently, opened a new art space called Cane Cane in May 2026. With its laid-back yet forward-thinking spirit, it's an exciting new platform that I'm looking forward to seeing grow.
What local spots would you recommend?
Listening Bar
カレーと民藝と酒 TeTe— 池下 / Ikeshita
A favorite spot among ambient music enthusiasts. Inspired by the Silk Road, it serves unique food and drinks, and its listening sessions and live performances, surrounded by folk crafts, create an incredibly comfortable atmosphere.
Label / Series
SINDHU Records
A label run by the Toyoda-based experimental artist FARABI. Alongside FARABI's solo works, it releases music by artists carefully selected through the label's distinctive activities and vision. I especially recommend the ongoing compilation tape series.
atom
What is happening in your local music scene right now?
A new venue has opened in Nagoya. (Utopos)
What local spots would you recommend?
Listening Bar
Utopos— 千種 / Chikusa
A new venue in Nagoya. It's equipped for both live performances and DJ sets, and they've put a lot of care into the sound system. The texture of the sound is excellent across the board, from deep lows to clear highs.
Record Shop
greatest hits— 大須 / Osu
They carry a wide range of records, from classics that were popular years ago to more recent favorites, so it's an easy place to shop.
Café
vocal inn DONNA LEE— 栄 / Sakae
If you want to listen to jazz, this is the place. The venue across the street, Lovely, also hosts live performances, so for jazz I'd recommend this area.
MUSICMAN
What is happening in your local music scene right now?
The younger generation is really making waves. There are so many incredibly talented DJs.
What local spots would you recommend?
Listening Bar
Bar SHIVA— 新栄 / Shinsakae
The sound is incredible, and the drinks never disappoint.
Record Shop
greatest hits— 大須 / Osu
Digging through the first floor before heading upstairs for another round of crate digging is the best part.
Café
ZEZE— 車道 / Kurumamichi
An amazing producer, Ramza also curates great music while serving delicious food and drinks.
Label / Series
B2 Recordings
Although it's not based in Nagoya, a treasure trove of deep house records with unforgettable grooves.
Jabba Da Hutt
What is happening in your local music scene right now?
I often feel that listening to music, artists, DJs, and selectors with your own ears and seeing them with your own eyes, rather than simply relying on other people’s opinions, is what can help strengthen the local music scene.
Having said that, I need to keep sharpening my own ears and eyes as well.
Having said that, I need to keep sharpening my own ears and eyes as well.
Makoto Adachi
What is happening in your local music scene right now?
To be honest, I'm not really sure what's happening in the music scene. I just buy records and go to events whenever I feel like it. I think everyone should do things their own way and, above all, keep doing them for as long as possible.
What local spots would you recommend?
Listening Bar
I've never been to a listening bar.
Record Shop
I can't single out one particular record store. Without record stores, we wouldn't be able to buy records in the first place, so I have respect for every record store out there.
Café
I couldn't tell you. I'm the type of person who can't even bring myself to go to Starbucks, let alone cafés.
Label / Series
I can't name a specific label. Without labels, we wouldn't be able to discover and buy new music, so I have respect for all of them.
Artists
Artist Interviews
What are your musical roots?
The right-field stands at Hanshin Koshien Stadium in 1985. Singing, banging megaphones instead of dancing, and collectively losing ourselves in the moment. That's music to me.
Which artists or labels are you most excited about right now?
- 1.ワダマンボ / WADA MAMBOI love all of it.
- 2.オクラ印 / OKRA brandBecause they carry a lot of things that happen to be right up my alley.
What are your musical roots?
Kaoru Inoue
Which artists or labels are you most excited about right now?
- 1.GROUNDI like the rhythmic feel.
What are your musical roots?
Josh Wink - HIGHER STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS
Which artists or labels are you most excited about right now?
- 1.CofloEverything he released last year was excellent. His edits are outstanding as well.
What are your musical roots?
Syd Barrett. A fundamental source of inspiration whose punk spirit, psychedelic vision, and unique artistic presence also resonate with what I see as the lineage of ambient folk.
Which artists or labels are you most excited about right now?
- 1.VAAGNER / VAKNAREverything about it appeals to me, from the concept to the sonic palette.
- 2.Psychic SoundsConnecting the world through a hidden, psychedelic ambient perspective.
- 3.2++A project led by abentis that explores the intersection of ambient and dance music through both electronic music and live instrumentation.
What are your musical roots?
I have vivid memories of being drawn to the rock ’n’ roll and soul oldies used as songs in the Japanese TV program Hirake! Ponkikki when I was a child. Looking back, I think that was what first sparked my interest in music. It went something like this.
Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers - Why Do Fools Fall In Love
Chordettes - Lollipop
The Beatles - The Beatles
Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers - Why Do Fools Fall In Love
Chordettes - Lollipop
The Beatles - The Beatles
Which artists or labels are you most excited about right now?
- 1.u-vibesA label run by Spanish producer U-Rie. I happened to come across one of his releases and was deeply impressed by it. Unfortunately, I missed the chance to buy it and had almost given up, thinking it might come around again someday.
Then, two or three months later, I received a message from Spain saying, “I finally found you! Your cover of Soul Syndicate, ‘New Vibration’ by machaco, is really good!”
The sender turned out to be U-Rie himself! It was a truly miraculous encounter. Ever since then, we have continued to share our passion for music. - 2.Shella RecordsA Canadian label primarily focused on music discoveries and reissues. I’m always impressed by their exceptional taste and their passion for digging up recordings.
- 3.Joe Armon-JonesAlthough he is a jazz pianist and producer, he also creates his own dub mixes and continues to work closely with reggae and sound system culture. I can really feel his deep love for reggae in his approach to music.
What are your musical roots?
As for my early musical experiences, my father, a cultural anthropologist, often took me along and had me listening to Peruvian folklore music and the like, and I think that's the root of why I'm still drawn to tribal music today.
Then, in junior high, I started lock dance, and the teacher I had at the time introduced me to the greatness of black music, funk and soul, starting with James Brown and Jocelyn Brown.
After that, I got into house dance, and moving through New York house, Chicago house, Detroit techno and so on, I gradually became devoted to the four on the floor world.
Then, in junior high, I started lock dance, and the teacher I had at the time introduced me to the greatness of black music, funk and soul, starting with James Brown and Jocelyn Brown.
After that, I got into house dance, and moving through New York house, Chicago house, Detroit techno and so on, I gradually became devoted to the four on the floor world.
Which artists or labels are you most excited about right now?
- 1.MarionetteThey often put out these shady sounding ambient and tribal beat records, and it's exactly my thing.
- 2.TruleIt's a label I love, starting with Al Wooton, who makes deeply immersive tracks where tribal tones and modular synth sounds match up beautifully, and the other artists' tracks are cool too.
- 3.ex_librisIt's a series released under one of Dave Huismans's alter egos, and I love how the beats sound almost acoustic but come out dubby and heavy, there's something strange about it that really appeals to me.