NO CAP 2

Riyo Mountains, a DJ duo that has continually delved into folk songs from across Japan while moving between live settings and archival research, turns its focus to the songs and rhythms of western Japan, bringing into sharp relief the shifting of riddims, the sharing of lyrics, and the enduring power of Minyo as it rises from lived, practical contexts.

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This mix focuses largely on Minyo, traditional Japanese folk songs, from western Japan.

Compared to regions like Tohoku, western Japan has fewer Minyo that are widely recognized, and in that sense, it is often said that there are fewer Minyo overall.

However, the quality of the songs and the strength of the rhythms are in no way inferior.

I did not set out to select only obscure Minyo, but I want to suggest that when we define Minyo too narrowly as well known classics or their covers, we risk overlooking many important aspects.

Through the tracks in this mix, I hope the shifting of riddims, the sharing of lyrics, and the practical contexts in which Minyo have lived can come through as part of their enduring appeal.