01Profile
A Charan-po-rantan Photo
Charan-po-rantan
Musicians — Tokyo
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
CHARAN-PO-RANTAN (Momo & Koharu), Tokyo.
What do you do?
Musicians - Momo (vocalist) and Koharu (accordionist).
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Koharu: Pink Floyd, I was a guest musician when David Gilmour played 'Atom Heart Mother' in its entirety. I saw it in Chelsea in 2008 and my old band was invited to the afterparty. The promoter John, who worked on the Pink Floyd project had by chance seen a video of me playing in a cabbage garden that I'd uploaded to YouTube.
Which sub-cultures have influenced you?
I’ve been affected by Japanese subcultures, such as Komatcha Klezmer, Cicala-Mvta, Garage Chanson Show, Misemonogoya/Freak Show and Chindon’ya - a type of elaborately costumed street musicians in Japan that advertise for shops and other establishments.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
John’s mansion. It was just a house party but 200 people came. That had a kick to it!
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
Koharu: Although it seems that I’m a fangirl now, I like Queen.
Momo: Both of us really have loved Freddie Mercury for a long time.
Koharu: We’ve covered 'Bicycle Race' in Japanese.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Momo: I’d like to fall in love with John Lennon for just an hour.
Koharu: I’d like to give out advice to John Lennon not to go home on that day.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Koharu: Martynas, who is accordionist.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
How did you select the tracks for this playlist?
Koharu: If you listen to this playlist, you might be able to understand Charan-Po-Rantan’s backbone.
The first track you played on repeat?
Koharu: 'Ghost Town' by The Specials.
Momo: Koharu is easily hooked on something, so she always made me listen to this song.
Koharu: When I was in high school, I was in a band called Ska-Trojans as a tenor saxophone player. I’ve called it 'Sukatoro' in short, but when I knew the true meaning of this word, I felt I became an adult.
A song that defines the teenage you?
Koharu: The Specials, but not 'Ghost Town'... 'Little Bitch' is the one.
Momo: ‘Paranoid Android’ by Radiohead. When we performed for the first time at Fuji Rock, which is a music festival, we played at the same time on another stage. So we played their covered song at Naeba Shokudo, wearing a thing in the shape of radio on my head.
One record you would keep forever?
Momo: 'Jazz' by Queen containing the track 'Bicycle Race'.
Koharu: 'Specials' by The Specials.
Best song to turn up loud?
Momo: 'Bicycle Race' by Queen.
Koharu: Momo plays it in the car 24/7. I don’t sing out loud, but the chorus part of ’20th Century Boy’ by T.Rex, if I must say.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Koharu: 'Brainstorm', which is the first song of 'Favorite Worst Nightmare' by Arctic Monkeys. And people might not know that I listen to Ska songs.
Any new bands you are listening to now?
Koharu: I’ve found out The Bollywood Brass Band recently.
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
CHARAN-PO-RANTAN (Momo & Koharu), Tokyo.
What do you do?
Musicians - Momo (vocalist) and Koharu (accordionist).
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Koharu: Pink Floyd, I was a guest musician when David Gilmour played 'Atom Heart Mother' in its entirety. I saw it in Chelsea in 2008 and my old band was invited to the afterparty. The promoter John, who worked on the Pink Floyd project had by chance seen a video of me playing in a cabbage garden that I'd uploaded to YouTube.
Which sub-cultures have influenced you?
I’ve been affected by Japanese subcultures, such as Komatcha Klezmer, Cicala-Mvta, Garage Chanson Show, Misemonogoya/Freak Show and Chindon’ya - a type of elaborately costumed street musicians in Japan that advertise for shops and other establishments.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
John’s mansion. It was just a house party but 200 people came. That had a kick to it!
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
Koharu: Although it seems that I’m a fangirl now, I like Queen.
Momo: Both of us really have loved Freddie Mercury for a long time.
Koharu: We’ve covered 'Bicycle Race' in Japanese.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Momo: I’d like to fall in love with John Lennon for just an hour.
Koharu: I’d like to give out advice to John Lennon not to go home on that day.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Koharu: Martynas, who is accordionist.
04Playlist Notes
How did you select the tracks for this playlist?
Koharu: If you listen to this playlist, you might be able to understand Charan-Po-Rantan’s backbone.
The first track you played on repeat?
Koharu: 'Ghost Town' by The Specials.
Momo: Koharu is easily hooked on something, so she always made me listen to this song.
Koharu: When I was in high school, I was in a band called Ska-Trojans as a tenor saxophone player. I’ve called it 'Sukatoro' in short, but when I knew the true meaning of this word, I felt I became an adult.
A song that defines the teenage you?
Koharu: The Specials, but not 'Ghost Town'... 'Little Bitch' is the one.
Momo: ‘Paranoid Android’ by Radiohead. When we performed for the first time at Fuji Rock, which is a music festival, we played at the same time on another stage. So we played their covered song at Naeba Shokudo, wearing a thing in the shape of radio on my head.
One record you would keep forever?
Momo: 'Jazz' by Queen containing the track 'Bicycle Race'.
Koharu: 'Specials' by The Specials.
Best song to turn up loud?
Momo: 'Bicycle Race' by Queen.
Koharu: Momo plays it in the car 24/7. I don’t sing out loud, but the chorus part of ’20th Century Boy’ by T.Rex, if I must say.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Koharu: 'Brainstorm', which is the first song of 'Favorite Worst Nightmare' by Arctic Monkeys. And people might not know that I listen to Ska songs.
Any new bands you are listening to now?
Koharu: I’ve found out The Bollywood Brass Band recently.