01Profile
A Hiroki Ikegawa Photo
Hiroki Ikegawa
Musician — Japan
03Interview
Name
Hiroki Ikegawa (Crossfaith)
What do you do?
I’m a musician, bassist and merchandising director of Crossfaith.
Where are you from?
I’m from Japan.
What's the best gig you’ve ever been to?
It was the gig The Used held in Osaka when I was 15 or 16 years old. The band taught me how to change something negative into energy. I exchanged my gloves with Bert McCracken, the vocalist of the band when he came down from the stage. I feel that it made me more positive.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
Many ideas spring to mind, but I think it would be music videos. For kids of a sensitive age, these videos have the biggest impact with 3-D effects. Everything spreads through/from music videos. I knew skateboarding from videos, and my fashion was also affected by that.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
The Forum in Tunbridge Wells, UK. When we did the first UK tour, The Forum was the first place we played. So I have an emotional attachment to the place.
If you could be on the line up with any band in history?
She's not a historical person but that would be Kate Tempest. She is a rapper, poet that BBC hooked up. I like her lyrics. She sings her thoughts honestly about politics and religion. It is always from the UK (neither US nor Japan) that this kind of artist comes out from the new generation.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I would like to take a spaceship with John Lennon.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
It‘s Mr. Ken Kaikou. He is already a well-known writer, but I would like young people to know him. During my tour in Europe, I read his books in the morning. Then I take a walk around the cities with a certain understanding of each country from those books, and I feel I could touch more about things there deep and wide.
I put all the music of my favourite UK bands and some songs from my roots, considering ‘Fred Perry’ and ‘U.K.’ The first part of the playlist is the songs which are my roots. For example, the third song “Low!” is not really popular among those who like heavy music but their music video and the jacket of the CD are awesome. ‘High Contrast’ is drum & bass band and ‘Enter Shikari’ is electronic/rock band like us, but they feature politics/sociology a lot, like Kate Tempest as I mentioned. Then ‘The Libertines’ and other UK bands complete my list.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'Lose Yourself' by Eminem. This is the first CD I bought when I was a Junior High school student. I tried many times rapping on my way to school, and I felt as if I had become stronger.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'First Date' by Blink-182. Among many music videos, this is the song that had the strongest influence on me. If historical backgrounds change as time goes, the song was full of their style and made me think “How cool bad kids are”.
One record you would keep forever?
'Waltz For Debby' by Bill Evans. Released more than 50 years ago, but I still like not only the songs but also the jacket of the album. The atmosphere before playing first song takes me into their world. I like the song of 'Some Other Time' the best.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
'Skinfist' by Tool. You can learn easily how to make people insensitive through training in the society. Movies and lyrics taught me a need to keep asking myself and others “Why?”, as well as how hard it is to do so.
Best song to turn up loud?
'How's It Gonna Be' by Third Eye Blind. All songs on this album are so good.
A song people wouldn't expect you to like?
'The Remedy' by Jason Mraz. I remember singing this song when I first went to America for Summer camp when I was 15.
Any new bands you are listening to now?
Melanie De Biasio, who is a Belgian female singer. I like the latest album 'Lilies' as a whole.
03Interview
Name
Hiroki Ikegawa (Crossfaith)
What do you do?
I’m a musician, bassist and merchandising director of Crossfaith.
Where are you from?
I’m from Japan.
What's the best gig you’ve ever been to?
It was the gig The Used held in Osaka when I was 15 or 16 years old. The band taught me how to change something negative into energy. I exchanged my gloves with Bert McCracken, the vocalist of the band when he came down from the stage. I feel that it made me more positive.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
Many ideas spring to mind, but I think it would be music videos. For kids of a sensitive age, these videos have the biggest impact with 3-D effects. Everything spreads through/from music videos. I knew skateboarding from videos, and my fashion was also affected by that.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
The Forum in Tunbridge Wells, UK. When we did the first UK tour, The Forum was the first place we played. So I have an emotional attachment to the place.
If you could be on the line up with any band in history?
She's not a historical person but that would be Kate Tempest. She is a rapper, poet that BBC hooked up. I like her lyrics. She sings her thoughts honestly about politics and religion. It is always from the UK (neither US nor Japan) that this kind of artist comes out from the new generation.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I would like to take a spaceship with John Lennon.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
It‘s Mr. Ken Kaikou. He is already a well-known writer, but I would like young people to know him. During my tour in Europe, I read his books in the morning. Then I take a walk around the cities with a certain understanding of each country from those books, and I feel I could touch more about things there deep and wide.
I put all the music of my favourite UK bands and some songs from my roots, considering ‘Fred Perry’ and ‘U.K.’ The first part of the playlist is the songs which are my roots. For example, the third song “Low!” is not really popular among those who like heavy music but their music video and the jacket of the CD are awesome. ‘High Contrast’ is drum & bass band and ‘Enter Shikari’ is electronic/rock band like us, but they feature politics/sociology a lot, like Kate Tempest as I mentioned. Then ‘The Libertines’ and other UK bands complete my list.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'Lose Yourself' by Eminem. This is the first CD I bought when I was a Junior High school student. I tried many times rapping on my way to school, and I felt as if I had become stronger.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'First Date' by Blink-182. Among many music videos, this is the song that had the strongest influence on me. If historical backgrounds change as time goes, the song was full of their style and made me think “How cool bad kids are”.
One record you would keep forever?
'Waltz For Debby' by Bill Evans. Released more than 50 years ago, but I still like not only the songs but also the jacket of the album. The atmosphere before playing first song takes me into their world. I like the song of 'Some Other Time' the best.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
'Skinfist' by Tool. You can learn easily how to make people insensitive through training in the society. Movies and lyrics taught me a need to keep asking myself and others “Why?”, as well as how hard it is to do so.
Best song to turn up loud?
'How's It Gonna Be' by Third Eye Blind. All songs on this album are so good.
A song people wouldn't expect you to like?
'The Remedy' by Jason Mraz. I remember singing this song when I first went to America for Summer camp when I was 15.
Any new bands you are listening to now?
Melanie De Biasio, who is a Belgian female singer. I like the latest album 'Lilies' as a whole.