01Profile
A Kotaro Hosono Photo
Kotaro Hosono
HAITSU — Tokyo
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Koutaro Hosono, Nakano.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Prefuse 73 at Neutralnation Festival 2011 in Odaiba. He’s an American producer on the WARP label. It was quite a while ago, so I can't remember in detail but it was really good.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
I don't know if I can call it a subculture, but I came across the WARP label in my early twenties, which was a big opportunity for me to get to know a lot of music that I didn't know. I think the first one that I found might have been Bibio. I still listen to him, and the same goes with Aphex Twin. Rather than on speakers, I wore headphones and listen to it alone in a state as if slightly zonked out (laughs). From there, I got to know strange bands like Matmos, and I got to know people who made music with computers, and I came to like electronica. That's when I started going to LINUS RECORDS which used to be in Koenji.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
I think it was more than ten years ago but the Spanish festival, Sónar in Spain. They had installations in museums, and there was a walkway to the beach, and the associated venues changed from night to day so you get different vibes in each place. I enjoyed it a lot and the fact that it was integrated with the city of Barcelona so there was a lot of noise in general, which was also my favourite part of the festival.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I would like to experience the real world of the Peaky Blinders, the TV drama based on the British gangster in the 1950s or so. It's very different from the Italian mafia, the haircuts and all are just so cool. The drama is set in Birmingham, and I admire the way they drink whisky and smoke cigarettes. I started rolling cigarettes myself when I travelled to England because of the price, but I sort of admire that kind of habit.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Now, it's difficult to answer this one because different generations have different perceptions but if I had to pick one for a playlist it would be Footshooter. I don't think there's anyone who wouldn’t like it from a quick listen. It’s my opinion, but I think people should listen to the artists around the WARP label to enjoy and know about British music. It's twisted, it's dark and there's a lot of detail in the sound. Footshooter on the other hand is not that esoteric but light and easy to listen to. I'd recommend it as a gateway to digging UK music.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
The real first one would be The Beatles double album, but what I consciously repeated was 'Windowlicker' by Aphex Twin. I wanted to understand what was going on with this track, wondering what makes his peculiar sound, so I kept listening to it.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'Satellite Anthem Icarus' by Boards of Canada because I'd been playing the album 'The Campfire Headphase' at my part-time job. Although there's not much difference between the songs on the album, it's the most pleasant one.
One record you would keep forever?
I'd have to keep 'Ribbons' by Bibio. One track called the 'Old Graffiti' is a slightly different take compare to others tracks on the same album, with the nice band sound. The rest of the tracks are what you would expect, but you can dance to it for a moment. I think it's an album where you can get into the music in any environment.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
A Japanese artist called, Saho Terao, who also writes books so I consider her lyrics as ‘poetry’ in that sense. She also sings her own versions of lost Japanese children's songs… Her piano sounds beautiful while her vocals are amazing. I often listen to the series of lost children’s songs with my daughter.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'I Created Disco' by Calvin Harris. It was being played everywhere when I was travelling around Europe so it was imprinted on me. It unexpectedly became the theme song of my trip (laughs).
Any new music you are listening to now?
Etch & Third Person Lurkin, I discovered them through a playlist my friend who DJs called Hitori made for my HAITSU. I've been listening to their music for a while now, and it's always nice to hear them when I'm in the mood for something new.
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Koutaro Hosono, Nakano.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Prefuse 73 at Neutralnation Festival 2011 in Odaiba. He’s an American producer on the WARP label. It was quite a while ago, so I can't remember in detail but it was really good.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
I don't know if I can call it a subculture, but I came across the WARP label in my early twenties, which was a big opportunity for me to get to know a lot of music that I didn't know. I think the first one that I found might have been Bibio. I still listen to him, and the same goes with Aphex Twin. Rather than on speakers, I wore headphones and listen to it alone in a state as if slightly zonked out (laughs). From there, I got to know strange bands like Matmos, and I got to know people who made music with computers, and I came to like electronica. That's when I started going to LINUS RECORDS which used to be in Koenji.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
I think it was more than ten years ago but the Spanish festival, Sónar in Spain. They had installations in museums, and there was a walkway to the beach, and the associated venues changed from night to day so you get different vibes in each place. I enjoyed it a lot and the fact that it was integrated with the city of Barcelona so there was a lot of noise in general, which was also my favourite part of the festival.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I would like to experience the real world of the Peaky Blinders, the TV drama based on the British gangster in the 1950s or so. It's very different from the Italian mafia, the haircuts and all are just so cool. The drama is set in Birmingham, and I admire the way they drink whisky and smoke cigarettes. I started rolling cigarettes myself when I travelled to England because of the price, but I sort of admire that kind of habit.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Now, it's difficult to answer this one because different generations have different perceptions but if I had to pick one for a playlist it would be Footshooter. I don't think there's anyone who wouldn’t like it from a quick listen. It’s my opinion, but I think people should listen to the artists around the WARP label to enjoy and know about British music. It's twisted, it's dark and there's a lot of detail in the sound. Footshooter on the other hand is not that esoteric but light and easy to listen to. I'd recommend it as a gateway to digging UK music.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
The real first one would be The Beatles double album, but what I consciously repeated was 'Windowlicker' by Aphex Twin. I wanted to understand what was going on with this track, wondering what makes his peculiar sound, so I kept listening to it.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'Satellite Anthem Icarus' by Boards of Canada because I'd been playing the album 'The Campfire Headphase' at my part-time job. Although there's not much difference between the songs on the album, it's the most pleasant one.
One record you would keep forever?
I'd have to keep 'Ribbons' by Bibio. One track called the 'Old Graffiti' is a slightly different take compare to others tracks on the same album, with the nice band sound. The rest of the tracks are what you would expect, but you can dance to it for a moment. I think it's an album where you can get into the music in any environment.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
A Japanese artist called, Saho Terao, who also writes books so I consider her lyrics as ‘poetry’ in that sense. She also sings her own versions of lost Japanese children's songs… Her piano sounds beautiful while her vocals are amazing. I often listen to the series of lost children’s songs with my daughter.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'I Created Disco' by Calvin Harris. It was being played everywhere when I was travelling around Europe so it was imprinted on me. It unexpectedly became the theme song of my trip (laughs).
Any new music you are listening to now?
Etch & Third Person Lurkin, I discovered them through a playlist my friend who DJs called Hitori made for my HAITSU. I've been listening to their music for a while now, and it's always nice to hear them when I'm in the mood for something new.