Miru Shinoda

Name, where are you from?
MIRU SHINODA, Osaka.

What do you do?
Musician.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
That’s a really hard one. There are too many gigs to mention but a DJ set by Kode9 at WWW Shibuya was the sickest gig I’ve seen most recently. He did both a DJ set and the audio-collab performance with Lawrence Lek, a Chinese filmmaker. A great project but I also have to mention that his set was packed with so much DJ culture from the UK, with genres ranging from grime, jungle, drum and bass to current techno sounds. All of which were new releases though, his quick short mixing style using volume faders one after another was just so British. It was such a rich inspiration in wide aspects.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
It’s the mood that British subcultures have, rather than particular ones like mods or skinheads. If I were to put that mood into words, firstly, it’s the cynical sense of British humour. Dating back to the ‘60s with likes of Monty Python and then there is the film 'Brazil' of course, which then links to the excessiveness of IDM in the ‘90s. On the other hand, there’s the dull and dreary sense of melancholy, could be due to the British weather but I suppose I get influenced by all of it.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Coming back from the China tour, I’ll have to say AXIS in Chengdu which is a fresh new small venue with a good sound system. I also like the vibe that they have, as youths, they are going to light up the underground scene.

If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
Original members of Throbbing Gristle. I’d want to see them live and also to collaborate with them. I really don’t know what I could contribute so I’d be the dancer (laughs).

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
A drive or a stroll around the park with Burial. Apparently, his track making process involves walking driving around London while feeling gloomy.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
A female electronic music producer called Delia Derbyshire. She has become known for her production of the theme tune for the Sci-Fi TV program, 'Doctor Who'. She had also been active since the ‘60s, making tape collages, through the dawn of the analogue synthesizers - which makes her such a legend. It’s worth pointing out that her career started at the BBC, not from the academic field. You’ won't find it in the playlist but she was in a band called the White Noise.