01Profile
A Shohei Yoshida Photo
Shohei Yoshida
Mustard Hotel Staff — Tokyo
03Interview
Name
Shohei Yoshida
What do you do?
Mustard Hotel staff.
Where are you from?
Tokyo.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
It’s a show by the US artist Musiq Soulchild. I saw him while I was in New York at an outdoor gig. It was bucketing down with rain on the day, but there was a large crowd despite the awful weather. The combination of his songs and the rain seemed to provoke a strong emotional reaction from the crowd. I realised that elements of the weather and music could trigger those kinds of responses in us. I think the gig was around 2017.
Which sub-cultures have influenced you?
Fashion. It’s not exactly shaped everything about me, but subcultures like punk have influenced me to a certain extent. I’ve been into hip-hop dancing since I was young, and the younger dancers on the UK scene mix moshing elements from punk culture. At post-grime artist gigs, the crowd forms a circle and moshes. It’s interesting to see how this connection between punk and hip-hop has developed.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favorite?
I have a special attachment to the Tokyo International Forum. I saw a Koji Tamaki concert there in 2019 that left a lasting impression on me. When he played the songs I knew, I found myself in tears, but his singing was so incredible that I started welling up in his first number, which was a song I'd never heard.
If you could be on the line up with any band in history?
Eric Clapton. I’d love to join him on stage during the ‘Unplugged’ live show that’s also one of his albums. I want to feel each and every one of his songs, so I’d be happy to be in the background (laughs). I’d like to play on ‘Wonderful Tonight.’
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
John Lennon. I’d like to spend some time with him in New York’s Central Park. Of course, I’d want to do all I could to prevent him from being taken from us, but it would be extraordinary just to get a feel for his daily life.
Your greatest unsung hero (or heroine) in music?
Floetry. The quality of their music is so high — the track ‘Butterflies,’ which is on my playlist, is one example. I’m surprised they don’t get their share of the spotlight. They have lots of well-known tracks.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
What are the concepts / important points of the playlist?
While I was putting the playlist together, I imagined the day when live music would return to my daily life — the coronavirus pandemic has made it impossible for many of us to go and see live music. There have been many times when music has been my saviour, so the overriding theme of the playlist is a kind of an emotional rock for us to cling to.
The first track you played on repeat?
‘Change The World’ by Eric Clapton. I first heard it on the radio when I was in the early years of primary school. The memory is so vivid I can recall the exact radio station (J-WAVE). When I listen to music, I often imagine the situations in which I’d like to listen to the track. In this case, my image was almost the complete opposite of the lyrics — I imagined a series of orange lights flowing past me on a motorway.
A song that defines the teenage you?
The Japanese punk rock band, The Blue Hearts, and their track ‘Aozora (Blue Sky).’ We played this song in music class at school. I listened to this song while holding onto the fuzzy feelings of my youth.
One record you would keep forever?
The Sade album, 'Lovers Rock.' All her albums are masterpieces, and I was torn between this one and 'Diamond Life.' Her track 'By Your Side' is on my playlist, and the way she sings connects directly with your soul. I also like Frank Ocean's version from one of his live shows; it made me realise how good the lyrics are.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
Eric Clapton’s ‘Wonderful Tonight,’ I find it amazing that even though the lyrics are all about his relationship with somebody (including this track), I can feel the metaphorical expressions every day.
Best song to turn up loud?
The Oasis track, ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger.’ I imagine singing this song in the summer, driving along the coast with the car windows wide open (laughs).
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Thanks to my grandad, I listen to a lot of Hawaiian music. I like songs like 'E Pili Mai' by Keali'i Reichel.
What new bands you are listening to now?
The Japanese artist, HIMI. I started getting into him around last year. He's the son of Japanese singer Chara, and I like his voice and music.
03Interview
Name
Shohei Yoshida
What do you do?
Mustard Hotel staff.
Where are you from?
Tokyo.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
It’s a show by the US artist Musiq Soulchild. I saw him while I was in New York at an outdoor gig. It was bucketing down with rain on the day, but there was a large crowd despite the awful weather. The combination of his songs and the rain seemed to provoke a strong emotional reaction from the crowd. I realised that elements of the weather and music could trigger those kinds of responses in us. I think the gig was around 2017.
Which sub-cultures have influenced you?
Fashion. It’s not exactly shaped everything about me, but subcultures like punk have influenced me to a certain extent. I’ve been into hip-hop dancing since I was young, and the younger dancers on the UK scene mix moshing elements from punk culture. At post-grime artist gigs, the crowd forms a circle and moshes. It’s interesting to see how this connection between punk and hip-hop has developed.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favorite?
I have a special attachment to the Tokyo International Forum. I saw a Koji Tamaki concert there in 2019 that left a lasting impression on me. When he played the songs I knew, I found myself in tears, but his singing was so incredible that I started welling up in his first number, which was a song I'd never heard.
If you could be on the line up with any band in history?
Eric Clapton. I’d love to join him on stage during the ‘Unplugged’ live show that’s also one of his albums. I want to feel each and every one of his songs, so I’d be happy to be in the background (laughs). I’d like to play on ‘Wonderful Tonight.’
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
John Lennon. I’d like to spend some time with him in New York’s Central Park. Of course, I’d want to do all I could to prevent him from being taken from us, but it would be extraordinary just to get a feel for his daily life.
Your greatest unsung hero (or heroine) in music?
Floetry. The quality of their music is so high — the track ‘Butterflies,’ which is on my playlist, is one example. I’m surprised they don’t get their share of the spotlight. They have lots of well-known tracks.
04Playlist Notes
What are the concepts / important points of the playlist?
While I was putting the playlist together, I imagined the day when live music would return to my daily life — the coronavirus pandemic has made it impossible for many of us to go and see live music. There have been many times when music has been my saviour, so the overriding theme of the playlist is a kind of an emotional rock for us to cling to.
The first track you played on repeat?
‘Change The World’ by Eric Clapton. I first heard it on the radio when I was in the early years of primary school. The memory is so vivid I can recall the exact radio station (J-WAVE). When I listen to music, I often imagine the situations in which I’d like to listen to the track. In this case, my image was almost the complete opposite of the lyrics — I imagined a series of orange lights flowing past me on a motorway.
A song that defines the teenage you?
The Japanese punk rock band, The Blue Hearts, and their track ‘Aozora (Blue Sky).’ We played this song in music class at school. I listened to this song while holding onto the fuzzy feelings of my youth.
One record you would keep forever?
The Sade album, 'Lovers Rock.' All her albums are masterpieces, and I was torn between this one and 'Diamond Life.' Her track 'By Your Side' is on my playlist, and the way she sings connects directly with your soul. I also like Frank Ocean's version from one of his live shows; it made me realise how good the lyrics are.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
Eric Clapton’s ‘Wonderful Tonight,’ I find it amazing that even though the lyrics are all about his relationship with somebody (including this track), I can feel the metaphorical expressions every day.
Best song to turn up loud?
The Oasis track, ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger.’ I imagine singing this song in the summer, driving along the coast with the car windows wide open (laughs).
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Thanks to my grandad, I listen to a lot of Hawaiian music. I like songs like 'E Pili Mai' by Keali'i Reichel.
What new bands you are listening to now?
The Japanese artist, HIMI. I started getting into him around last year. He's the son of Japanese singer Chara, and I like his voice and music.